Catalogue description CLERGY

The records provide basic details relating to clergy including:

Subscription books for curates (unbeneficed clerks serving a cure of souls), incumbents and ordinations of new clerks (1905 - 1963) (formerly referenced DS/OB/S) which record the date, the name of the benefice (endowed church offices which provide a living), declaration and name of the subscriber.

Subscriptions were required by Act of Parliament 1571 to the 39 articles of religion, before entry on a cure of souls. From 1604 Canon 36 (reinforced by the Act of Uniformity 13 & 14 Charles II) required subscription by clerks to three articles: a) Recognition of royal supremacy in the church b) Use of Book of Common Prayer c) Adhesion to the 39 articles of religion. From 1866 new canons modified and simplified the terms of subscription;

Induction book (1878 - 1924) and induction papers (1939) recording the placement of clerks to vacated benefices. They record the names of the clerk, the previous incumbent and benefice;

Mandates for induction (1956, 1960 - 1963) recording the names of the clerk, the previous incumbent and benefice. These papers are orders which were given by the bishop to the archdeacon to induct the clerks legally presented by patrons, accepted by the bishop, and instituted into possession of vacant benefices;

Ordinations (1905, 1910, 1912 - 1913, 1916 - 1974) recording admissions to Holy Orders, including the date and place of ordination, the name of the bishop or acting commissioner conferring the orders, and the names of those ordained arranged in groups according to the orders conferred;

Licences (1943 - 1974) granted for the appointment of parish clerks under Canon of 1603. These documents usually include a copy of grant entry, the certificate of appointment by the incumbent of the parish, and also subscription to oaths on taking office. Curates licences were required under Canon 48) and include the name of benefice, licence date, curate's name and stipend (the salary or payment);

Presentation papers (1906 - 1907, 1912 - 1913, 1915 - 1916) record patrons' formal presentation or introduction of clerks to vacant benefices in their gift. They provide the names of the parish, the new and former incumbent, how the last incumbency was vacated (by either resignation, cession or death), and name of the patron. Some also include a bond entered for performance of the presentation

Commissions to surrogates (1961 - 1962), the diocesan officers who stood in office for another, often as deputies to the bishop, who granted licences and transact other business

Institutions (1908, 1917, 1938 and 1941 - 1963) listing clerks instituted and placed into benefices.

See Office Papers (DS/OP) particularly after 1968.

This series is currently uncatalogues as of April 2003. Please contact the London Metropolitan Archives for further information. Access by permission of the diocesan registrar for ordinations and deaconess's licensing less than fifty years old, and for clergy licensing and institutions less than thirty years old. All other files are open.

AC/63/50, AC/65/06, AC/66/21 and AC/75/109.