GUARDIANS OF THE HOUSE OF WORSHIP

For centuries, churchwardens ensured that parishes kept the records of baptisms, weddings and burials that are now vital for tracing our ancestors. But who were these church officials, and was your ancestor one of them? Simon Wills explains

The role of churchwarden dates back to medieval times, although they were then called church reeves or . Most churches had two churchwardens, and by tradition one was usually chosen by the minister and the other by the parishioners. It was a desirable