5 June 2004
One year on. A big thank you to all of those who have participated so far. All work units for the period 1754 to 1837 have now been sent out and very many have been returned. Extra checkers would be appreciated to speed up the completion of this period.
The period from 1559 to 1754 is now being tackled using version 1.3 of the Andrew input program (download from this website or CD from Colin Allen). These earlier records are not so detailed but the writing can be more difficult to follow. Volunteers for this period now welcome. Also the work is very suitable for those without a computer because they can transcribe the registers on to paper and their handwritten copy can be typed up later. So if you know of someone without a computer who could help please let Colin Allen know.
10 April 2004
Version 1.3 of the Andrew input program has now been prepared and is being checked. The main feature of version 1.3 is the additional display options provided. The reason for this is that inputting will soon move to the earlier years of the registers. These early years have far less information than the later ones so, although they are more difficult to read, there is less to record. In order to speed up data input the new version allows additional fields (eg witnesses, the status of the parties etc) to be disabled as required by the inputter. This way they should not waste time regularly skipping over unnecessary input fields. Version 1.3 will be available for download from this website when checking is finalised.
February 2004
Checking of volunteers' returned work is now well under way.
21 October 2003
Some 64 work units have been distributed and 42 returned. Checking has not yet started but is expected to do so soon. A further two films have now been copied ready for volunteers.
23 July 2003
A further 12 volunteers have been recruited since launch day. Three films have now been photocopied. 35 work units (from films 3866 and 3868) have been distributed to 27 volunteers who between them have now returned 10 work units.
11 July 2003
Version 1.2 of the Andrew input program was completed. It resolves several bugs found by users of version 1.1. The new version can be obtained from this site.
9 June 2003
The launch started, appropriately enough, in the nave of St Andrew's itself. Volunteers had a chance to look around the body of the church and were then taken down to the crypt which has very recently been cleared of over 3,000 bodies, many in lead lined coffins. These have been re-buried at the City of London Cemetery at Manor Park where they join those moved 130 years earlier when the At Andrew's churchyards were cleared for the construction of the Holborn Viaduct. Else Churchill was presented with a list of names (about 700) for those that could be identified. (Some more information and pictures can be found by following the Crypt icon at the St Andrew, Holborn website.)
The party then reconvened in the lecture room at the Society's premises. Else Churchill gave a talk about the significance and importance of the work being undertaken, David Squire explained the working of the data input program and the need for editorial consistency and Colin Allen dealt with the administrative aspects of the project. Some 15 "starter packs" comprising a batch of photocopies, instructions and a CD of the input program were distributed.