Letters about the vicarage garden and its possible purchase by the neighbouring Clergy Training School; also agreement with the latter about party wall, and related letter.
Draft memorandum by the Vicar (A.C.B.) about the state of the organ and the cost of cleaning it and installing an electric blowing plant. Discusses ways of raising the money, including an appeal to the patrons.
The advowson was granted to the nunnery of St Radegund by Hugh Fitzabsalon of Cambridge, some time after 1189. For this deed and later ones, see Nuns/Gray239-50. For further information on the medieval church, see the histories in file 2/1.
Long letter from the Vicar to the Master, describing the bad state of the spire, the damage done in recent storms, and the necessity of having it pulled down.
Correspondence with the Ecclesiastical Commissioners about augmenting the living on the ground of population. Most of the correspondence is from 1931, and includes statements of existing income and the decision of the Commissioners to make a grant of £119 per annum in augmentation of the living. There is a letter from the Revd Percy Sharp in Birmingham, interested in the living but unable to afford it (pre-augmentation), and an exchange of letters with the Clergy Pension Board about the effect of a pension for Canon Wood on the income of the living. In 1933 there is a letter from the Commissioners to the Revd J.T. Plowden-Wardlaw, informing him of an increase to the living, and in 1941 a formal statement that the benefice has become vacant by the resignation of J.T. Plowden-Wardlaw.
Brief notes on necessary repairs in 1931 by Messrs Rattee and Kett: £25 to mend broken Tenons to the Purlins and add iron plates; and by Coulson &Son Lts in 1936: £56.13.6 to re-lathe and re-tile north side of chancel roof.
The advowson was bought by the Proby Trust in 1708. Five earlier deeds are listed, going back to 1570, but only four can be found (2012: LIV 3/5 is mislaid). They are housed in the steel press, shelf 10.
Brian Smith, junior, promises to pay Thomas Bishop £50 if his nominee Thomas Grey be deprived of the living, or if he should resign one month at least before he be mortally sick. With seal and two witnesses
W.W. Hayward to Dr French, he and Mr Jenkins have been collecting necessary papers to obtain an opinion. Mr Castley has some but declines to furnish them without authority from the College. Please ask him to do so. If the opinion is favourable, should proceedings be taken to prevent the operation of the Act of Parliament?
Correspondence, on the working out of the Act for the Commutation of Tithes in England and Wales. Disagreement of what tithes are owed on land belonging to Earl Howe. See also file 17, with lengthy opinions of counsel.
Official letter from the Tithe Commissioners, inviting the College to attend a meeting at the Half Moon Inn in Clare on 23 November, for the purpose of making an award.
Letters dealing with attempts to avoid litigation and to settle the disagreement, mainly from lawyers: John Lawrence, G.M.Andrew of Sudbury, H.J. Perry, Metcalfe & Woodhouse, F. Thynne. There is a report by John Lawrence 15 March 1845 of a Tithe Meeting which examined a map of the lands comprized in the agreement of 1690. By January 1845 Earl Howe was not intending to proceed with his action; and the file ends with a letters from the Rector, Thomas Castley, with details of lands and values.
Letters from the Vicar, about the refusal of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to make a grant towards "this miserably paid benefice". Thanks for the £60 gift from the College.
Three letters from the Revd Peake Banton, Vicar 1891-1951, to Mr Goodwin (Bursar) asking for £60 from the Proby Fund to construct a staircase up to the attics. With a note (by Goodwin, probably) of the income 1896-7. A further note states that a house plan and elelvation 1897 was removed to the map cabinet
Letters from the Vicar, A.R. Davies, about his financial difficulties, and possible schemes for augmenting the income. Also a few letters suggesting the union of the parishes of Comberton with Barton
Discussion of the possible sale of a dilapidated cottage in the Vicarage grounds: this is urged by the Vicar, and the Diocesan Board of Finance , in a letter from the Archdeacon of Ely, but the College refused. There are two letters from the Ecclesiastical Commission, making a grant to the benefice.
Copy of letters patent of Elizabeth I. Grant to George Lazenby who has been despoiled of his goods by order of the King of Spain in time of war, of the lease of the Rectory of Elmstede in Essex with all its appurtenances formerly belonging to the Monastery of St. Osyth, Essex, and formerly parcel of the possessions of George Harte by letters patent 18th July 1567 for term 21 years from Michaelmas 1582. Rent £9 6s 8d. Except for timber, wardships, marriages etc Court Leet and view of frankpledge, requisitions, profits of courts, etc and the advowson of the Church. Term of this lease Michaelmas 1603 for 31 years. Rent £9 6s 8d. Attached is list of documents removed from and returned to the Treasury of John Sherman and others.
Includes terrier and valuation of glebe lands in Elmstead Rectory. Valuation of the tithes list names of those connected to the tithes. With accompanying letter from John Simons, tenant.
An exchange of a field and a strip of land in the occupation of William Parson Partridge, with a close of land in the occupation of Osmond Fisher, Vicar of Elmstead. The document includes a sketch map and schedules describing the lands.
