| Level | Collection |
| Title | Chitterne All Saints with St Mary |
| Description | Records of the parish of Chitterne.
The two parishes of All Saints and St Mary were served by one vicar from 1848, and later in the 19th century both churches were replaced by one new church. All Saints Church has now been demolished; the chancel of St Mary's remains and is still used for occasional services.
This collection is split into three sections:
1. Chitterne All Saints
2. Chitterne St Mary
3. Chitterne All Saints with St Mary
Generally records are easily allocated to the relevant section. Where records exist both pre and after the united benefice, records are generally found in section 3. |
| Place Name | /Chitterne/Wiltshire |
| Administrative History | Before 1894 parishes had responsibility for both civil and ecclesiastical matters having taken on greater responsibility for civil functions previously under the jurisdiction of manors. In 1894 the Local Government Act reformed local government and created civil parish councils which took over responsibility for the secular duties of the parish.
Responsibility as the formal administrative unit responsible for relief of the poor lay with the parish following the 1601 Poor Relief Act. The next most significant change in poor relief was the 1834 Poor Law amendment Act which formed Poor Law Unions from groups of parishes managed by an elected Board of Guardians. For records of Poor Law Unions see catalogues H1-19) Powers were then transferred to local councils following acts of 1926, 1927 and 1929.
Note that some post-1894 material now falling under the responsibility of civil parish councils may appear within parish collections (the relevant parish council collection makes note of this where instances occur). |