The existence of a church at Brafferton was recorded in Domesday in the eleventh century. It was originally dedicated to St Augustine and its patronage was held by the de la River family until 1226 when it was given by them to Newburgh Priory. A vicarage was ordained there in 1311 and the church was appropriated to the Priory in 1316 and again in 1446.
At the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the patronage passed to the Crown and the rectory and advowson were subsequently granted to the Archbishop of York. In 1728 it was returned to the Crown in exchange for the vicarage of Bishopthorpe. The dedication of the church to St Peter dates from at least the 1760s.
The earliest parts of the present church building date to the fifteenth and sixteenth century. In 1831 the medieval nave was removed and rebuilt and the whole church was restored in 1886. The vicarage house was replaced in 1798 following a fire that destroyed existing church records.
The parish includes the townships of Helperby and Thornton Bridge. Between 1693 and the 1950s the manor of Brafferton, which included the village, was owned by the Christian Faith Society.
Published
GB 193
Includes register of christenings, 1798-1944 (note this register uses the Dade registration scheme for the years 1798-1812); register of marriages, 1798-2011; register of burials, 1798-2007 (note this register uses the Dade registration scheme for the years 1798-1812); register of confirmations, 1892-2007; records concerning benefice income, including glebe survey and rental, 19th century, and deed, 1863; charity records, including map of estate in Brafferton of the Society for the Conversion of Negro Slaves in the West Indies, 1796, churchwardens’ records, including accounts, 1775-1894, fabric papers, 1827-1888, 1886, 1902-1949; records of incumbents, including photograph of incumbent and choir, late 19th century, and statistical returns, 1892-1901; records concerning parish rooms and societies, including rules of Helperby Humane Funeral Brief, 1837; school records, including managers' minutes of meetings, 1861-1871, cash books, 1877-1901, annual reports 1890-1920, deed 1858, papers concerning buildings 1882, 1909-1910, 1951, and official returns, 1890-1920; Vestry/Parochial Church Council records, including minutes of meetings, 1901-1949, maps of Helperby, 1811, 1867, 1875, map of Brafferton, early 19th century, and review of parish events, 1937.
This arrangement was designed to reflect the principal activities of the parish and its associated organisations, and to aid researchers in identifying the records these activities generate. This arrangement was introduced in 2020. Records are arranged within the following alphabetical series but retain their original archival reference at file/item level:
A: Parish Registers
B: Church Ceremonial
C: Parish Clergy
D: Property - Religious
E: Property - Secular
F: Parish Administration and Officers
G: Parish Social and Evangelical Activities
H: Overseer of the Poor and Parish Charity
J: Schools
K: Promotional and Informational Material
The archive was deposited at the Borthwick Institute in 1967 by the incumbent. Further additions were made to the archive in 1969, 1982 and 2016.
Further accruals are expected.
Revised (Schema arrangement and retroconversion) 21.02.23 by E. Wilson
Selected records, including registers of christenings, 1798-1944, marriages, 1798-1970, and burials, 1798-1928, churchwardens' accounts, 1775-1894, and a pew award, 1827-1828, are also available on microfilm at the Borthwick Institute (References: MF 646, 1772).
Our collection of parish baptism, marriage and burial registers has been digitised by both Ancestry and Find My Past. Copies of digitised records can be viewed online on Ancestry or Find My Past, as part of larger UK-wide parish registers datasets. You can find out more about these record sets, and how to find our registers, here: https://borthcat.york.ac.uk/index.php/are-you-looking-for-parish-registers.
For related material held by the Borthwick Institute, see the records of the Christian Faith Society which include deeds, accounts, plans and other papers concerning Brafferton, 1682-1954.
Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws. 24 hours' notice is required to access photographic material.
A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.
A typescript finding aid, to file level, is available for consultation in the searchroom of the Borthwick Institute. This includes all material received up to and including 2016.
Published
Published
Published
The earlier registers were destroyed by a fire in the Vicarage in October 1798. The new register includes an account of baptisms from April to July 1798 taken from the parents of the children.
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
With typed index A-D
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
With a note of 3 burials 1892, 1916, 1928 according to the Burial Laws Amendment Act 1880.
Published
Published
Published
From the Primitive Methodist register of baptism at Thirsk.
Published
This register includes a roll of persons confirmed at Brafferton 1902 - 2007 and earlier entries (the earliest dated entry being 1892) copied from an old notebook. The exact status of these earlier entries is unclear.
Published
Published
Published
Published
See also PR/BRAF/13 for 1908 citation for rearrangement of pews.
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
See also photograph of church choir and incumbent Norman M'Neile [late 19th - early 20th century]
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
See PR/BRAF/36 for specification, estimate and plan for electric lighting in 1933.
Published
See PR/BRAF/36 for specification, estimate and plan for electric lighting in 1933.
Published
Published
Published
Published
With copy of the bells' inscriptions
Published
Published
Published
Specification from 1934 and letter from 1936
Published
See also PR/BRAF/37, "A record of 1937", for description of repairs to Church roof and Lady Chapel roof in 1936-1937.
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
The Township of Brafferton. Caption reads "The Estate of The Society for the Conversion and Religious Instruction and Education of the "Negro Slaves" in the British West Islands, by John Tuke".
"The common and the Ox Closes are drawn from a survey made by J. Tuke in the year 1796 and the remainder of the township from a survey made by Charles Pope around the year 1771."
This record contains language that is offensive or harmful. Please see the Borthwick Institute's harmful language statement for information as to why such language may appear and learn more about work underway at the Borthwick to remediate oppressive language. These terms have been retained within the catalogue entry in order to maintain historical accuracy and to provide context of the culture and language of the particular period and place in which the records were created. Such terms are supplied in inverted commas to indicate that they do not reflect the views of the Borthwick Institute or our staff. We apologise for any offence inclusion of these terms may cause.
Printed, paper, finely tinted and illustrated.
The Borthwick holds further records from the Christian Faith Society (formerly The Society for the Conversion and Religious Instruction and Education of the "Negro Slaves" in the British West Islands). For further information please contact the Borthwick.
Published
Field numbers and acreages not dated, early 19th century.
Paper mounted on linen
Published
Plan of the township of Helperby in the parish of Brafferton. Made in 1811 by John Humphreys, Ripon.
Parchment
Published
Paper
Published
Map from sale catalogue - scattered plots.
Published
Published
Published
See also Churchwardens' accounts volume C for minutes of 1827-1828 Pew Committee.
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Needs repair
Published
Includes minutes of 1827-1828 pew committee.
Published
Published
See also PR/BRAF/37, "A record of 1937" for details on groups in 1937: the Church bellringers, choir, Mothers' Union, Church Lads' Brigade and foundation of the Girls' Friendly Society.
Published
Written on back is name Vicar Norman McNeile (or M'Neile). Norman M'Neile (1846-1929) was also known as the "blind vicar", having been completely blind since the age of 12. He served at St Peter's Brafferton Parish Church in Helperby, Yorkshire for 50 years and married Clara Cecilia Willink (1852–1929) in July 1881. His father was Hugh M'Neile (1795-1879), Dean of Ripon.
Published
Published
Published
Published
Established at the house of William Prest, Crown Inn, Helperby, 1 July 1837
Published
Published
Published
Published
Leather covered booklet
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Published
Typed review of the year's events connected with Brafferton Church.