Newry, Donaghmore,
Loughbrickland & Banbridge Web Site
~
Donaghmore Churchwardens-Church
of Ireland
The office
of Churchwarden is one that is ancient, honourable, and responsible.
Like vestries, however, churchwardens have been deprived of much of their
ecclesiastical functions in England by the statute law, while in Ireland they
are no longer recognised in a civil capacity. Their functions and status
were identical in the churches of England and Ireland up till 1869, while at
present, so far as their strictly "ecclesiastical" duties are
concerned, there is no material change. According to the Canons, two
churchwardens are to be chosen in each parish; but their status and duties are
identical, while the distinction commonly but erroneously drawn between the
rector's and people's was never legal, though it is a convenient
ecclesiastical one. The law which governed churchwardens with us, up
till 1870, was in substance as follows:
Churchwardens
were chosen by the joint consent of the minister and parishioners; but, in
case of disagreement, the minister chose one and teh parishoners
another. They were considered for church purposes a kind of corporation
at common law. 'and as such were enabled to hae certain rights in goods and
chattels, and to bring actions for' the use and profit of the Parish.'
They had
'the care and management' of the church furniture, such as the organ, bells,
Bible, and parish books. But in regard to the church fabric and church
yard, they had no such interest; the right of action in case of damage thereto
resting with the rector only, or vicar. They had the care of the
benefice during the vacancy or sequestration unless the ordinary otherwise
appointed. Churchwardens were required to 'see to the reparation of the
church and the making of the church rates.' Up till 1834, churchwardens,
with the 'overseers' of the parish, were obliged to undertake the care and
maintenance of the poor; but the effect of the Act 4 and 5 Will. IV. cap. 76
was to relieve them of this duty. Churchwardens had the right to make
such order as the ordinary might direct in regard to seats in the church or
chancel 'not appropriated to particular persons,' though in practice it
seems they usually carried out such arrangements apart from any special
directions from the bishop. It was also incumbent on them to enforce
order and due decorum during divine service in the church, and to that end it
was held that churchwardens might 'justify the pulling off a mans hat
irreverently worn there, or the removal of the offender.' In former
times the duty was imposed upon them, by the provision against
nonconformnityof 1 Eliz. cap. 2 (repealed by 9 and 10 Viet. cap. 59),
'of levying a forfeiture of one shilling against all such as did not resort to
their parish church on Sundays and holidays.'
According to certain old Canons of the Irish Church (no
longer binding), churchwardens were enjoined to present to the bishop, to be
punished, parishioners guilty of notorious crimes and scandals (Canon 61),
schismatics (Canon 62), and non-communicants (Caonon 63). By Canon 90
they were obliged to warn all 'Innholders, Travellers, Victuallers, and
Alehouse Keepers to sell no meat or drink during the hours of Divine
Service,' while they were 'to see than none of thse light Wanderers in
Markets and Pelting Sellers which carry about and sell Pins, Points, and other
Small Trifles, whom they call Pedlars, set out their wares to sale.'
According to Canon 88, churchwardens were 'to earnestly call upon all those
alack and negligent in resorting to the church.'
It seems several classes of persons were formerly either
ineligible or exempted fromthe office of churchwarden-viz. Peers of the
realf; Members of Parliament; Clergyment; Roman Catholic Clergy;
Dissenting Ministers; Barristers; Solicitors; Clerks in Court; Physicians;
Surgeons and Apothecaries (if duly registered); Aldermen and Dissenting
Teachers; and all persons living out of the parish, unless they occupied a
house of trade therein. (Steers, 'Parish Law,' p. 84)
According to Act of Parliament, churchwardens were
formerly obliged to take the following oath sworn before the rector of vicar:
'We..... and ..... do swear that we will truly, impartially and faithfully
execute the office of churchwardens within the Parish of .......... in respect
of the Parochial rates and assessments, and the collection and management of
the same, and the other properties and monies of the said Parish, so help us
God.'
A loss of some of the churchwardens that served the
Parish was lost. This is what is available of the Churchwardens
that have served.
The following were taken from the Episcopal Visitation
Reports for the Diocese of Dromore at PRONI in Belfast.
