| Description | These were drawn up before a visitation, probably from the apparitors' returns which were much rougher. They give the names of churchwardens summoned to the visitation, arranged under parishes. At the visitation the books were annotated to show which churchwardens appeared or were excused, took oaths of office, paid fees, exhibited bills of presentments, and so on. They were known by various names: call lists, visitation books and churchwardens' books or lists. In the 19th century they were superceded by a series called visitation books (D1/52), which incorporated the similar series of clergy books as well. Up to 1716 they usually include the names of sidesmen as well as churchwardens; and the first four volumes also include some schoolmasters, physicians, surgeons and midwives. |