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ensuing year, so that, with only occasional exceptions, each
churchwarden served the parish for two years. This
custom extended over two hundred years. From "time
immemorial" to 1853, the choice of both Churchwardens was
vested absolutely in the majority of the Vestrymen present.
In the last-mentioned year "An Act for the appointment
and regulation of Vestries in the parishes of St. Margaret
and St. John the Evangelist, Westminster," (16 and 17 Vict.,
cap. 225) prescribed a course to be followed in case the
Rector and Vestrymen should disagree, in which case "the
Rector shall nominate and appoint one of the Churchwardens,
and a majority of the Vestrymen present shall
then and there elect the other Churchwarden." In 1853
the Vestry appointed both Churchwardens,* in 1854 one
was appointed by the Hector, although no "disagreement"
is recorded or implied by the minutes. The rule thus
established has been followed without exception, and governs
the procedure at the present day.
After the illustrations already given of the onerous
demands made upon the Churchwardens, further reference
to their duties may be omitted without apology. It is only
proposed, therefore, to allude to the formalities attending
the appointment, some of which are still observed, and to
present two or three instances possessing exceptional
interest. In 1669 an attempt was made to conduct two
elections of churchwardens simultaneously—one in the
Vestry at the east end of the church, the other in the
porch at the west end. As the record recites the formalities
then ordinarily observed, it is given in extenso:—
In the Parish of St. Margts, Westmr, The Churchwardens are
Chosen according to ye Antient Custom of ye sd Parish
Tyme out of Mind, the Thursday before Whit Sunday
at 2 of the Clock, in manner following.
There is A Bell appoynted to be Tolled that ye Parishioners have
* Mr. John Lettsom Elliot and Mr. Edgar Horne were the two gentlemen last
chosen under the old régime. Both gentlemen happily survive, and continue
their interest in the affairs of the parish, Mr. Edgar Horne still retaining his
seat on the Vestry.