1713-Thomas Jackson, Patrick McMullan
1724-John Thompson, John Hutchison
1725-John
Thompson, John Hutchinson
1726-Johann
Wiley, Johann Smith
1727-Jacob
Schooles, Will. English
1736-Jacob
O'Here, David Black
1737=James
Erwin, Robtus Hall
1738-Thos.
Crance, Hugh McKelvey
1789-John
Gilmore, Robert McComb
1740-Archibald
Lowry, John Carson
1741-James
Taylor, Denis McAlinden
1742-John
O'Here, Christ. Jordan
1748-Joseph
Donnell, Bryan O'Here
1744-Jos.
Kidd, Edw. Bell
1745-J.Cunningham,
Thos. McCartan
1746-John
Gibson, Pilemus Grimes
1747-Jos.
Robinson, Charles Boyd
1748-Michael
McCamly, James Martin
1749-William
Mathers, Neal McCourt
1750-Alexander
McClaine, Hugh Creenny
1751-James
McCroory, John MacKann
1752-William
Bradford, Jenkin Savage
1753-John
Downey, Alex. MisKemins
1754-James
Welsh, John Douglas
1755-Cavar
(?) McNally, John Shannon
1756-Henry
McBride, John Loughlen
1757-John
Caruthers, Thos. Ravey
1758-John
McBride, Bryan Graham
1759-Wm.
Young, Robt. Smyth
1760-Felix
O'Hanlon, John McAtormney
1765-Jas.
Johnston, JOhn Bittle (?)
1766-James
Johnston, John Cole
1768-Jas.
Johnston, John Faris
1769-Jas.
Johnston, Alex. Walker
1770-Jas.
Johnston, David Kernahan
The
following are from the Church Vestry Books in Donaghmore Parish
1771-James
Johnston, William Mathers
1772-James
Johnston, Henry McBride
1773-William
Walker, James Finlay
1774-Robert
Waterson, John Martin
1775-James
Walker, Henry Thompson
1776-Isaac
Kidd, William Mathers (the younger)
1777-William
Glenny, Thomas Graham
1778-John
Barr, Thos. Meckimson
1779-William
Glenny, John Kelly. (Hugh Copeland acted)
1780-John
Marshall, William Parks
1781-James
Wiley, Jno. Lockart
1782-John
Lockart, Adam Wilson
1783-John
Lockart, Joseph Neil
1784-Andrew
McCall, Archibald Carr
1785-Thomas
Marshall, William Walker
1786-John
Shannon, 'Small' Daniel Walker
1787-John
Harcourt, John Bradford
1788-Robert
Cochran, Barney Rice
1789-James
McGuffin, Jnr., Henry Mathers
1790-Joseph
Harcourt, Joseph Taylor
1791-John
Walker, Samuel Milligan
1792-George
Mathers, Jos. McKnight
1793-James
McKelvey, George Mathers
1794-George
Mathers, Robert Tate
1795-Joseph
Cole, Sam. Jordan
1796-William
Mathers, John Graham
1797-James
Elliot, John Graham
1798-George
Greenaway, John Waddell
1799-George
Greenaway, John Waddell
1800-William
Walker, John Neil
1801-William
Walker, John Neil
1802-William
Barber, Isaac Cole
1803-Hugh
Parks, John Neil
1804-John
Neil, Hugh Parks
1805-Alexander
Walker, John Neil
1806-John
Walker, Henry McGuffin
1807-John
Walker, Alex. McGuffin
1808-Robert
Hamilton, Alex. McGuffin
1809-William
Mathers, James Thompson
1810-William
Mathers, 'Long' Joseph Kidd
1811-William
Kidd, William Mathers
1812-William
Mathers, jAndrew Wilson
1813-William
Mathers, Andrew Wilson
1819-Andrew
Marshall, Archibald Marshall
1820-Samuel
McCullough, David Weir
1821-Joseph
Parker, John Smith, junr.
