Sacrament certificates

INTRODUCTION:

The Test Act of 25 Charles II, c.2 (1672) required all persons holding public office, with the exception of minor civil or parish offices, to receive the Sacrament according to the usage of the Church of England, and to produce in court a certificate to this effect signed by the minister and churchwardens and verified on oath by two credible witnesses. These certificates, known as Sacrament Certificates, continued to be required until 1829 when the Act of 9 George IV, c.17 (1828) substituted a Declaration not to injure the Church of England.

The Sacrament Certificates listed overleaf, cover the years from 1682 to 1742, with one Sessions in 1761, and comprise only those Certificates which were filed separately from other Sessions documents, either originally or as a result of a subsequent rearrangement. From 1743 to 1829 Sacrament Certificates were filed with Oaths and Declarations with which they were associated and are noted under that section (ref. Q25/1)

The earlier files were made unsystematically and without regard to chronological order, but the later files were made up yearly and contain the Certificates presented at each Sessions. The files for those Sessions which follow the accession of the sovereign are very full.

The files have been listed item by item. These detailed lists are located in separate binders labelled "Quarter Sessions Sacrament Certificates Q25/2/1-16" and "Quarter Sessions Sacrament Certificates Q25/2/17-44"

The contents of each file are listed in order with the entry for each certificate giving the name of the person receiving the Sacrament, the parish church where the Sacrament was received, the names of the Minister and Churchwardens and the names of the other witnesses. Often the title of the person receiving the Sacrament and other witnesses are given and these are recorded in the list; occupations are given occasionally and recorded likewise. Places of abode are also given in some cases.

From Q25/2/19 each file relates to one year and contains a bundle for each sessions.

For Sacrament Certificates, 1743-1829 see Oaths and Declarations (ref. Q25/1).