ARTICLES TO BE ENQUIRED OF BY The Church-VVardens and Side-men (with the assistance of their Ministers) of every Parish within the ARCH-DEACONRY of NORWICH, IN THE VISITATION Of the Right Worshipfull Doctor WILLIAM GERY, ARCH-DEACON of NORWICH. In the Year of our Lord God, 1664

Sir Justinian Lewyn Knt, Official.

LONDON, Printed by J. Grismond, 1663.

ARTICLES OF Visitation and Enquiry, &c.

TIT. I. Concerning Churches or Chappels, with the Orna­ments and furniture thereunto belonging.
  • I. IS your Parish-Church or Chappel in good and sufficient repair, both for the Roof, Windows, Floore and Seats?
  • II. Hath any part of your Church, Chap­pell or Steeple béen Demolished or pulled down, what part and how long since; or any of the Lead, Timber, or Bells thereunto formerly belong­ing, any way imbezelled or sold, and by whom?
  • III. Is there a decent Font of Stone with a Cover, and doth the same stand at or near the nether end of your Church in such manner as antiently and usually Fonts have stood for the Baptizing of Children? Is there a decent Communion-Table in your Chancel, with a decent Carpet, and another Covering of white Linnen to be spread thereon at the time of the Administration of the Lords Supper; and have you a séem­ly Challice or Communion-Cup, with a Cover, and one or more Flaggons?
  • IV. Have you a convenient Seat or Pew wherein to read Divince Service; a Pulpit, with a decent Cloath or Cushions; a large Bible of the last Translation; and a Book of Common-Prayer, lately published, Anno 1662; the Book of Homilies, set forth by Authority; and a printed Table of the Degrées [Page] [...] [Page 1] [...] [Page 2]within which Marriages are Prohibited; and a Book of Ca­nens and Constitutions Ecclesiastical, and a decent Surplice and Good for your Minister to Officiate in? And are the Ten Commandements set up at the East end of your Church or Chappel, and are the Kings Armes set up in some fitting place of your Church or Chancel?
  • V. Have you a Register-book in parchment of Christenings, Burials, and Marriages, and is the same kept in all points according to the antient use?
  • VI. Have you a Book of Paper, to record the Names and Licences of such Strangers as are admitted to Preach in your Church or Chappel, and doe such Strangers subscribe their names? As also a third Book for the Church-Wardens ac­counts? As also a Chest with Locks and Keyes wherein to keep the said Books, and the afore-mentioned furniture?
TIT. II. Concerning the Church-yard, the Houses, Glebes, and Tythes belonging to the Church.
  • I. IS your Church-yard sufficiently fenced and decently kept? Hath any person encroached upon the same, or made a y Door into it, and how long since?
  • II. Is the House of your Parson, Vicar, or Curate, and the Out-houses in good repair? Have any of them béen defaced, or pulled down without licence? Have there béen any encroach­ments made upon the same, or any of the ancient Marks or Bounds removed or changed, and by whom?
  • III. Have you a true and perfect Terrier of all the Glebe­lands, Gardens, Orchards, Tenements, or Cottages, be­longing to your Parsonage or Vicarage? As also a Note of such Pensions, Rate-Tythes, and Portions of Tythes, or other yearly profits (either within or without your Parish) as belong thereto? Have any of the same been with-held from your Minister, and by whom, as you know or have heard?
TIT. III. Concerning Ministers.
  • [Page 3]I. IS your Minister legally Instituted and inducted into his Benefice, and did he within two Moneths after his in­duction, publickly in the Church upon some Sunday or Holy day, in the time of Divine service, read the 39 Articles of the Church of England, established by authority: and there pub­lickly declare his assent thereunto?
  • II. Is he resident among you? How many weeks hath he been absent from you without urgent necessity?
  • III. Hath your Minister a Curate; Is he in Holy Orders, and conformable to the Laws of the Church; Is he allowed by the Ordinary?
  • IV. Doth your Parson, Vicar, Curate, or Lecturer, if you have any, perform his Office in all things according to the Ru­brick of the Book of Common-Prayer, lately established, and the Act of Vniformity published therewith?
  • V. Doth your Minister at the reading divine service, wear a Surplice and Hood?
  • VI. Doth he observe the Holy dayes and Fasting-dayes, the Ember wéekes, and the yearly Perambulation in Rogation week, as is appointed by the Rubrick?
  • VII. Is your Minister licensed to preach; If so, Doth he constantly (not having a reasonable impediment) preach one Sermon in your Church or Chappel every Sunday: or if he be not licenced, or be hindred; doth he procure one to supply his Office, by preaching, or reading one of the Homilies?
  • VIII. Doth your Minister instruct the Youth in your Parish in the Church Catechism, and prepare and present them to be confirmed by the Bishop?
  • IX. Doth he neglect or delay to Visit the sick, or to Baptize any Infant that is in danger of death; Doth he Baptize any without Godfathers and Godmothers, or admit either of the Parents to be Godfather or Godmother to their own Chil­dren?
  • [...][Page 4] X. Hath your Minister Married any persons without pub­lishing the Banes on thrée Sundayes or Holy-dayes, or Licence fi [...]st obteyned?
  • XI. Hath your Minister taken upon him to appoint any publick or private Fasts, Prophecyings, or exercises, not ap­pointed by Authority? Or doth he or any other either Minister or Lay person hold any Conventicles or meetings in private houses, within your Parish, for people of several families to resort unto, under the pretence of Preaching, Praying, Thank [...]giving or Humiliation, contrary to the Lawes and Canons in that case provided?
  • XII. Is your Parson, Vicar, Curate, or Lecturer, a man of a sober life and conversation; Or is his carriage in any kinde, disorderly, or scandalous, and unbeséeming a Minister?
TIT. IV. Concerning the Parishioners.
