St Andrews Church, Chardstock
© Copyright Rog Frost and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
These are pdf files of the complete collections (to date) of St. Andrews Church in Chardstock, England from 1579 to 1911.
Both the British government and the church had an interest in record keeping, and a 1538 act of Parliament required ministers in the Church of England to record baptisms, marriages, and burials.
About Baptisms:
Children were usually baptized within a few days or weeks of birth. Earlier records generally listed only the name of the infant, the father’s and/or mother’s name, the date of christening, and whether the child was illegitimate.
About Marriages:
Couples were usually married in the bride’s parish. Earlier records generally listed only the names of the bride and groom and their marriage date.
About Burials:
Burials took place within a few days of the deceased’s death. Records generally listed only the name of the deceased and the burial date. However, sometimes other family members were listed as part of the deceased’s name; for example, “Mary wife of John Smith” or “Matthew son of William Clark.” In earlier records it was not uncommon for women to simply be referred to as “wife of [husband’s name].”
Note: Remember that until 1752, when the Gregorian calendar was introduced, the year ran from March 25 to March 24 (known as the Julian calendar), with 1751 being the transition year, running from March 25 to December 31. Thus, an entry dated February 05, 1560 would be considered to have occurred on February 05, 1561 according to our current way of dating.
Memorial Inscriptions in the St. Andrews Graveyard
An interesting website about St. Andrews Church and Chardstock Dorset OPC