Peck's Porch Picnic Parties, or The Bishop's Committee for Books and Documents

Abstract

In the late 1940s, the need to establish the existence of historic books and documents in the parishes of the Diocese of Norwich was recognized. The Bishop of Norwich formed the Bishop's Committee for Books and Documents to undertake this survey work. Lists of parochial records and liturgical books were compiled, often revealing forgotten or unrecognized treasures. The sale of the Shipdham parish library occurred before the foundation of the Committee, but the Committee has subsequently facilitated the preservation of other important collections including those at Swaffham and Great Yarmouth. The work provided a model for the Parochial Registers and Records Measure (1978) of General Synod. The Committee continues today, providing a forum for co-operation between the Diocese of Norwich, Norfolk County Record Office, Norwich Cathedral Library, and local historians. This article is developed from a paper given at the Parochial Libraries Conference, 2010.

Keywords:

• DIOCESE OF NORWICH
• BISHOP'S COMMITTEE FOR BOOKS AND DOCUMENTS
• SHIPDHAM
• SWAFFHAM
• PARISH LIBRARIES
• RECORDS