Parish Administration Prior to 1894 Prior to the establishment of Parish Councils, the responsibility for the day to day administration of the parish fell to the rector and some of the more affluent landowners – particularly those who could read, write and keep accounts. In Great Ellingham, the parish ‘officers’ such as the churchwardens, the…
Category: Church of St James
A Timely Passing through the Village
The Clock on the tower of St James’s Church, Great Ellingham. Photograph taken February 2023 ‘Smith of Derby’ writes to the Reverend Lavender Towards the end of November, 1968, the Reverend A R A Lavender received a letter from the Managing Director of the prestigious Clock Manufacturers ‘Smith of Derby’. J E Howard Smith informed…
Addition to the Churchyard of St James
Church of St James Great Ellingham Property deeds are an extremely useful source of information for local and family historians. Not least for providing details of the owners and occupiers of properties over the years. However, deeds can also provide other snippets of information, particularly with regard to adjoining or nearby land. In this particular…
Stained-Glass Window in Memory of Robert Barnard Lebbell and his wife Mary
Photograph courtesy of Steve Moore-Vale On the south side of the Church of St James, is a fine stained-glass window dedicated to two members of long-standing local families: Robert Barnard Lebbell and his wife Mary née Mann. The cost of the window was funded by their family. Photograph courtesy of Steve Moore-Vale Who was Robert…
John Roberts’ Bill for Repairs to the Church
Parish Chests The Poor Law of 1552 brought in mandatory legislation that every parish must have a strong chest, with three keys, in which to keep the alms for the poor. Earlier 16th century legislation required every parish to have a locked parish chest for the safe keeping of the Parish Registers and other parish…
A Triumph for the People
Before parish councils were first established c.1894, the responsibility for the day to day administration of the parish fell to the rector and some of the more affluent landowners. The Norfolk News of the 26th April, 1873, published a report of a meeting attended by many discontented parishioners in Great Ellingham. A correspondent, who appears…
A Church with ‘No History’?
Great Ellingham Parish Church of St James 1935 Archaelogists’ Tour A report of an archaelogists’ tour published in the Yarmouth Independent on the 18th May, 1935, caught my eye. Amongst the three churches visited in the Wymondham District was St James’s at Great Ellingham. A comment made by Mr E J Tench FIBA particularly grabbed…
Theft of Lead from the Church Roof
Church of St James, Great Ellingham. Postcard courtesy of Attleborough Heritage Group Court Appearance 24 year old Samuel Spencer was amongst the prisoners appearing at the County Sessions in Norwich, on the 6th January, 1836. Spencer stole 26 lbs of lead from the roof of the parish church in Great Ellingham. He was found guilty,…
The Tale of a Pair of Trousers being made at the top of the Spire!
Spire of the Church of St James Great Ellingham. Photograph taken May 2020 During the winter months, the lights which usually adorn the church tower of St James at Christmas draw our attention to the tower and spire, but I wonder how many of us look up at the spire at any other time? Top…
In Memory of the Late King
Tablet in the wall surrounding the Church of St James, Great Ellingham. 2020 I wonder how many of us walking along Church Street have noticed the rectangular limestone tablet in the wall surrounding our Parish Church? How long has the tablet been in the wall and why was it put there? Sadly, the tablet has…