Miscellaneous

Contains Church Enquiry papers (1823 - 1856) and sequestration papers (1778 - 1852).

The Church Enquiry papers (DCb/J/M/1) include House of Commons printed parliamentary report (1823) on the Court of Arches, the Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Court of Peculiars of the Archbishop of Canterbury, relating to officers', clerks' and ministers' duties, salaries and fees, and general court procedure for both Consistory and Archdeacon's Courts. Also includes enquiry draft accounts and answers to questions (1830) for example, the answer to Question 24 concerning the custody of wills:

'The Gate House leading to the Cathedral Church consisting of two large rooms, the one fitted up for the Records of this Court [Archdeacon] and the other for the Consistory Court - it is a stone building and considered to be fire proof, its is free from damp and in every other respect safe and commodious'.

The Church Enquiry papers also include 'Search Accounts' (1836 - 1856) for both Consistory and Archdeacon Courts, recording the date of enquiry, brief details of the name and place and search fee. Also papers relating to the case of the Churchwardens of Sutton Vallance, Kent against the Minister and Parishioners concerning expenses in obtaining a faculty (grant) to pull down and rebuild the church on a larger scale.

Sequestration papers (DCb/J/M/2) record the names of successors to vacant sequestrated livings and details of the reasons for the vacancy and include related correspondence. Sequestrations were made for the taking over of a benefice (endowed church office), after the resignation or inability of the incumbent in performing their duties. They were to ensure the collection of the parish revenues, proper provision for the cure of souls and management of church property during the vacancy.

The sequestration papers (DCb/J/M/2) are unfit for production. Please contact Canterbury Cathedral Archives and Library for further information regarding access to these records.