A few years ago (she may still be so) there was a gentlewoman the parish
clerk of some church in London; perhaps some of your readers may be able to
say where: a deputy officiated, excepting occasionally. But many such
instances have occurred.
In a note in Prideaux's _Directions to Churchwardens_ (late edition), the
following references are given as to the power of women to fill parochial
and other such offices: Rex _v._ Stubbs, 2 T. R. 359.; Olive _v._ Ingram, 2
Strange, 1114.