Catalogue description CONSISTORY COURT PAPERS

The Consistory Court cause papers follow the progress of a suit through the court and supply information which the brief entries in the Consistory Court Books (EDC 1) do not aim to provide. These supporting papers are not extant for every case entered in the court books, nor is there a full set for each case for which papers have survived.

The cause papers are chiefly in Latin with some evidence in English of which much is informative, for example, in depositions and responsions. Other types of documents include citations, allegations, interrogations, schedules of excommunication, penance, and expenses. An explanation of these is given in J S Purvis An Introduction to Ecclesiastical Records, with Cheshire examples in A T Thacker The Chester Diocesan Records and the Local Historian. The introduction to Dr J Addy's The Diary of Henry Prescott describes the Chester Consistory Court in progress.

Although the court's jurisdiction theoretically covered the entire diocese, many archdeaconry of Richmond cases went directly to the York Consistory Court. This series therefore covers most fully the archdeaconry of Chester (including south Lancashire). From 1860, these papers (almost exclusively faculties) have been added to the parish bundles (EDP).

The papers are arranged and listed in annual bundles, each case being listed individually by township. Where a case took place over a number of years, it is necessary to follow it chronologically through the lists.

Additional penance and excommunication papers may be found in EDC 6.

Some of the case papers require conservation and may not be produced.