The Charge of the Churchwardens and Sidemen:  
HAving received a Copy of this Book, you are required to repair to your Minister; to hear all these Articles duly and deliberately read over to you; duly, and diligently to consider of them; and by his Advice, (and if need be, with his Concurrence) to Present all, and every such Person or Persons of your Parish, as have committed any Offence, or made any Default, mentioned in these Articles, or any of them; or which are vehemently suspected for the same: Wherein you are to deal uprightly, and impartially; all Affection and Favour, all Hatred and Malice, all hope of Reward, or Advantage, and fear of Displeasure set aside; Signing such your Presentments with your Hands.   

The Form of their Oath.  
YOu shall Swear, Truly and Faithfully, to Execute the Office of Churchwarden, according to the best of your Skill and Knowledge. So help you God.   

ARTICLES OF Visitation and Enquiry Concerning Matters ECCLESIASTICAL.  
EXHIBITED To the Ministers, Churchwardens and Sidemen, of every Parish, within the Diocese of Exeter, At the Primary VISITATION OF THE Right Reverend Father in GOD, JONATHAN, By Divine Permission, LORD Bishop of EXETER, In the Year of our Lord, 1689.  
LONDON, Printed, MDCLXXXIX.   

ARTICLES OF Visitation and Enquiry Within the DIOCESE of EXETER.  

TIT. I. Concerning Churches and Chapels; the Fabric Furniture, and Ornaments thereof.  
1. IS your Parish-Church or Chapel, kept in good and sufficient Repair? Are the Utensiles and Ornaments fairly kept, and preserved from Spoil, Abuse, and Profanation? And all things so decently ordered as becometh the House of God?  
2. Hath the Steeple, or Tower, or any other part of your Church, or Chapel, been pulled, or fallen down? Or have any of the Bells, Led, or other Materials, or Utensiles, formerly belonging thereunto, been embezzled, sold, or made away? And by whom?  
3. Is there a decent Font of Stone, fixed in the Ancient and usual Place in the lower part of the Church, for the Administration of Holy Baptism, and a comely Table for the Holy Communion, placed in the Chancel where it ought to be, with a Carpet of some decent Stuff, and a fair Linen Cloth to cover it, at the time of the Administration of the Holy Eucharist? And have you a fair Chalice or Communion-Cup with a Coves, and a Plate or Paten for the Bread, and a Flagon for the wine, to be used in the Holy Communion? And are they used in these Holy Services only?  
4. Have you in your said Church or Chappel, a convenient Seat or Pew for your Minister to read Divine Service in? A Pulpit with a comely Cloth, and Cushion; a Bible of the last Translation, in a large Volume; and a Book of Common-Prayer, (Established by the late Act of Uniformity? Have you likewise the Book of Homilies set forth by Authority? A Book of Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiastical, first set forth in the Year of our Lord, 1603. by the King's Authority? And a Printed Table of the Degrees, wherein Marriage is Prohibited?  
5. Have you a comely large Surplice for the Minister to wear at all times of his public: Ministration in the Church, provided and Washed at the Charge of the Parish.  
6. Have you a Register-Book of Parchment wherein the Names and Surnames of all Persons Married, Christened, or Buried within your Parish, are duly Registered from time to time? Have you likewise another Book of Paper, wherein are duly Recorded the Names and Licenses of all such Strangers as are admitted at any time to Preach in your Church or Chappel? As also a third Book, wherein are Entered the Churchwardens Accounts for every Year?  
7. Have you a Chest or Coffer wherein to keep the aforesaid Books, and all the aforesaid Furniture in safe Custody? And another with a Hole in the upper part thereof, placed in the most convenient part of the Church, that the Parishioners may put their Alms into it? And are both the said Chests secured with three several Locks and Keys; one Key remaining with the Minister, and the other two with the Churchwardens, severally.   

TIT. II. Concerning the Churchyard; the Houses and Glebes; the Tithes, and other Deuce belonging to the Church.  
1. IS your Churchyard sufficiently Fenced and Decently kept from all Profanation and Encroachment? Hath any Person made any Door into it out of his own House or Ground? Who, and how long since?  
2. Is there a House belonging to your Parson, Vicar, or Curate? And is the same, with all the Outhouses thereunto belonging, kept in good and sufficient repair? Hath any one Encroached upon any Garden, Yard, or Close belonging to your Parsonage, or Vicarage-House? Or changed, or removed the Ancient Marks and Bounds of the same.  
3. Have you a true and perfect Terrier of all the Glebe-Lands, Gardens, Orchards, Tenements or Cottages, belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage? As Also a Note of such Pensions, Rate-Tithes, and Portions of Tithes, or other yearly Profits (either within or without your Parish) as belong thereunto? And is there a Copy of the said Terrier and Note delivered in, to be laid up in the Register Office? Have any of these been withheld from your Minister? And when, or by whom?  
4. Have any of the Ancient Glebe-lands belonging to your Parsonage, or Vicarage, been alienated, taken away, or Exchanged for others, and by whom, and when hath the same been done; And how much is your Parsonage or Vicarage damnified thereby, in the the yearly value thereof, as you know, believe, or have heard?   

