ARTICLES TO BE INQUIRED OF, &c. f r g d y CHAP. I. CONCERNING THE CHURCH, THE HONOUR, THE BOOKS AND POSSESSIONS, ORNAMENTS, AND UTENSILS THEREOF. FIRST, whether is the body of your church or chapel, and Reparations and the chancel thereof, in good reparations, decently kept as well keeping within as without; the roof sufficiently maintained with clean of churches, timber and lead, (or with other materials, where there is no &c. lead at all,) so that it rains not in; the windows well and seemly glazed, without disorderly patching; the floors plain and clean paved; the pews and seats orderly set and well maintained; the walls, floors, pews and all other places clean, and sweet kept, in comely and decent sort, without dust, or any thing that may be either noisome or unseemly for the house of God, as is prescribed in a sermon or homilyb set forth to that effect, and in the eighty-fifth and eighty-sixth canon? Is there a partition between the body of the church and the chancel? and if not, when, and by whom, and by what authority was it taken down? Is the steeple in good repair, and the ancient number of bells still kept without diminishing? [Are there any new pews erected in places where none were before, or old altered? By whom, and by what authority? And is there any striving or contention for sitting in pews? and by whom?] b Namely, that 'Of repairing and keeping clean of churches.' c Can. 85. Ecclesiæ sartæ tectæ conservandæ. Can. 86. Ecclesiæ de tertio in tertium annum perlustrandæ, B 2 et earum defectus regiis commissariis СНАР. I. Books. Chests. Orna ments. [i. e. at a valuation.] Articles of Inquiry in the Archdeaconry 2. Whether have you in your church or chapel the whole Bible of the ancient translation called The Bishops' Bible, whereunto the Book of Common Prayer doth refer for Lessons and Psalms, or at the least the whole Bible in the largest volume, and of the translation authorized by his late majesty of blessed memory; the Book of Common Prayer, and other rites and ceremonies of the Church; two Psalters; the book of Homilies; bishop Jewell's works; the book of Constitutions and Canons; a Register-book of parchment for the ornaments belonging to the Church, for christenings, marriages, and burials, kept in all points according to the canons in that behalf provided; another book wherein strange preachers are to subscribe their names, and the name of the bishop by whom they were licensed, before they be suffered to preach? Are all these books well and fairly bound? A chest, as well for the safe keeping of the books and ornaments of the church, as the said register; another strong chest, with a hole in the lid for the alms, and with three locks and keys, one for the minister, the other two for the churchwardens ? A table set up of the degrees wherein by law men and women are prohibited to marry? 3. Whether have you a font of stone, with a comely cover, set in the ancient usual place; a little faldstool, or desk, with some decent carpet over it, in the middle aley of the church, whereat the Litany may be said; a lower pulpit to say service in, a higher for preaching, both decently framed and adorned? Have you a fair and comely table for the holy Communion; and what is it worth to be prized? Is this communiontable placed according to the injunctions ? [Is it not at any time abused by sitting or leaning upon it; by throwing hats on it, writing on it, or otherwise, as is not agreeable to the reverent estimation and holy use thereofe?] Have you a large carpet of silk, or other decent cloth or stuff, continually lying upon it in the time of divine service, with a fair linen cloth at the time of communion; and what might either of them be worth? Have you a fair chalice or communion-cup of silver, for the wine, with a large cover or paten of silver for the bread, when they are consecrated and delivered by the priest? Have you a flagon of silver, or good pewter at least, for the wine which is brought to the church, and set upon the communion-table? And are there no common tavern pots, no wicker, stone, or leathern bottles used for that holy purpose? Have you a comely and a large surplice, and where two ministers are a surplice for each of them, with wide and long sleeves; and what might it cost by the yard, or is now worth? Is it kept clean, and whole, and fair, as it ought to be? Have you a hearse to carry your dead upon to their graves, if need be? And, generally, have you all other things which, after the custom of your country or the place where you live, the parishioners are bound to find, maintain, and keep? 4. Be there any new pews or seats erected in your church Pews. or chancel, in places where none were before, or old altered, or taken away? By whom, and by what authority? [And is there any striving or contention for sitting in pews, and by whom?] 5. Whether is your church-yard well fenced with walls, Churchpales, and rails, as hath been accustomed? Is it decently yard. kept, without abuse and noisomeness? If not, whose default is it? 6. Whether is the mansion-house of your parson, vicar, or Houses. minister, with all housing thereunto belonging, well and sufficiently repaired? Whether have you any alms-house or church-house in your parish; are they well maintained, and employed to those godly uses whereunto they were intended? 7. Whether have you a terrier, or ancient true note of all Terrier of glebe and the glebes, grounds, and portions of tithes belonging to your thes. parsonage or vicarage? Was it taken by the view of honest men in your parish? In whose hands is it? Is there a true and perfect copy thereof laid up in the bishop's registry? If none such be made, you the churchwardens and sidemen, together with the parson, vicar, or curate, are to make dili f Struck through in the MS. |