Articles of visitation and enquiry concerning matters ecclesiasticall according to the laws and canons of the Church of England, exhibited to the ministers, church-wardens, and side-men of every parish within the diocese of Worcester / by the right Reverend Father in God, John, Lord Bishop of Worcester. Church of England. Diocese of Worcester. Bishop (1662 : Gauden) 1662 Approx. 25 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 8 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A32972 Wing C4090 ESTC R38740 17962131 ocm 17962131 106784 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . 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Visitations, Ecclesiastical. 2005-10 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-01 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-05 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2006-05 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES OF VISITATION and ENQUIRY Concerning Matters Ecclesiasticall , according to the Laws and Canons of the Church of ENGLAND , EXHIBITED To the Ministers , Church-Wardens , and Side-men of every Parish within the Diocese of Worcester , By the Right Reverend Father in God , JOHN Lord Bishop of WORCESTER . LONDON , Printed by J. G. for Richard Royston , Bookseller to His most Sacred Majesty , 1662. The Tenor of the Oath to be tendered to the Church-Wardens and Side-men of every Parish in the Diocese of VVorcester . YOu shall Swear , after diligent enquiry , to make a true answer , according to your knowledge , unto the Articles in this Book now given you in Charge ; and to present such of your Parish as are Offenders therein , contrary to the duty they owe to God and the Laws Ecclesiasticall : and this you shall do , as in the sight of God , uprightly and truly . So help you God. ARTICLES Of Visitation and Enquiry , &c. TITUL. I. Concerning Churches or Chappels , with the Ornaments and Furniture belonging to them . I. IS your Church-Fabrick ( or Chappel ) with all things appertaining to it , kept in good repair within and without , with such cleanlinesse , decency and order , as becometh the house dedicated to the Publick Worship and solemn service of God ? II. Hath any part of them , or any thing belonging to them , béen sold or embezelled ? when ? and by whom ? III. Is there in your Church or Chappel an handsome Font of Stone , standing in a convenient place , with a good cover to it , for the Administration of Baptisme ? Is there also a decent Communion-Table , with a fair Carpet of Silk or fine Cloth , also a fine linnen covering to be used at the holy Administration of the Lords Supper ? What Cup , Chalice , Patin , or Flagons have you belonging to that Service ? IV. Have you in your Church ( or Chappel ) a convenient Pew for your Minister to read Divine Service in ? Also a Pulpit , with a decent Cloth and Cushion ? Have you a large Folio Bible of the last Translation , with two Books of Common-Prayer well bound , one for the Minister , the other for the Clark ? Have you the Book of Homilies set forth by Authority ; also the Book of Canons , and a Table of allowed deg●ée● in Marriage ? V. Have you a Register Book of Parchment for all that are Christned , Married , and Buried in your Parish , in which are set down the names of the parties , with the Day , Moneth and Year of each Christning , Marriage , and Burial ? Is the transcript of these every year within one moneth after March 25. brought in to the Bishops Registry ? VI. Have you a Paper-Book , in which the names of strangers that Preach or Officiate in your Church or Chappel are set down ; and another Book for your Church-wardens accounts . VII . Have you a fair Surplice and other Ornaments , according to his degrée , for your Minister to use in his Publick Administrations , onely for outward decency , order , and distinction ? VIII . Have you a strong Chest , with Locks and Keys , wherein the Plate and other Vessels , with the Books and Vestments belonging to the Church , may be safely and decently kept ? Have you a Bier with a black Herse-cloth for the decent interment of the dead ? TIT. II. Concerning the Church-yard , Houses , Glebes , Tithes or Rents belonging to the Church . I. IS your Church-yard sufficiently senced with Walls , Rails , or Pales , and decently kept from all annoyance and encroachment ? Are the trées therein preserved ? II. Is the Mansion-house of your Minister , with all other houses thereto belonging , kept in good repair ? Have any of them béen pulled down or defaced ? Hath any encroached upon the Land thereto belonging , or felled the Trées there on growing ? III. Have you a perfect Terrier of all Glebe-lands , Gardens , Orchards , and Tenements belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage ? Also a particular List of such Pensions , Tithes , Rents , Customs , and other yearly Profits within or without your Parish , as belong thereto ? Are any of them withheld from your Minister ? and by whom ? IV. Have any of the ancient Glebe-lands belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage