Church Burgesses
Encyclopedia
The Church Burgesses, formerly known officially as the Twelve Capital Burgesses and Commonalty of the Town and Parish of Sheffield, are a charitable organisation
in the city of Sheffield
in South Yorkshire
.
In 1297, the Burgery of Sheffield was established in the Charter to the Town of Sheffield. Thomas de Furnival, Lord of the Manor of Sheffield, granted land to the freeholders of Sheffield in return for an annual payment, and a Common Burgery administrated them.
By the 1540s, the Burgery was unable to maintain essential public works, or to provide for local unemployed people. In 1554, a charter established the Twelve Capital Burgesses, effectively spliting the old Burgery in two. The Burgesses were charged with providing stipend
s for three assistant ministers at the church and with the maintenance of the church. They were also given the power to maintain and improve streets and bridges in the environs of the church. In contrast to the Burgery, which was an elective body, the Burgesses were to fill empty positions by co-option
.
Elsewhere in England, the existence of a Church Rate
proved a source of conflict between members of the Church of England
and nonconformists, and in some cities, church posts became politicised, but the existence of the Burgesses meant that no rate was levied in Sheffield.
In order to pay for their works, the Burgesses were endowed with land in the parish. From 1736 to 1829, they leased an average of 170,000 square years, second in the town only to the Duke of Norfolk
. By 1833, they owned 146 acre (0.59084156 km²). They received rental income from the land, and also income from investments. However, by the nineteenth century, this proved insufficient for them to undertake the maintenance and improvement work. In 1805, they convened a public meeting to discuss the formation of an Improvement Commission. Although this idea was initially rejected, the Sheffield Improvement Commission was established by the Sheffield Improvement Act 1818
.
Relieved of their obligation to maintenance in the town, the Burgesses refocussed on a range of charitable works. Today, it splits its income between "ecclesiastical purposes in support of the Church of England... education and for the betterment of the needy and deprived and ... the benefit of the community." In addition to supporting Sheffield Cathedral (the former parish church), it puts money towards the building of churches and payments towards Anglican clergy stipends throughout Sheffield. A separate trust, the Church Burgesses Educational Foundation, administers its educational funds.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
in the city of Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
in South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
.
In 1297, the Burgery of Sheffield was established in the Charter to the Town of Sheffield. Thomas de Furnival, Lord of the Manor of Sheffield, granted land to the freeholders of Sheffield in return for an annual payment, and a Common Burgery administrated them.
By the 1540s, the Burgery was unable to maintain essential public works, or to provide for local unemployed people. In 1554, a charter established the Twelve Capital Burgesses, effectively spliting the old Burgery in two. The Burgesses were charged with providing stipend
Stipend
A stipend is a form of salary, such as for an internship or apprenticeship. It is often distinct from a wage or a salary because it does not necessarily represent payment for work performed, instead it represents a payment that enables somebody to be exempt partly or wholly from waged or salaried...
s for three assistant ministers at the church and with the maintenance of the church. They were also given the power to maintain and improve streets and bridges in the environs of the church. In contrast to the Burgery, which was an elective body, the Burgesses were to fill empty positions by co-option
Co-option
A co-opting or less frequently co-optation most commonly refers to action performed in a number of fields whereby an opponent is nullified or neutralized by absorption but there are other distinct senses as well....
.
Elsewhere in England, the existence of a Church Rate
Church Rate
The Church Rate was a tax formerly levied in each parish in England and Ireland for the benefit of the parish church. Out of these rates were defrayed the expenses of carrying on divine service, repairing the fabric of the church, and paying the salaries of the officials connected with it...
proved a source of conflict between members of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and nonconformists, and in some cities, church posts became politicised, but the existence of the Burgesses meant that no rate was levied in Sheffield.
In order to pay for their works, the Burgesses were endowed with land in the parish. From 1736 to 1829, they leased an average of 170,000 square years, second in the town only to the Duke of Norfolk
Duke of Norfolk
The Duke of Norfolk is the premier duke in the peerage of England, and also, as Earl of Arundel, the premier earl. The Duke of Norfolk is, moreover, the Earl Marshal and hereditary Marshal of England. The seat of the Duke of Norfolk is Arundel Castle in Sussex, although the title refers to the...
. By 1833, they owned 146 acre (0.59084156 km²). They received rental income from the land, and also income from investments. However, by the nineteenth century, this proved insufficient for them to undertake the maintenance and improvement work. In 1805, they convened a public meeting to discuss the formation of an Improvement Commission. Although this idea was initially rejected, the Sheffield Improvement Commission was established by the Sheffield Improvement Act 1818
Sheffield Improvement Act 1818
The Sheffield Improvement Act 1818 is an Act of Parliament passed in 1818 regarding the administration of the town of Sheffield in the West Riding of Yorkshire.Prior to 1818, the town was run by a mixture of bodies...
.
Relieved of their obligation to maintenance in the town, the Burgesses refocussed on a range of charitable works. Today, it splits its income between "ecclesiastical purposes in support of the Church of England... education and for the betterment of the needy and deprived and ... the benefit of the community." In addition to supporting Sheffield Cathedral (the former parish church), it puts money towards the building of churches and payments towards Anglican clergy stipends throughout Sheffield. A separate trust, the Church Burgesses Educational Foundation, administers its educational funds.