TIT. III. Concerning the Clergy.  
1. IS your Minister (so far as you know, or believe) in Holy Orders, according to the Rules of the Church of England? Is he Lawfully admitted to the Cure of Souls in your Parish, as you believe or have heard? Or is he reported or suspected to have obtained either his Orders by any undue Practices, or Benefice by any Simoniacal Contract?  
2. Did he within two Months after his Induction, publicly in the Church upon some Sunday or Holiday, in the time of Divine Service, Read the Thirty Nine Articles of the Church of England, Established by Authority, and there publicly declare his Assent thereunto? Did he within the same time, upon some Lord's-day, publicly read the appointed Morning and Evening-Prayers, and thereafter declare his unfeigned Assent and Consent to the use of all things in the Book of Common-Prayer, contained in the Form prescribed by the late Act of Uniformity?  
3. Is there any Chapel or Chapels of Ease, or Parochial, belonging to your Mother Church? If so, at what distance are they, and how are they ferved and provided for?  
4, Hath your Minister any other Ecclesiastical Benefice with Cure? And how far distant from you, and in what Diocese? Is he generally Resident among you? And when he is Resident, doth he constantly live in his incumbent House? Hath he any Curate usually to assist him when Resident? And when Absent, on due Occasions, doth he provide one, able, sufficient, and Conformable to the Laws, and Orders of the Church of England, and duly Licenced by the Bishop?  
5. Doth your Parson, Vicar, or Curate, read Divine Service on all Sundays and holidays; and the Litany (at least) on every Wednesday and Friday; and publicly Administer the Holy Sacraments of Baptism, and the Eucharist, at least three times a Year, at the three Great Festivals, and perform all other Ministerial Offices, and Duties, in such manner and form, as is directed by the Book of Common-Prayer, lately Established, and the Act of Uniformity therewith Published?  
6. Doth he on the Lord's-day give notice of the holidays, and Fasting-days in the Week following, that the People may be put in mind, and incited to resort to public Prayers in the Church upon those Solemn Occasions? And doth your Minister and Parishioners observe the Yearly Prayers and Perambulation in Rogation Week, for preserving the Bounds of the Parish, and desiring God's Blessing upon the Fruits of the Earth?  
7. Doth he himself constantly every Sunday (unless in case of sickness, or other reasonable impediment) Preach in your Church or Chapel; or procure a Sermon to be so Preached by some other Licenced Preacher; or one of the Homilies set forth by Authority to be there read by a Priest, or Deacon?  
8. Doth your Minister diligently examine and instruct the Youth of your Parish in the Church Catechism, as in the Rubric at the end of the said Catechism is Directed? And being thus prepared, and of convenient Age, doth he take care to Present them to a Bishop to be Confirmed?  
9 Doth he refuse, or neglect to Visit, Comfort, and Pray with the Sick, or to Bury the Dead? Doth he delay the Baptism of any Infant that is in real danger of Death; or Baptise them in any other Place than the Church, when there is no such danger? And when they are (in case of necessity) thus privately Baptised, doth he cause them afterwards, if they live, to be brought into the Church, and certify the Congregation of the Form of Baptism used in Private, and proceed thereupon in all Points, as in the Office of Private Baptism is directed?  
10. Hath he presumed to Marry any Persons in Private Houses? Or such as being under Age, have not the consent of their Parents, or without the Banes first Published on; three Sundays, or holidays in the Church? Or at any other Hours than between Eight and Twelve in the Morning? unless he had a Licence or Dispensation so to do, granted by such Authority, and in such Form as the Canons direct?  
11. Is your Parson, Vicar, or Curate, of a sober, unblameable, and exemplary Life, given to Hospitality and Alms-deeds? Is he in his Apparel, and in his whole outward guard and Dress, grave and decent, as the Canons of the Church require? Or, on the other side, is his Carriage and Conversation in any kind whatsoever disorderty, or scandalous, and unbeseeming a Minister of Jesus Christ?   

