In 1538 Thomas Cromwell ordered that each parish priest must keep a book and enter all baptisms,
marriages and deaths weekly. The book was to be kept in a secure coffer with two keys and a fine of
3s 4d was to be imposed if this was not done. Most parishes ignored the order, believing it to be the
forerunner of a new tax.
The order was repeated in 1547 with the stipulation that the fine was to be used for the relief of the
poor of the parish. Records were now to be kept in great books of parchment and copies of the new
entries [Bishop’s Transcripts] were to be sent each month to the diocesan centre.
Previous records had often been kept on scraps of paper, these old records were to be copied into the
new books but many records had already been lost or had deteriorated and were illegible.
The cost of the new books which were to be kept in a chest with three locks, was to be covered by
charging for the entries, and finance was to be met by the parish. As before, many parishes opposed
this, and the act was not enforced until 1603.
During the 17th century many protestant countries had a state involvement in the marriage
ceremony; it was no longer just by consent and vows between a man and woman. There was now the
dual requirement of state registration and church consecration to constitute a marriage.
Records were poorly kept during the Civil War and Commonwealth period [1644-1647], many being
destroyed or hidden by the clergy
The registration of births, marriages and deaths was taken over by civil officers [1653-1660]
confusingly called Parish Registers but following the Restoration, the parish registers were returned
to the churches.
In 1695 the cost of the entries was drastically increased to help finance a war against France and in
1696 a tax of 6d was introduced for any birth not reported within five days.
Marriage
12d to
1s 6d
Burial
4d to
4s 0d
Baptism
4d to
2s 0d
Until 1752 the year began in March and Parish Registers took March as the first month of the year,
entries show this with dates entered e.g. 5th January 1600/1601.
Langham Village History Group