béen taken away , or alienated by Lease , Sale , or Exchange , without License from the Ordinary , and the frée consent of the Incumbent ? Have any Inclosures béen made in your Parish to the detriment of the Church ? TIT. III. Concerning Ministers . I. IS your Minister Episcopally Ordained ( Deacon or Priest ) according to the Laws of the Realm of England , and the ancient practice of the Church universall , no lesse then of this National Church ? II. Is he defamed or suspected to have obtained his Orders or Benefice by any Simoniacal compact ? III. Hath he béen legally Instituted and Inducted into his Benefice ? Did he within two moneths after his Induction publickly read in the Church , upon some Lords-day or other Holy-day , in the time of Divine Service , the 39. Articles of Religion established in the Church of England ? Did he then and there publickly declare his assent thereunto ? IV. Hath your Minister béen Licenced to officiate by the Bishop of this Diocese , or either of the two Universities ? Doth he being thus Licenced diligently read Divine Service , and Preach every Lords-day , in your Church or Chappel , unlesse hindered by Sicknesse or reasonable absence ? and in such cases doth he procure some lawfull Minister to read Prayers , to Preach , and perform other Ministerial duties ? V. Doth your Minister Preach sound Doctrine onely , both for Faith and Manners , tending to the Edifying of people in the knowledge of God and their Saviour Iesus Christ , according to the holy rule of the Scripture , and the obedience of the Gospel ? Do you know that he hath at any time within one years space last past preached any False , Heretical , Seditious , Scandalous or Schismatical Doctrine , thereby to seduce people to Errour or Faction , to the danger of their Souls , and the disturbance of the Peace of this Church and Kingdom ? VI. Doth your Minister in his Prayer before Sermon devoutly and discréetly commend to the grace of God the Church Catholick here on earth , particularly these British Reformed Churches ; also the Kings most Excellent Majesty , according to his just and Royal Titles ; together with all Estates Ecclesiastical and Civil ? Doth he praise God for the faithful , who have overcome this World , and are at rest from their labours ? Doth he alwayes conclude with the Lords Prayer ? Doth he in his Prayer or Sermon affect any odde or Fanatick expressions , or excessive length ? VII . Doth your Minister in the Morning and Evening Service , and in the Administration of the Holy Sacraments , and in performing of other publick Religious Offices appointed by the Church of England , use the respective Forms in the Book of Common Prayer , together with those Rites and Ceremonies which are enjoyned in this Church , and declared to be not any necessary parts of Divine Worship , but onely things of Decency , Order , and Edification , tending to the Peace and Uniformity of the Church ? VIII . Doth your Minister diligently examine in the Church - Catechisme the Youth of your Parish every Lords-day in the afternoon ? Doth he also instruct others that are ignorant in the Fundamental points of Christian Religion ? Doth he prepare and , as occasion is offered , present the Youth so instruct to the Bishop , to be Confirmed by the laying on of his hands , with Prayer and Benediction , in that faith they professe , according to the Primitive practice of the Church of Christ ? Doth he endeavour to reclaim all Popish Recusants , and other Sectaries in your Parish , to the true Religion established in the Church of England ? IX . Is your Minister , whether Parson , Vicar , or Curate , conformable in his Doctrine and Life to the holy Rule and great example of the Lord Jesus Christ ? Is he a man of a studious , sober , peaceable , unblameable and exemplary life , for Piety , Sanctity , Charity , and Industry in his calling ? Is he Grave , Modest , and Regular in his outward demeanor , for Haire and Clothes , according to the Constitutions and Customes of the Church of England ? Is his Company , Carriage and Conversation in Word and Déed such as becometh a Minister of the Gospel , who remembers the great account he must give for his own and other mens Souls committed to his charge ? X. Is he ready to visit the Sick , and to perform those Offices to them which are required in the Church of England ; al●o to Baptise any Infant in danger of Death , when he is desired so to do ? Is any Infant or other by his default yet unbaptized in your Parish ? Doth he refuse to give the Sacrament to any in your Parish , and for what Cause ? or doth he give it to such as are scandalous notorious sinners , or such as are excommunicate , or refuse to be reconciled to their Neighbou●s ? XI . Doth your Minister Marry any persons in private Houses , or such as are under Age , not having the consent of their Parents or Guardians ? Doth he marry any without Bannes first published three Sundayes or Holy-dayes in the Church ? Doth he marry at other Houres than betweene eight and twelve in the Forenoone , without