Ovingham - Manuscripts

This is an extract from Ovingham St. Mary's General Register, 1732 - 1797. This particular page records the change in the beginning of the calendar year. England followed the Julian calendar and until 1752 each year began on the 25th March, Lady's Day. After an Act of Parliament was passed in 1751, the calendar year began on 1st January falling in line with the rest of Europe and adopting 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.