DA Cfe UC-NRLF B N 071 SI A z r Congress 0f ^rtfjaeokgkai S^aaiim IN UNION WITH THE DIRECTIONS FOR RECORDING CHURCHYARD AND CHDRCH INSCRIPTIONS. (Approved by the Congress held on July 3rd, 1907.) 1. Every inscription must be noted— in cases where the lettering is illegible, the fact must be so stated. An effort should be made to recover at least the name and date, but attempts to clean the lettering must not be made without the permission of the clergy in charge. A rubbing with heel-ball or a photograph may often be taken with advantage. Much depends on the fall of the light ; an inscription that cannot be read in the morning may be quite clear in the evening. 2. It is desirable that where possible transcripts should be signed as correct by the Rector or Vicar, as a copy so certified would be received in evidence when the original inscription has become defaced. 3. It will much facilitate work and subsequent reference if a rough plan of the churchyard is made and referred to by letters or numbers. 4. The form and material of the memorial must be stated— whether Altar tomb (inscribed on top or sides or both), head-stone, wooden rail, cross, or slab. jv?97766 5. The record should be on white foolscap paper of good quality, or on good quality typing paper, and writing must be on one side only. The sheets should not be overcrowded and each sheet should be complete in itself, with one or more entries. A few blank lines, varying in number with the importance of the subject, should be left at the end of each entry, for the addition of further particulars. 6. The name of the County should be entered at the top, followed by the name of the Church. Verbatim transcripts are the most valuable, and are strongly recommended ; many authorities decline to approve any other. 7. When transcripts are not made verbatim, the following rules should be observed : — The words, " Here lieth the body of " ; or " In memory of" must be recorded, as the latter do not always indicate an interment, but it is not necessary to give religious observations, such as "in hope of a joyful resurrection"; nor texts nor poetry, unless these have personal application. Every fact, however trivial, must be noted, such as age, residence, occupation of self or parents, or relatives, or cause of death. No alteration in the sequence of the inscription must be made. 8. The following abbreviations are recommended : — b. — born. inf.— infant. d. — died. m. — married. dau. — daughter. mem.— - memory. grs. — grandson. par. — parish. grd. — grand-daughter. s. — son. h. — husband. wid.— widow. 9. The entry should be made somewhat in the following manner : — SURREY. Coulsdon, St. Mary ; Churchyard. (i.) Headstone as follows, and footstone uninscribed — DOE, John, of Brownshill, Coulsdon, surgeon, F.R.C.S.,and J.P., b. ist June, 1740— d. 5th Jan., 1800— of a fall from his horse — s. of John Doe and Mary his wife — of Hill House, Blackheath, Kent, and grs. of Sir James Doe, of Leyton, Warwickshire, one of His Majesty's Judges of the Common Pleas — this tombstone is erected by his wid. Also of Mary his wife— b. 2nd Jan., 1745 — d. 2nd Feb., 18 10 — dau. of Richard Roe and Ellen his wife — of Caversham, near Reading. Also of George, only surviving s. of the above (dates as above). Also of Mary, wid. of John Stubbs of Chelsfield and dau. of John and Mary Doe (dates as above). (2.) Altar tomb — Smith family, covered with ivy, probably 1 8th Century. (3.) Headstone — name illegible — date partly ditto, 18th Century. 10. Where stones are richly carved, or in any way exceptional, they should be described. 11. Quaint or interesting poetry or other matter may very well be quoted, and early inscriptions (say, previous to 1700) should certainly be given in full. 12. Inscriptions in Churches should always be copied in full, with descriptions of the tombs and of any Arms. Careful notes should be made of any Coats- of- Arms or Heraldic Achievements that may appear not only upon monumental stones but also in stained-glass windows, or elsewhere, as on Hatchments, 'Banners, &c. 13. To avoid duplication of work, reference should be made before undertaking a transcript to the Hon. Sec. or Librarian of the County Society, to ascertain if a transcript is known to have been already made. For the same reason, early notice should be sent of the undertaking and completion of any transcript. Where no County Society exists, notice may be sent to the Hon. Sec. of the Committee, who will keep a list. 14. Should any question arise of special difficulty as to treatment, the Committee will be glad to give assistance. 