The Church of England is separated into two areas called
Provinces or Archbishoprics. Within these provinces are 43
dioceses. The Peterborough Diocese covers an area of around 1,200
square miles. These dioceses are split into two or three areas
called Archdeaconries. In the Peterborough Diocese there is the
Archdeaconry of Northampton and the Archdeaconry of Oakham (created
in 1875). The Archdeaconries are further split into Deaneries.
There are 14 in the Peterborough Diocese. Each deanery is further
split into parishes. In the Peterborough Diocese there are 356
parishes.
Today the Diocese of Peterborough covers the County of
Northamptonshire, the Soke of Peterborough and Rutland. This was
not always the case.
The Diocese was officially created in 1541. Before this time
Peterborough fell within the limits of the vast diocese of Lincoln
which extended from the Humber to the Thames. Peterborough Abbey
became a 'Cathedral Church' in 1541, and the last abbot, John
Chambers, became the first Bishop of Peterborough. The Diocese
consisted of Northamptonshire and Rutland. In 1839 the County of
Leicester was separated from the Diocese of Lincoln and added to
the Peterborough Diocese. In 1926 Leicestershire was made into its
own diocese.
A Bishop is the overseer of a diocese and chairs the Diocesan
Synod and the Bishop's Council which decide the strategy work for
the diocese. This information was gathered from http://www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk/.
See also: Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541-1857, Vol 8: Bristol,
Gloucester, Oxford and Peterborough Dioceses by John Le Neve
[revised and] compiled by J M Horn (1996), pp.109-137.
The Bishops of Peterborough 1541-1991 by G Camell
(1993).
Peterborough diocesan records known to exist include:
14th-20th century: deeds and estate papers (National
Register of Archives)
- (Reference: 1966/36, 1967/193, 1968/14, 1969/204,
1970/193).
- Held at Northamptonshire Record Office.
- 16th-20th century: diocesan records
- Held at Northamptonshire Record Office including:
- Marriage licence registers and bonds for the Consistory Court
(1598-1684) and the Archdeaconry Court (1572-1683)
- Bonds and affidavits 1660-1917
- Indexes (names if bridegrooms) and copies 1709-1858
- Church Survey Books 1605-1681
- Correction books 1572-1677
- Instance books 1570-1689
- Court proceedings books 1632-1742
- Glebe terriers 1633-1820
- Miscellaneous books 1521-1727
- Peterborough miscellaneous books 1571-1679
- Episcopal Visitation books 1561-1854
- Episcopal Visitation call books 1846-1931
- Episcopal Visitations: articles of Inquiry, Incumbents' and
Churchwardens returns for Northamptonshire 1846-1931
- Episcopal Visitations: articles of Inquiry, Incumbents' and
Churchwardens returns for Rutland 1846-1931
- Episcopal Visitations: articles of Inquiry, Incumbents' and
Churchwardens returns for Leicestershire 1846-1878
- Archdeacons' Visitations in Archdeaconry of Northampton
1853-1861
- Archdeacon's Visitation returns and other papers in
Archdeaconry of Oakham 1932-1975 Archdeacon's Visitation call books
in Archdeaconry of Oakham 1930-1939
- Consistory court books: acts and proceedings including some
information on visitations 1794-1841
- Consistory court papers 1742-1835
- Schoolmasters appointments 1784-1818
- Licences & Certificates of the appointment of parish clerks
& sextons 1792-1837
- Licences and certificates 1708-1852
- Registers of Curates licences 1814-1913
- Exchequer quietus rolls 1666-1696
- Institution books 1541-1862
- Meeting house certificates 1813-1852
- Administrative records 1578-1812
- Diocesan court books 1550-1800
- Court of Arches, letters about dispute between Bishop and Dean
1727
- Faculty jurisdiction 1668-1831
- Papers relating to probate and tuition 1540-1840
- Estate and manorial records 1520-1826
- Parliamentary surveys 1650-1656
- Legal proceedings 1570-1795
- Miscellaneous deeds and documents 1543-1946
- Miscellaneous volumes 1599-1822
- Ordination books 1570-1688
- Registers of Leases 1678-1870
- Subscription books 1662-1857
- Presentations and institutions 1874-1920
- Plans of parsonages 1828-1926
- Deeds relating to Bishopric properties1816 including some
relating to Boroughbury Manor and Estate; Werrington Manor; and Eye
Manor eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
c1850 : tithe maps (National Register of
Archives)
Held at Northamptonshire Record Office.
A list of the maps at Northamptonshire Record Office is
available at Peterborough Central Library.
1634-1636 : subsidy receipts and accounts (National
Register of Archives)
Held at Northamptonshire Record Office.
Records for various Diocesan associations also exist:
Northamptonshire and Peterborough Prison Charities
(National Register of Archives)
- 1889-2000: correspondence, minutes and accounts.
Held at Northamptonshire Record Office.
Peterborough Diocesan Church Building Association
(National Register of Archives)
Held at Northamptonshire Record Office.
Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers
(National Register of Archives)
- 1883-1985 : records.
- 1924-1980 : minutes
Held at Northamptonshire Record Office.
Peterborough Diocesan Lay Readers Association (National
Register of Archives)
- c1913-1918 : warden's lists of names and addresses.
Held at Lincolnshire Archives.
Peterborough Voluntary Schools Association (National
Register of Archives)
- 1894-1921: records (Reference: 27D64).
Held at The Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester
and Rutland.
Peterborough Central Library holds various diocesan reports and
related publications within the local studies collection. See under
'Peterborough Diocese' in the 'List of non-book stock in Local
Studies Collection' for details. This list is available for
consultation in the Archives Search Room/Local Studies Room at
Peterborough Central Library.
We also have a number of lists for material held at
Northamptonshire Record Office. Please ask a member of staff for
details.
See also Parish Records and Peterborough Cathedral.
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