From "Notes on the Parish of Mylor", published by Hugh Pengelly Olivey 1907

Beware, Ongoing work - This is First Draft Only and like to contain typographic errors

Section XII.

Extracts from the Churchwardens' Minute Books, etc.

THE churchwardens' books do not contain very much of interest, and they do not carry us back very far. The earliest is 1849 ; this is the minute book.  It contains some information in reference to roads, county rate assessments, church and churchyard charges, fees and regulations, etc. It is a matter for regret that more care has not been taken of the earlier books.

1849. Alteration of road at Perran. At the Easter vestry an application is made by the Iron Foundry Co. at Perran "for leave to shut in their ground through which the parish road passes, by gates at each end, for the protection of their property, and keep off idlers from their workshops." The vestry consented, the gates to be locked only on sufferance, and upon payment of one shilling a year in acknowledgment.

In 1855 application is made by Perran parish respecting the repair of the road between the new bridge and the turnpike road, in consequence of which the Foundry Co. have notice to remove the gates and all obstructions.

In Sept., 1856, a special vestry is called, and a joint note presented from Sir C. Lemon and the Foundry Co., requesting that the necessary legal steps be taken with the view to stopping and diverting a portion of road leading from Carclew Lodge through the Foundry, and turning the same over a road commencing from near the lodge gate, and thence proceeding over the county bridge. This was agreed to, provided that Perran repair such portion of road passing through their parish, and an order given to apply to two justices. The matter is not completed in 1861, when a similar application is made and a resolution passed as before. On application to Quarter Sessions in December, 1861, notice is given that after three months it is intended to dedicate the road for public use.

Graves.     Sexton's Fees. For a vault or wall'd grave or brot. by hearse      1      0      0
For Paupers .                   4     6
For Adults                       5     6
Under 20 years old .        5     0
Under 15    "                   4     0
Under 5      "                   2     6
The Sexton's fee of £1 to include all extra work.
The Churchwardens' fee for a single wall'd grave £3.
The Churchwardens charge a fee of 2s. 6d. per foot square for all large vaults.
The Vicar charges a fee Of £3 for erecting a Toomb.
And all charges Double Fees for non-Parishioners.
   The Rev. Edward Hoblyn, Vicar.
   Henry Trevascus         ~
   Matthew And^w Doble ~ Churchwardens.
                                                              1864.

1886. Notice is given to the district surveyor of the Falmouth highway board by Col. Tremayne, as follows : " I hereby give notice that after three calendar months from the date hereof I intend to make a certain Highway in the Parish of Mylor of a length of 963 yards, commencing at the Lodge Gate which belongs to me the undersigned, called the Penryn Lodge Gate, and running in the direction of Belle Vue towards Penryn, to a small stream of water which divides the Parish of Mylor from the Parish of St. Gluvias, and which adjoins the road, the property of F. G. Enys, Esq., in the Parish of St. Gluvias, and to dedicate such highway to the use of the public."The matter is considered at a vestry meeting on 21st March, and it is resolved to recommend the Highway Board to take over such road.

1889. April 21.   It was resolved "that in the event of the Mylor living becoming vacant, a special vestry be convened immediately for the purpose of considering the fees of Mylor churchyard."
On the same subject, in 1891, a resolution is passed, " That the offer of the vicar (Rev. C. W. S. Taunton) for the adoption of the church fees in St. Gluvias parish, in lieu of those at present in force in Mylor parish, be accepted by this vestry, subject to the sanction of the Bishop and Ecclesiastical Commissioners."
And in 1892, notice is given to consider "a draft (with draft table of fees appended) of an instrument which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England have declared themselves willing to seal in the matter of a Table of Fees for the said parish, to take the place of that at present in use."
The proposal to adopt this table of fees is met by an amendment, "That the table of fees read, etc., at this meeting be considered and discussed seriatim." There voted for the amendment 14 and 17 against. The resolution was carried by 22 against 0.  There were 45 parishioners present.

NEW SCALE OF MYLOR CHURCH FEES, AND OTHER CHURCHYARD REGULATIONS.

The following is then agreed to : " The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England, with the consent of the Bishop of Truro, under the powers and provisions Of 59 Geo. III, c. 134, and 19 and 20 Vict., C. 55, have fixed from November 3rd, 1892, the Table of Fees given below for the parish of Mylor, in place of the fees before existing."
                                                             s.    d.
Sexton.     Single grave,      5ft. 6in. .     4     0
     "          Double grave,    7ft.  .     .     7     0
    Marriages.      Vicar.       Clerk.       Sexton.
Entry of Banns    1     0           -            -
After Banns        2     6        1     6       1     6
After Licence   10      0        5     0       3     0
Certificates         2     7
Burials-Parishioners.
Ordinary Graves         2     6          1     6            4     0
Brick         "        1     0      0          5     0      1    5     0
Re-opening Brick
Grave .               1     0      0          5     0          10     0
Headstones               2      6                  -            1     0
Morning Funeral      10      0          3     0            8     0
Burials-non-Parishioners.
Ordinary Graves  1     0     0          5     0           10    0
Brick                   2     0     0        10     0      1   10    0
Re-opening Brick
Grave .                2     0    0           6     0           12    6
Morning Funeral  1     0    0           6     0           12    0

