The Date of Bishop Challoner's Baptism. A Problem Solved

Extract

1981 marks the bicentenary of the death of Bishop Challoner, but 200 years later there is still disagreement about the date of his baptism. Fr L. E. Whatmore has argued convincingly that the Bishop was baptized at Chiddingly in Sussex, the son of Richard Challoner and Grace Willard. But he points out that two different dates have been given for the date of the ceremony. He quotes W. H. Challen's statement that the baptism took place on 29 November 1691 and the then Vicar of Chiddingly's assertion that it took place on 12 October 1691. In fact, both dates are supported by documentary evidence, and it is the original documents that are in error. An examination of the original Parish Register for Chiddingly at the East Sussex Record Office, and of the Bishop's Transcripts for Chiddingly in the West Sussex Record Office explains the difference. In the Register, which was quoted by the Vicar, the entry in the list of baptisms for 1691 reads: ‘October ye 12 Richard ye son of Richard Chalender’. On the other hand, the same event recorded in the Transcripts, and quoted by Challen, reads: ‘November ye 29th. Richard the son of Richard Challoner was baptised’. Which document gives the correct date?