having any Licence so to do ? XII . Hath your Minister taken upon him to appoint any publick or private Fasts , Prophecyings , or Religious exercises , without lawfull Authority ? Doth he in those that are duly appointed use the Forms prescribed by Authority ? Doth he , or any other Minister or Lay-person , hold any Conventicle or Religious meetings in private houses within your Parish , for people of severall Families to resort unto , contrary to the Laws and Canons in that case provided ? XIII . Is your Minister constantly Resident among you ? And how many wéeks in a year hath he been absent from his Benefice ? Hath he any Curate to assist him in his absence or presence ? Is that Curate in Holy Orders according to the Church of England ? Hath he a Licence from his Bishop to serve the Cure ? And doth he carry himself also as an able and discréet Minister , and conformable to the Church of England ? What yearly stipend hath he ? XIV . Is there in your Parish beside the Parson , or Vicar and Curate , any that Preacheth onely as a Lecturer ? Is he in Holy Orders , and conformable to the Church of England , and Licenced by the Bishop of this Diocese ? Doth he read Divine Service before his Lecture , and in all things demean himself as is most for the Peace of the Church of England and of your Parish ? XV. Doth your Minister give notice of and duly observe Holy-dayes , Festivals , or Fasts , with other solemn times , as Ember and Rogation Weeks , according as is by the Laws and Canons of this Church appointed ? TIT. IV. Concerning Parishioners . I. IS there any in your Parish that are reputed Hereticks or Schismaticks , refusing Communion with the Church of England , or professing any other Religion than what is Established in this Church , seducing others from it , and rayling against it ? Are there any convicted Papists , known Anabaptists , Familists , Quakers , and other Separatists in your Parish ? II. Is there any person in your Parish that lyeth under any common fame or vehement suspicion of Adultery , Fornication , or Incest ? Are there any common Drunkards , Swearers , or Blasphemers of Gods Name , and his Holy Word ? Are any noted for railers , unclean and filthy talkers , or sowers of sedition , or living in discord and contention ? Are there any excommunicated by the censures of the Church , and not yet reconciled ? III. Do any of your Parish profane the Lords-day , by neglecting of publick Holy Duties , or by doing the works of their ordinary callings , or by using unlawful Recreations , or permitting their Children and Servants so to do ? Do they duly observe other Holy-dayes , Festivals , or Fasts appointed by Authority , for the advancement of piety , charity , and devotion ? IV. Do those that inhabit or sojourn in your Parish duly resort to your Church or Chappel , there to worship God according to the Religion of the Church of England ? Do they come thither , and continue there during Divine Service , Sermons , and other Holy Duties , with that reverence , order and decency , befitting humble and devout Christians , as is required by the Laws , Canons , and laudable customs of the Church of England ? V. Are there in your Parish any that refuse to have their Infant Children Baptized by your Minister ? or do they keep them unbaptized longer than this Church alloweth ? Are there any Infants or more aged persons in your Parish not yet Baptized ? VI. Doth every House-holder in your Parish cause their Children , Apprentices and Servants to learn the Church Catechisme , and give account of it to your Minister , as he shall require it in the Church on Sundayes or other Holy-dayes , as is appointed ? And when they are therein well instructed , do they take care to have them brought by the Minister to Confirmation , when occasion is offered , by the Bishop , for the increase of all spiritual gifts and graces in them ? VII . Is there any person in your Parish , who being sixtéen years of age , and well instructed in Religion , neglecteth or refuseth to receive the Blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper at least thrée times in one year ( of which Easter to be one ? ) Do all receive this Sacred Mystery with that outward gesture of humility , reverence , and lowly adoration , which becomes them to their God and Saviour , méekly knéeling , according to the Order and Custom of the Church of England ? VIII . Are there any of your Parish who do keep familiar Society with them that are excommunicated , so as to countenance them in their sins , or encourage them in their contumacy ? IX . Are there any of your Parish who are known or suspected to be unlawfully marryed , contrary to the Laws of God and this Church ? Are there any who having béen lawfully divorced do live together again ; or who being lawfully marryed and not divorced , do yet live asunder ? X. Are there any marryed Women in your Parish , who after their safe delivery from Child-birth refuse to make their humble and publick thanksgiving to God for so great a mercy , according to the Rites and Appointment of the