The churchwarden is the oldest parish officer. Early churchwardens’ accounts throw light, not only on church history, but on the conduct of parish affairs. In the reign of Elizabeth I these accounts have perhaps their widest significance. At this time they illustrate the working-out of the Elizabethan church settlement and the beginnings of Puritanism. They also show the churchwarden as still the most important parish officer; for though the office of parish surveyor dates from 1555, that of overseer of the poor does not take final form until towards the end of the reign.

The three parishes for which Elizabethan churchwardens’ accounts survive in this county are all in the archdeaconry of Bedford, then in the diocese of Lincoln. Curiously enough, all three are in the east of the county, in what was then the deanery of Shefford, and within a dozen miles from each other.

THE PARISHES

Shillington

The largest of the three parishes, Shillington, was in the two separate Hundreds of Clifton and Flitt. With an area of about 5,000 acres, it contained the hamlets of Pegsdon, Apsley End, Lower Stondon, Bury End, Woodmer End, Hillfoot End, Upton End and Hanscombe End. In 1603 the communicants were estimated as 604.

There had been a chantry founded in 1514. There was a Brotherhood of the Holy Name; and the Brotherhood House survived, and was let in 1578. The advowson belonged, as until recently, to Trinity College, Cambridge. The incumbents during the period of the accounts were William Butcher, Humphrey Totnam, and John Parrat; all three were graduates. The stipend was ￡18 p.a.

Of its numerous manors, Shillington manor was conferred on Elizabeth while princess in 1551; Apsley Bury (then usually called Aspley) belonged to the family of Rotherham of Luton; and Holwell Bury in 1576 was sold by Thomas Snagge of Gray’s Inn (Speaker of the House of Commons twelve years later) to John St. John of Bletsoe. There was also a Rectory manor.

Northill

Northill, in the Hundred of Wixamtree, with an area of about 4,000 acres, also contained hamlets : Upper and Lower Caldecote, Ickwell, Budna, Thorncote, Hatch, Brookend and Beeston. The number of communicants was estimated in 1603 at 320.