Burton Church in 1875
I have been having another look at the Burton Church records stored in the Carlisle County Record Office. They include the "Answers to the Bishop's Questions" provided by the Vicar of Burton in 1875. He was the Rev. William Chastel de Bonville who ministered at Burton from 1866 to the end of the century. Confusingly his surname was composed of all his three last names, which meant that I did not find him under the 'B's' in Crockford's Clerical Directory. His name indicates that he was probably descended from French Huguenot ( Protestant ) refugees who fled to England in the 1680's. He obtained a third class honours degree from Trinity College, Oxford in 1841 and was a Curate for nearly 25 years in Gloucestershire and Guildford before coming to Burton. The value of the Burton 'living' had recently gone up by £17 to £240 pa which with an Easter Offering collection of about £20 gave him about £5 per week. He also got a free house. This might seem meagre until compared to the 'Best Man's' farm labourer's wage of £18 - £20 for a half year in 1875. Moreover, average earnings did not exceed £5 a week until after 1945 when there had been huge inflation caused by two World Wars. Locally, in 1875, the Vicar of Milnthorpe had £150 pa and Heversham £450. Hence, the Rev. Chastel de Bonville was probably better off than all but a half dozen of his parishioners unlike, I understand, the situation of today's minister!
By 1875 he had already 'restored' the Church building which 'was re-opened in November 1872 after having been re-floored with concrete, re-pewed entirely with open seats of American Oak handsomely carved. The tower has been opened to the Church and has been turned into a baptistery. The Organ Gallery has been removed and the organ placed in the chancel occupying the position of the old vestry. The Chancel has been paved with tiles. The Holy Table is new as is the Communion Rail and handsome new oak screens.'
Holy Communion was celebrated only once a month and on Christmas Day, Easter Day, Ascension Day, Whit Sunday, Trinity Sunday and on 'the first day of the year'. There were only about 50 communicants from a population of 800 ( compared to the 2001 population of 1400 ). The attendance at other services was between 50 or 60. Except on Communion Sundays Morning Prayer was the only service although he later introduced a weekly Evensong. So contrary to the myth that our forebears 'all went to Church three times every Sunday' the size of the congregation was no better than now.
The Vicar did, however, hold catechism classes for children and 'for lads who have left the Sunday School' whom he instructed 'fully in the subject of the Holy Communion at the time of their confirmation'. He went to the Sunday School 'pretty constantly but not at fixed times or stated days ...I have an excellent School Master' along with two male and four female teachers for the 65 scholars.
Rather complacently he saw 'no real obstacles to persons attending though the appropriation of pews has given some few excuses to neglect attendance at Divine Service.' The congregation could, however, be 'more heartfelt in their worship.... in making their responses' and 'there is no excuse for neglecting to kneel for they have every facility now for doing so comfortably'. He did not hold 'cottage services' as even 'the furthest hamlet is within a mile of the Church'. But 'every month there is a ladies meeting for working ( sewing? ), reading and prayer for the Zenana Mission'. ( Where or what was 'Zenana?' ) Also Collections were made for the Church Missionary Society and the British and Foreign Bible Society.
On 'moral considerations in your parish' he stated 'there has perhaps been some slight improvement as to drinking. This may be owing in part to the establishment of a Lodge of Good Templars in our midst. This Society...prevents me from attempting to set up a Church of England Temperance Society. There would not be scope for two societies and it might be regarded as a rival.'
Apart from that all was well in Burton in 1875 - according to The Vicar.