Mylor Churchyard;-As there seems to be some uncertainty as to the fees charged for the interment of very young children, the vicar wishes to put it on record that for children over four weeks old the full fee will be charged. For those under, the sexton will receive 2s. 6d. if a silent interment is desired, but the vicar must receive notice twenty-four hours before such interment.
                                                                                                             C. W. S. Taunton, Vicar.
This decision as to fees alters the custom which appears to have been in force, according to the earliest records obtainable, since 1864, when they are called the "customary " fees.     Fees for vaults, brick graves, etc., have been paid to the churchwardens, and entered into their accounts, and been used for church expenses. The earliest entry is 1864 : "By received for a brick grave for the late H. O. Olivey, Esq., the customary fee of £3," and numerous similar entries occur ; and in 1867 is, "Received fee for Col. Tremayne's vault, the vault 224 feet at 2s. 6d. per foot, £28 " ; and again, "1868, Feb. 18th. Recd. a fee for opening Carclew vault for the interment of Sir Charles Lemon, Bart., £3."     (See old table of fees p. 172.) It is difficult to understand why the custom of the churchwardens claiming these fees existed so long, and if the custom was well established, why they so readily relinquished them.
The vicar, the Rev. C. W. S. Taunton, about this time appears to have undertaken a scheme of reorganization, and a meeting is held on l0th August, 1892, "for the purpose of considering the best arrangements that can be made for
Churchwardens' Minute Books.  177
keeping the churchyard clean." It was resolved "that all fees in connection with work done in the churchyard in future be paid to the vicar." The sexton (Mr. Daniell) is requested to inform the deputy that he must no longer do any work in the churchyard, and if he demands or receives any money or fees on behalf of himself or his father he will be liable to prosecution. The following regulations were also agreed to
1.    No tomb or headstone must be erected or disturbed without the vicar's consent.
N.B. - In future masons, undertakers, stonecutters, and others must not enter the churchyard to carry out any work whatever without the vicar's permission.
2.    Relatives and friends of persons buried in the churchyard desirous of keeping in order graves which belong to them are requested to notify their wishes to the vicar.
3.    Flowers and ornamental shrubs planted over graves should be of a description approved by the vicar. Shrubs likely to grow into large trees will not be permitted on any grave.
4.    All arrangements connected with burials, such as the place of interment, the time of funeral, etc., must be made with the vicar.
5.    All monuments, headstones, or tablets must be kept clean and in good repair in an upright position.
6.    The sexton will render assistance at the erection of headstones, making wall graves, etc., on notice being given.

1893. April. Mr. Laurence Knapp was appointed parish clerk by the vicar, and it was directed to be entered in the minutes.
Notwithstanding the long list of regulations respecting the management of the churchyard, the matter does not appear to have been settled, for at this meeting a resolution is passed, " That the churchwardens write the bishop's secretary, and also the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, asking who is the proper authority to order where the graves are to be dug, and also who are the legal persons for keeping the churchyard in proper order."
In reference to this, a letter is received from the bishop's chaplain, dated March 22nd, 1894 " In Sir R. Phillimore's book of ecclesiastical law I find that the rector or vicar has the freehold in the churchyard, qualified undoubtedly by the rights of the parishioners ; that the parishioners shall repair the fence of the churchyard at their own charge. The churchwardens shall take care that the churchyard be well and sufficiently repaired, fenced, maintained with walls, etc. The churchwardens are bound to see that the footpaths are kept in proper order and the fences in repair. It is generally so, that the parishioners are allowed to choose the place of a grave, with the consent of the vicar."

1894. March.      Mr. Daniell resigned the office of Sexton, and Col. Tremayne was appointed, who appointed as his deputy Wm. Hellings.
In 1894 the new Local Government Act came
into operation, and a meeting is called for the 31st May, "for the purpose of obtaining the opinion of the parishioners relative to Flushing being a ward of itself for the purposes of that act " ; when it was resolved " That the parishioners of that portion of the parish outside the ecclesiastical district of Flushing are unanimously of opinion that Flushing ought not to be a ward of itself."

1895. Mr. Matthew A. Doble retired from the office of churchwarden after forty years service.

1896. It was carried, "That the vicar be requested to grant permission to erect grave curbs in the churchyard upon the payment of the old fee of £1" ; also " that he be advised to allow no enclosure to exceed 6ft. by 3ft."

1898. Alterations of fees in regard to the depth of graves are again made, and it is resolved "That the sexton be paid at the rate of 1s. per foot for digging the graves beyond the depth of 5ft. 6in."

1899. Again, it is resolved "That the sexton in future be paid 4s. for digging single depth graves, and 7s. for digging graves of extra depth."

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