the earliest record of a priest at berden is that of john de askeby in 1325. at the time of the church of england’s secession and break with rome berden priests were appointed by the bishop of london. during the 19th century the incumbent priest held his office and living under a vicarage, or a curacy that might have been perpetual or stipendiary. the living of the rev frederick gifford nash in the mid-19th century had a yearly value of £150, with a further allowance of £18. 10s from queen anne's bounty. he received a residence and of glebe—land used to support a parish priest—in the gift of christ’s hospital. by the end of the 19th century the value of the living had not increased, and had only risen slightly to £182 by 1914.