The Sanctuary Lamp, given by "B.B" in memory of the Poet.
The Sanctuary lamp was given to the Church in memory of the Poet by B.B. in 1923. The front panel bears the name "Byron." On the other panels are inscribed the dates of his birth and death —January 22, 1788, April 19, 1824—two short quotations—" Father of Light, on Thee I call," "Bright be the place of thy Soul," the donor's name in very small lettering, and the date of her first visit to Hucknall Church, July 20, 1921.
The Registers carry us back over a period of three and-a-half centuries. They are in place, stained and mutilated, but, on the whole, they are in a wonderful state of preservation. There were intervals when registration was neglected. The following entries are found in the registers:—
"NOTE.—In the year of our Lord God 1577 the minister of the Church then neglected to write downe in the parish register either Christening's. Weddings, or Burialls as apeareth."
At the end of the year 1629 we have the following:—
"NOTE.—The minister hath neglected to write into the register either Christenings. Wedding's, or Burialls for certain years."
There is no record of weddings and burials between the years 1592 and 1629. Christenings were recorded during this period to the year 1617.
At other times entries were very sparse.
The First Volume consists of 56 leaves of parchment, and contains entries of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials from 1559 to 1686.
There are 13 parchment leaves in the Second Volume, all loose, in a parchment cover. It contains a record of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials from 1696 to 1725.
The Third Volume is a small folio of 32 parchment leaves, bound in parchment boards. It contains Marriages from 1729 to 1753, and Baptisms and Burials from 1726 to 1783 and 1782 respectively. The later volumes are of no particular interest.
The Ancient Church Registers. 1559 to 1783 A.D.
The Church Plate.—The Church possesses a very beautiful silver-gilt Chalice with Cover, and Paten, the gift of the Honourable Elizabeth Byron, the daughter of Viscount Chaworth, and wife of William, the son of Richard Byron, the Second Lord, to whose memory the Tablet in the Sanctuary was erected. The Chalice bears the inscription:—
The Silver-gilt Chalice and Paten, the gift of the Honourable Elizabeth Byron, 1664.
"This cup was given to the Church of Hucknall Torkard by the Honourable Elizabeth Byron, Anno 1664."
On the Paten are inscribed the Byron coat of arms and the words:
"This plate was given to the Church of Hucknall Torkard by the Honourable Elizabeth Byron, duaghter of the Right Honourable Viscount Chaworth, Anno 1664."