| Description | 26 certificates on parchment, sworn in court at Wellclose Court House, 1797-1823. With handwritten transcript list by Albert Arthur Henry Brown (son-in-law of William Green). Originally listed and numbered 1-29, covering 1795-1823: the following are missing from the list: 1-2, 4 and 28.
Each issued by and signed by the parish's vicar and churchwarden and witnesses to the individual receiving of the sacrament of the Lord's supper at that church. Parishes submitting certificates: All Hallows Barking; All Hallows, Lombard Street, City of London; St Leonard Shoreditch; St Mary Whitechapel; St Botolph Aldgate, City of London; St George the Martyr, Queens Square, Bloomsbury; St John Wapping; St Matthew, Bethnal Green; St George-in-the-East, Stepney; Brentford, Middlesex.
Up to the 19th century people in office such as local government positions, justices of the peace and church ministers to merchants, lawyers and members of the royal household, were required to swear oaths of loyalty to the Church of England. Under the Test Act 1672 they had to submit a sacrament certificate confirming they had taken Holy Communion according to Anglican rites.
Our donor of these documents writes: 'Also John Swan was Church Warden of St Botolphs at least from 1800-1812, who signed the certificates between 1800-1812. I believe him to be the maternal grandfather of the above Albert Arthur Henry Brown.' |