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80
Uncertainty soon presented itself as to the extent of the
powers of the separate Vestries* in relation to the repair
of the Church.
30th May, 1734.—Ordd That the Opinions of Mr. Serjeant Hawkins
and Mr. Serjeant Eyre be taken upon the Act of Parliament
of the Tenth of Queen Anne for Building Fifty New Churches
and that for dividing Saint John the Evangelist and making it
a Parish Whether the Vestry of Saint John have a Concurrent
right and how farr with the Vestry of this parish in carrying on
the said repair; And whether if the Vestry of St. John should
not concur, this Vestry have not a right to proceed in the
necessary repair of their Church without them.
The Vestry of St. Margaret's parish meanwhile consented
to a contribution from their funds towards defraying the
cost of repairs in St. John's Church.
5th April, 1737. The Vestry being Informed that the Parish of
Saint John the Evangelist hath at Sundry times by the Churchwardens
and Vestry of that Parish laid out a Considerable Sume
of Mony in the repair of their Church, which this Vestry now
taking into their consideration
Do Resolve—That the Sume of One hundred Sixteen Pounds and
Three shillings be paid by the Churchwardens of this Parish
to the Churchwardens of St. John's for and toward the Reimbursing
the Charge of the Repair of the said Church, and
the same shall be allowed our Churchwardens on their
Accompt.
Passing over questions and cases submitted to counsel on
a variety of details as to the application of balances in hand,
raising money by a rate to meet deficiencies, the rights of
pew holders, and other points of minor interest, the minutes
tell of a serious strain in the relationship between the two
Vestries in 1815. By an ill-advised and peremptory notice
the Churchwardens of the parish of St. John the Evangelist
convened a meeting of the two Vestries to be held in the
Vestry Room of St. Margaret's Church on Easter Tuesday of
that year, for the purpose inter alia, of "ascertaining the
"monies and rates to be assessed within the limits of the
"said two parishes for the repair of the said (St. John's)
"Church."
* The incorporation of the "United Vestry" for duties in relation to rating,
street repairs, &c., is noticed hereafter.