| Description | Those who were seen to have the gift of vocal ministry were known as 'publick Friends', being able to preach the gospel and give a public testimony of their faith. From the 1700s, these came to be known as 'acknowledged' or 'recorded' ministers. The Yearly Meeting made a decision to end the practice of acknowledging or recording ministers in 1924. Any Friend who wished to travel 'in the ministry' was required to seek approval from his/her Monthly Meeting who would issue a certificate of liberation to be carried by the ministering Friend, which was to be returned to the Monthly Meeting once the ministering Friend had returned. The issuing of certificates was recorded in the Monthly Meeting minute books (see SF/2) and Warwickshire North Monthly Meeting maintained a register of 'public' Friends or ministers visiting meetings in the area for the period 1726 - 1810 (see SF/2/1/1/4/7).
From the late 17th century, overseers were appointed to care for Friends who were in need, infirm or sick or who were negligent in their observation of Quaker faith and principles and in the first half of the 18th century, elders were appointed to guide and encourage ministers. Nowadays these roles continue, with overseers having a pastoral role in which they are responsible for ensuring the welfare of all those in a meeting, while elders are responsible for a meeting's spiritual life, ensuring spiritual well-being and proper conduct.
The Yearly meeting introduced a Yearly Meeting of Ministers and Elders in 1754, and from then on Quarterly and Monthly Meetings of ministers and elders started to be held across the country, and were often referred to as 'select' Quarterly Meetings. In Warwickshire, a Quarterly Meeting of Ministers and Elders was first held in 1758. In addition to the duties listed above, elders and overseers attended Preparative Meetings where little or no ministry occurred, monitored the meetings' spiritual condition, and cared for and promoted the religious instruction of young Friends.
Subsequently, primarily in larger places, Preparative Meetings also came to hold meetings of ministers and elders, as was the case in many of the meetings in the Central Area England meeting and its predecessors. With the appointment of overseers and other Friends to the select meetings from 1876 onwards, these came to be known as Monthly Meetings on ministry and oversight. At the Yearly Meeting of 1906, meetings on ministry and oversight were laid down, although in some places, including Warwickshire, they continued as committees (see SF/2/1/1/4/7).
For Warwickshire North Monthly Meeting ministry and oversight records, see SF/2/1/1/6 and SF/2/1/1/4/8. For ministry and oversight records in Warwickshire Middle, Warwickshire South, and Chadwick [Chadwich] Monthly Meetings, see the relevant sections of SF/2/1/5, SF/2/1/6 and SF/2/2/1. For ministry and oversight records in Local/Preparative Meetings, see the relevant meeting in SF/3. |