Here’s an interesting find. A copy of our accounts book from 1895-96, the first year of Eastington Parish Council accounts. Elected Parish Councils were introduced by the Local Government Act 1894 and transferred all the non-religious functions from the church to the elected parish councils; out of 13,000 civil parishes 6000 of them with a population greater than 300 were to have a parish council. The entire council was to be elected annually on 15th April, this changed to every 3 years and now we elect the council once every 4 years in May.
The Parish Council income came via the assistant “Overseer”, a parochial church role that collected rates and overseeing relief of the poor. The term “overseer” continues through the accounts book for some years despite the transfer of non-religious functions.