  • I. IS there any in your Parish that make profession of any other Religion; then what is established in the Church of England, and that refuse to come unto the publick assem­blies, Prayers, or service of the Church? If there be any, what are their Names?
  • II. Is there any person in your Parish, that lyeth under a Common fame, or suspition of Adultery, Fornication, or incest; or is there any of your Parish that are guilty of anti­nuptial Fornication; that have had carnal knowledge of Hus­band or Wife respectively before lawful Marriage? are there any common Drunkards within your Parish, or common swea­rers, or Blasphemers of Gods name, or any that are noted to be Raylers, unclean or filthy talkers, or sowers of sedition, faction and discord amongst their neighbours?
  • III. Doe any of your Parish upon Sundayes or Holy-dayes follow their bodily and ordinary labour, or permit their ser­vants so to doe; are any shops kept open, or wares sold, or doe [Page 5]any Vintners, Inkéepers, or other Victuallers and sellers of Béere or Ale, suffer any persons to tipple or game in their houses upon those dayes, during the time of Divine service, particularly on the 30th of January the 29th of May and the 5th of November?
  • IV. Doth every person in your Parish duely resort to your Church or Chappell, upon Sundayes and Holy dayes, and there Decently and Orderly as well during Divine Service, as preaching the Word of God; demeane themselves reve­rently, uncovering their Heads, Kneeling at Prayers; standing up, when the Creed and Gospell are read?
  • V. Is there any in your Parish that refuse to send their Infant-Children to be Baptised in the Church unlesse in case of urgent danger; or doe they send them to be Baptized in other Parishes; or are they Baptized after other form then is appointed, or are they kept Vnbaptized longer then is allowed; or is there any Infants or more aged persons as yet Un­baptized?
  • VI. Is there any person in your Parish of 16 yeares of Age who doth not receive the Sacrament thrée times in the year, of which Easter is alwaies to be one? Doth any refuse to receive it knéeling, or resort to other Parishes, or doe any strangers come to your Parish Church to receive it?
  • VII. Are there any in your Parish that be Denounced and declared Excommunicate, for any crime committed, How long have they been so excommunicated?
  • VIII. Are there any living in your Parish who have been unlawfully married, scilicet, Without publication of Banes, or Lycense first obteyned, or within the degrées prohibited?
  • IX. Are there any Married Women within your Parish who after their delivery from the perill of Child-birth, efuse to make their publick thanksgiving to God in the Chur h, And when they come so to doe, doe they come decently apparelled, and make their offerings according to Custome?
  • X. Are there any that refuse to pay their duty for Easter offerings, or refuse to contribute to the rates made for the repaire of your Church, or Chappell, or any thing thereunto belonging?
  • [...][Page 6] XI. Doe any refuse to bury their dead according to the rites of the Church of England, and are there any Wills or Testa­ments of persons dead in your Parish that be not proved; or any goods administred without a due grant from the Ordinary? Did any dying within your Parish or elsewhere, leave any Le­gacy to your Church or Chappel, or to the use of the Poor, or to any other p ous, and charitable purposes, what were those Legacies, and how have they béen bestowed?
  • XII. Is there any strife and contention among any of your Parish for their Pewes or seats in your Church? Have any new Pewes béen erected in your Chancell, or in the body of your Church or Chappel, without leave from the Ordinarie?
TIT. V. Concerning Parish Clerks, and Sextons.
  • I. HAve you belonging to your Church or Chappell a Parish Clerke aged 21 yeares at the least? Is he of honest life and conversation, and sufficient or able to perform his duty in Reading, Writing, and Singing? Is he chosen by your Minister, and doth he duely attend him in all Divine Services at the Church? Are his wages duly paid unto him, or who with-holdeth the same from him?
  • II. Doth he diligently doe his duty in kéeping the Church clean and decent, in tolling and ringing the Bells before Di­vine Service; and when any person is departing out of this life, doth he upon notice Toll a Bell, that the neighbours may thereby be warned to recommend the Dying-person, to the grace and favour of God?
TIT. VI. Concerning School-masters, Schools, Physitians, Chirurgions, and Midwives.
  • [Page 7]I. DOth any man kéep a publick or private School in your Parish, who is not allowed thereunto by the Ordi­nary? Doth he teach his Scholars the Catechism of Religion, set forth by Authority? Doth he cause his Scholars upon Sun­dayes and Holy-dayes orderly to repair to your Church or Chappell, and sée that they behave themselves quietly and re­verently during the time of Divine Service and Sermon?
  • II. Doth any in your Parish practice Physick or Chirur­gery? or any Woman take upon her to exercise the Office of Midwife, without License from the Ordinary?
TIT. VII. Concerning Church-Wardens and Side-men.
  • I. ARE the Church-Wardens of your Parish yearly and duly chosen, by the joynt consent of your Minister and Parishioners, or one of them by your Minister, and the other by the Parishioners?
  • II. Have the former and last Church-Wardens given up their Accompts to the Parish, & delivered up to the succéeding Church-Wardens, the Monies remaining in their hands, to­gether with all other things belonging to your Church or Chappell?
  • III. You are further to understand, That according to your Office, you are to provide against every Communion appoin­ted in your Church or Chappell, a sufficient quantity of fine White Bread, and of good Wine, according to the number of Communicants.
THE END.

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