The third volume contains marriages from 1754 to 1811, and is on paper, in the usual printed form. There are eighty-five entries of marriages, filling twenty-nine pages.
Smethcote church is dedicated to St. Michael. It had fallen into a bad condition, and was almost entirely rebuilt in 1850, excepting parts of the north-west and west walls. In the north wall of the chancel is a small Norman window. Two square-headed Norman doorways are preserved, and pieces of Norman arches are built into the wall externally. In the church is an ancient font, not now in use. The ancient chalice has evidently been converted into an Elizabethan cup. At the west end of the church is a circular mound or barrow. The church was originally a chapel of Condover.
In 1392, William Bronington and Isabella his wife, and Roger son of John de Scottes Acton, were patrons of the rectory. In 1653, Thomas Phiilips of Netley occurs as patron. Richard Beddowes, of Coton Hill, by his marriage with Anne daughter of Richard Phillips of Netley became patron, and presented in 1749. The patronage afterwards passed to the Hulme Trustees, in whom it is now vested.
The families of Phillips and Wilding are among the chief families named in the Registers.
The rectors named in the Registers are as follows :--
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1612
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John Shelvocke [? of Hart Hall,Oxon, in 1572], buried 1 June, 1612.
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1624
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Rouland Jaundrell, curate.
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165. . .
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Richard Wolley.
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1653.
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Richard Phillipps, M.A,, Merton Coll., Oxon ; rector of Acton Burnell 1662, and of Harley 1663 ; “ a mortified and pious minister in Salop.”
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1658.
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Robert Elis, minister.
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1665--1708.
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John Beddowe, bap. 29 Jan., 1638, buried 14 Aug., 1708.
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1708--46.
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Thomas Beddowe, Ball. Coll., Oxon ; buried 30 June, 1746.
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1747--49.
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Joseph Orme, curate of Clunbury.
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1749.
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David Rice.
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1775.
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Edward Watkins, minister.
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1837--42.
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William Birkett, M.A,, B.N.C., Oxon ; died 3 Sept., 1875.
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1842--62
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Robert Joseph Buddicom, M.A., Brasenose Coll., Oxon.
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1862--70.
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Theodore Percival Wilson, M. A., Brasenose Coil,, Oxon ; died 8 Aug., 1881.
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1870--95.
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George Mouat Keith ElIerton, M.A., Brasenose Coll., Oxon.
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1896.
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William Robert BIackett, M.A., St. John’s Coll., Camb.
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The curates are :-1776-7, William Jones. 1778, John Powell. 1782, W, Fleming. 1782-1813, William Crosse Curtis. 1813-7, Robert Smith.1819-20, Richard Wilding. 1820- r , Nathaniel Jones. 1824-30, Henry Male. 1831 -2. Richard Phayre. x 832-4, Emilius Nicholson. 1835-9, Hugh Hamilton. 1839, J, Finch Smith. 1839-40, J. A. Ormerod. 1840-2, C. Whittaker. 1851-4, P. Willey : 1860-1, T. P. White. 1861, WilIiam Beresford Beaumont. 1861, Robert Swansborough. 1862, Thomas P. Williams. 1894-95, VV. E. Thompson.
The folIowing abstract was transcribed by Mr. T. R. Horton, but the proof-sheets as they passed through the press were collated with the original registers by the Rev. W. G. D. ‘Fletcher, F. S. A.
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