Ovingham - Manuscripts

This is an extract from Ovingham St. Mary's General Register, 1732 - 1797. This particular page records the change in the calendar year of 1751. England followed the Julian Calendar and until September 1751, was 11 days behind the rest of Europe. After an Act of Parliament was passed in 1751, the calendar was changed and 11 days were omitted during September. As a result, September 2nd 1751 was followed by September 14th. This brought England in line with the rest of Europe which used the Gregorian calendar. Many of the Ovingham parish records are deposited with Northumberland Archives Service. Previously they were kept at the church. For many years church records were stored in the Parish Chest. This tradition dates back to medieval times. The Chest would usually be found in the vestry and kept under lock and key. All church records would be stored there. For example, baptism registers, poor relief records and churchwardens' accounts would all be found within the Chest.