15. In addition to those in Churchyards, it is very desirable that the inscriptions in burying grounds attached to Chapels and Meeting-houses should also be recorded. 16. When all the inscriptions of a Church or Churchyard have been completed, they should be sent to the Secretary of the County Society for preservation in the Society's Library, or in some suitable Institution. 17. When the whole of an Archdeaconry, Rural Deanery, or some such division has been completed, it will be for Societies to consider whether they can print the records in full, or an Index to them. It is very desirable that they should be printed in full. 1 8. Use may often be made of Parish Magazines for reproducing these Instructions, appealing for workers, and in some cases, for printing the results. In the latter case, arrangements should be made for printing off a certain number — say 50 to 100 copies, which can afterwards be bound up. RALPH NEVILL, F.S.A, Hon Sec, Castle Hill, Guildford. IN UNION WITH THE Sterietg 0f ^nfiq»ar«s of Sftorotam. CHURCHYARD INSCRIPTIONS. The following instructions for transcription have been drawn up in response to the reference from the Congress of 1906, and have been approved by the Committee, constituted as follows : — Lord Balcarres, M.P. F.S.A. (in the Chair). Sir George J. Armytage, Bart. F.S.A. (Chairman of Council, Harleian Soc). C. H. Athill, Esq. F.S.A. (Richmond Herald). W. Bruce Bannerman, Esq. F.S.A. (Hon. Sec. Harleian Soc). C. B. Partridge, Esq. F.S.A. J. Horace Round, Esq. LL.D. Ralph Nevill, Esq. F.S.A. (Hon. Sec). It is felt that it is most desirable that there should be a uniform system, and that it will much promote transcription if a paper of simple rules can be ready at hand for distribution to anyone who may wish to take up the work. The record of Churchyard inscriptions is important, because these are so perishable and because, although they must not be taken to be necessarily accurate, they frequently give much more information than Registers, or other formal records. No attempt has been made to limit the date ; in most populous places, the churchyards have for some time been closed, and in others the work of recording up to date will be insignificant. Verbatim transcripts are the most valuable and are strongly recommended ; many distinguished authorities decline to approve any others. It is felt, however, that to insist on the record of formal expressions, may unnecessarily limit the supply of workers, but no alteration of the sequence of the words of the Inscription must be made, nor the Inscription thrown into Index or alphabetical forms ; an Index can be profitably added. Some transcribers make a rough sketch-plan of the Churchyard and refer to the divisions by letters ; this is recommended as a useful method, but is not essential. It will be an advantage if the transcripts be verified and signed by the clergy or by some other well known and competent person. This could, however, be done after the deposit in the Libraries and previous to publication, and although desirable, is not essential. In addition to those in Churchyards, it is very desirable that the inscriptions in burying grounds attached to Chapels and Meeting-houses, should also be recorded. When all the inscriptions of a Church or Churchyard have been completed, they should be sent to the Secretary of the County Society for storage in the Society's Library, or in some suitable Institution. When the whole of an Archdeaconry, Rural Deanery, or some such division has been completed, it will be for Societies to consider whether they can print the records in full, or an Index to them. It is very desirable that they should be printed in full. Use may often be made of Parish Magazines for reproducing these Instructions, appealing for workers, and in some cases, for printing the results. In the latter case, arrangements should be made for printing off a certain number — say 50 to 100 copies, which can afterwards be bound up. Gaylamount Pamphlet Binder Gaylord Bros.. Inc. Stockton, Calif. r. M. Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. U.C.BERKELEY LIBRARIES CDSllEmSD RETURN CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT !©■► 198 Main Stacks LOAN PERIOD 1 HOME USE 2 3 4 5 6 ALL BOOKS MAY BE RECALLED AFTER 7 DAYS. 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