1822-Thomas
Marshall, John Young
1823-Thomas
Marshall, John Young
1824-James
Coates, Andrew Marshall
1825-Leonard
Alex. Gunning, Thomas Welch or Walsh
1826-Leonard
Alex. Gunning, David McMaster
1827-Trevor
Corry, Samuel Boyd Marshall
1828-Trevor
Corry, Samuel Boyd Marshall
1829-Smithson
Corry, jAndrew Marshall
1831-Arthur
Innes, Ralf Vaughan
1832-John
Marshall, John Harcourt
The vestry,
Dec. 30, 1806, appointed Alex. McGuffin churchwarden in the place of Henry
McGuffin (deceased)
David
McMaster acted as deputy churchwarden for Trevor Corry, 1827,1828,1830
1833=Andrew
Cuppels, Isaac Mathers
1834-James
Lochart, 'Little Barney' Rice
1835-John
Clark, Isaac Kidd
1836-Bernard
Rice, Robert Gibson
1837-John
Porter, Isaac Mathers
1838-David
McMaster, James Sturgeon
1839-Edward
Curteis, John Clark
1840-Isaac
Mathers, Saml. Boyd Marshall
1841-James
Sturgeon, Thomas Walsh
1842-John
Mahood, William Mathers
1843-Wm.
Clark, Jas. Mathers
1844-Francis
Greenaway, George Mathers
1845-Elijah
Clark, John Whaley Magavry (?)
1846-John
Whaley Magavry (?), Elijah Clark
1847-William
Porter, William Lochart
1848-William
Porter, Bernard Rice
1849-William
Porter, Bernard Rice
1850-William
Porter, Bernard Rice
1851-William
Porter, Alexander Mahood
1852-William
Porter, Richard Wiley
1853-David
Wiley, John Harcourt
1854-John
Harcourt, jWilliam Harcourt
1855-Francis
Greenaway, James Mathers
1856-David
Greenaway, James Mathers
1857-David
Greenaway, Joseph Mathers
1858-William
Greenaway, James MacConnell
1860-James
Macconnell, William Greenaway
1861-James
Macconnell, Joseph Mathers
1862-William
Greenaway, James Macconnell
1863-Andrew
Marshall, William Clark
1864-Andrew
Marshall, William Clark
1865-Joseph
Harcourt, Henry Hamilton
1866-Joseph
Harcourt, Henry Hamilton
1867-William
Lochart, Alexander Mahood
1868-John
Mathers, William Harcourt
1869-Joseph
Patterson, William Mathers
1875-David
Greenaway, William Harcourt
1876-David
Greenaway, William Harcourt
1877-David
Greenaway, JOseph Patterson
1878-George
Gordon, J.T.C. Quinn
1879-George
Gordon, J.T.C. Quinn
1880-George
Gordon, J.T.C. Quinn
1881-Joseph
Patterson, John Mehaffy
1882-Joseph
Patterson, John Mehaffy
1896-Joseph
Patterson, George Gordon
1897-William
Clements, George Mathers
1898-William
Clements, William Mathers
1899-Henry
Clements, William Mathers
1900-G.A.
Orr, George Gordon
1901-G.A.
Orr, George Gordon
1902-G.A.
Orr, George Gordon
1903-Joseph
Patterson, William Mathers
1904-Joseph
Patterson, William Mathers
1905-Joseph
Patterson, William Mathers
1906-Joseph
Patterson, William Mathers
1907-Colonel
Carden, William McClean
1908-Colonel
Carden, William McClean
1909-Colonel
Carden, H. M. Cooke-Cross
1910-Colonel
Carden, H. M. Cooke-Cross
1911-Arthur
C. W. Innes-Cross, H. M. Cooke-Cross
1912-George
Mathers, Christy McClean
1913-George
Mathers, Christy McClean
Select
Vestry, 1912-A.C.W. Innes-Cross, Saml. Gordon, J.P. (Hon. Secretary and
Treasure), George Gordon, J. J. Robinson, M.B., Professor Anderson, M.A., M.D,
J.P., JOseph Patterson, William Mathers, William McClean, JOhn Drake, J.J.
Grattan, Samuel Mehaffy, and David Greenaway.
Diocesan
Synodsmen-1876-8: Arthur C. Innes, jSamuel Gordon, J.T.C. Quinn and Joseph
Patterson. (No appointment of synodsmen appears in the vestry books, 1879-82):
1883-12: George Gordon and Joseph Patterson.