Church of England ? XI . Are there any of your Parish who refuse to pay their Easter-Offerings and other Duties to your Minister ; or to pay the Rates assessed on them for the repaire and provisions of the Church ? XII . Do any among you refuse to bury their dead according to the Forms and Rites of the Church of England , which are so consonant to the faith , hope , and charity of true Christians , towards those that dye in the peace of the Church ? Are there any Wills or Testaments of persons dead in your Parish yet unproved , or any Goods Administred without a legal grant from the Ordinary ? Do you know of any Legacies given to your Church , or the poor , or other pious and charitable uses , not yet received by you , or detained from you ? XIII . Do you know or have heard of any in your Parish , who having the presentation of an Ecclesiastical Living , hath made any Simoniacal compact or gain thereby , either in mony , or by reserve of any part of the Tithes or Glebe belonging to that Benefice ? XIV . Have any Pews or Seats been erécted in your Church or Chappel without leave from the Ordinary ? Is there any strife or contention about Seats in the Church ? Have any occasioned Riot , Clamor , or Fighting in the Church at any time ? TIT. V. Concerning Parish-Clerks and Sextons belonging to the Church . I. HAve you a Parish-Clerk , who is of a sober life and good report ? Is he able for Reading , Writing , and Singing as a Clerk ? Is he chosen by your Minister and approved by the Parish ? Are his wages duly paid him ? II. Doth he or your Sexton take care of the Church , to kéep it lockt and clean , to open the doors , and to ring the Bells in due time , to call the living to the Worship of God ; also to admonish them by tolling of a Passing-Bell of any that are dying , thereby to meditate of their own Deaths , and to commend the others weak condition to the mercy of God ? TIT. VI. Concerning Hospitals and Almes-houses , Schools and School-masters , Physicians , Chirurgeons , and Midwives . I. WHat Hospital , Almes-house , or Free-school hath béen Founded in your Parish ? Are they so ordered in the Revenue and Vse as the Founders appointed , and the Law of the Land allows ? II. What School-master private or publick is there in your Parish ? Is he ( or they ) Licenced by the Bishop or his Chancellor ? Doth he instruct his Scholars in the Catechisme and Religion of the Church of England , according to that Conformity and Order which is established as necessa●y for the Publick Peace ? III. Do any in your Parish practise Physick , Chirurgery or Midwifery , without Licence from the Ordinary ? TIT. VII . Concerning Church-Wardens and Side-men . I. ARe the Church-wardens of your Parish yearly chosen according to Law , and do they appoint Side-men to assist them for the due ordering of the Church ? II. Have the last Church-wardens given up their accounts to those that succéed them , together with all monies and other things belonging to your Church or Chappel ? III. Do your Church-wardens and Side-men diligently take notice of their names , who without a sufficient cause are absent from Divine Service and Sermons on the Lords-dayes and other Holy-dayes ? Do they by Warrant from the next Iustices levy 12. pence by way of distresse ( according to Law ) upon their Goods , in case they refuse to pay it , for their wilful and causelesse absence ? and is the money so levyed distributed to the poor of your Parish , and kept upon account in a Book ? IV. Do you suffer none to stand idle , or to play , or walk , or talk together , or to behave themselves rudely and unseemly within or without the Church during the time of Gods Holy Worship and Service , to the scandal and disturbance of the Minister and Congregation ? V. Do you provide fine White-Bread and good Wine against every Communion , according to the number of Communicants ? VI. Do you cause all strangers who preach in your Church to enter their names in a Book , and by what Bishop they are Licenced to Preach ? VII . Have you taken care to give a true Answer unto these Articles , and to draw up your presentments according to your Oaths , consulting with your Minister and other Neighbours ? THis you are seriously to consider , That as the faithful discharge of your Offices according to your Oaths and Duties is a special means to repress , punish , and reform sins , scandals , and disorders in your Parish ; also to preserve the honour of Religion and the Peace of this Church , to the glory of our God and Saviour ( which are the great Uses and Ends of all Church-Government and Discipline : ) So if you neglect your Duties herein , you sin against God , your Consciences , and the Churches Prosperity , being liable , in case of wilful Omission and Perjury , to those Punishments which are by the Law to be inflicted on you for your defaults . The Ministers of every Parish , are desired to given in the Names of such as having not yet received the Lords Supper , are by them upon examination judged fit for Confirmation , and so for the Holy Communion . THE END .