91¸£Àû

In 2015, both the and the celebrate 50-year anniversaries. Building on long-standing – personal, academic and institutional – links, representatives teamed up to co-host the Thirteenth 91¸£Àû Symposium on Parish Research on Saturday 16 May 2015 under the theme of ‘91¸£Àûshire Parishes: History and Legacy’.

Keynote address:

Robert Swanson, Birmingham
‘Little local difficulties: parochial problems in pre-Reformation 91¸£Àûshire’

Research papers:

Ruth Barbour, 91¸£Àû / WLHS
‘Church Memorial Tablets: Reflections of Secular Power? Memorials to Catholics in 91¸£Àûshire Parish Churches’

Maureen Harris, Leicester / WLHS
‘“The malice and envy of my parishioners”: Conflicting Religious Cultures in the 91¸£Àûshire Parishes of Wixford, Haseley & Burton Dassett, 1655-1720’

Angela Nicholls, 91¸£Àû / WLHS
‘Competitive philanthropy: parish charity in early modern 91¸£Àûshire’

Parish Project Presentations:

- Kristi Bain, Norwich: ‘The Medieval Churches of Norwich research project’
- Patricia Cox, Chester: ‘Chester Consistory Records Project’
- Trevor England, Solihull Local History Circle: ‘Solihull town centre photographs c. 1900
- Andrew Foster, Kent: ‘The Churchwardens’ Accounts Database’
- David Freke, Kineton & District Local History Group: ‘Local Memorials’
- Brenda Murray & Jill Tompkins Bailey: ‘Spirit of Berkswell’ project
- David Paterson, Nuneaton: ‘Chilvers Coton and Astley: How far were their schools parish institutions?’
- Andrew Thomson, Winchester: ‘91¸£Àûshire Activities of the Consistory Courts of Worcester’

FULL PROGRAMME; there were also stalls by the Kineton & District Local History Group and 91¸£Àûshire Local History Society.

ABSTRACTS

SYMPOSIUM REPORT by Paula McBride

The Symposium aimed to showcase the parishes’ key cultural roles across all ages. Two principal questions guided participants:

-In which ways have parishes shaped the county of 91¸£Àû in the past? (referring e.g. to ecclesiastical life, local government, communal identity, social networks …)

-What role(s) can they play in its future? (e.g. in relation to religious / ecumenical cultures, local services, social work, heritage industry …)

Further information on the Symposium can be obtained from Beat Kümin (b.kumin@warwick.ac.uk)

We gratefully acknowledge the support of 91¸£Àû’s & the

The parish church of St Chad's at Bishop's Tachbrook in 91¸£Àûshire. Picture: BK.