TIT. IU. Concerning the Parishioners,  
1. IS there any Person in your Parish that lieth under a common Fame, or vehement suspicion of Adultery, Fornication, or Incest? Any common Drunkards, or common Swearers, or Blasphemers of God's Holy Name? Or any that are noted to be Railers, unclean, or filthy Talkers; sowers or maintainers of Sedition, Faction, or Discord among their Neighbours? Or in sum, any whose Life and Manners are contrary to Godliness, Peace, and Honesty?  
2. Do any of your Parish upon the Sundays or holidays, follow their Bodily, or ordinary Labour? Or compel, or permit their Servants so to do? Are any Shops kept open, or Wares sold at such times? Or do any Vintners, Innkeepers, or other Victuallers, and fellers of Beer and Ale, suffer any Persons to Tipple or Game in their Houses upon those days?  
3. Have you any among you, that be denounced and declared Excommunicate? How long have they been so? And do any of your Parish keep society with them, before they be reconciled to the Church and Absolved?  
4. Are there any living in your Parish as Man and Wife, who are within the Degrees Prohibited? Or any that being lawfully Divorced, have Married again? Or any that being lawfully Married, and not separated, or Divorced by Course of Law, do not cohabit together?  
5. Are there any belonging to your Parish, who refuse to pay the just deuce to your Minister? Or any that refuse to contribute, or pay the Rate Assessed upon them, for the Repair of your Church, or Chapel, and for the providing of such Books, Furniture, and Ornaments, as be requisite for the Performance of all Divine Offices there?  
6. Are there any Wills or Testaments of Persons Dead in your Parish, that be yet Unproved? Or any Goods Administered without a due Grant from the Ordinary?  
7. Is there any strife, or contention among any of your Parish, for their Pews, or Seats in your Church? Or have any of them erected new Pews in your Chancel, or in the Body of your Church, or Chapel, without leave from the Ordinary?  
8. Do you know of any that have Abused the Churchwardens of your Parish, by giving them evil Words for Executing their Office, or to dishearten and deter them from it, as by Oath and Duty they are bound?   

TIT. V. Concerning Parish-Clerks and Sextons.  
1. HAve you belonging to your Church or Chappel, a fit Parish-Clerk, Aged 21. years at least, of Honest Life and Conversation, and sufficiently able to perform his duty in Reading, Writing, and Singing? Is he duly chosen by your Minister? and Licenced by the Ordinary? And doth he diligently attend your Minister in all Divine Offices; audibly making and repeating, the Responses and Suffrages, as in the Liturgy he is directed?  
2. Doth he, or your Sexton, (if there be any such appointed in your Parish) diligently look to the Doors of your Church, that they be Locked, and opened at due times? Doth he keep your Church or Chappel, clean from Dirt, Dust, Cobwebs, and other Annoyance? Doth he Ring and Toll the Bells at the due and accustomed hours, before Morning and Evening Service, that the People may be warned to come unto the Church?   

TIT. VI Concerning Hospitals, Schools, Schoolmasters, Physicians,) Surgeons and Midwives.  
1. IS there in your Parish any Hospital, Alms-house, or Free-Shool? Who was the Founder? Who is now the Patron thereof? And what is the yearly Revenue? What Stipends belong to the Governors, or Masters of the same? Is the same Ordered and Governed in every respect, as it ought to be? And are the Revenues thereof rightly employed, according to the intention of the Founder, and the Tenor of such Statutes and Ordinances, as have been made in pursuance of the same?  
2. Have any Living, or Dying in your Parish, or elsewhere, given any Gift or Legacy, by Will, or otherwise, to the use of your Church, or Poor, or of the Parishioners in general? How is it settled, and in whose hands? And is it, or hath it been misemployed, or disposed of to other Uses?  
3. Doth any Man keep a public or private School in your Parish? Is he allowed so to do by the Ordinary? Is he of sober Life and honest Conversation, and. conformable to the Doctrine and Discipline Established? And doth he teach his Scholars good Manners, Sobriety, Modesty and Obedience, as well as other Learning?  
4. Doth any Man or Woman in your Parish take upon them to practise Physic, or Chirurgery? Or any Woman to exercise the Office of a Midwife, without being first Examined and approved, and thereupon Licenced by the Ordinary? Or doth any Woman take upon her to keep a School, and teach Girls, or young Women, not being duly allowed so to do?   

TIT. VII. Queries to be put to the Minister, concerning the Churchwardens and Sidemen.  
1. ARe the Churchwardens of your Parish duly chosen by the joint consent of the Minister and Parishioners? Or one of them by the Minister, and the other by the Parishioners? Or as the custom of the Parish is?  
2. Have the former and last Churchwardens given up their due Accounts to the Parish, and delivered up to the succeeding Churchwardens the moneys remaining in their hands, together with all other things belonging to your Church, or Chapel?  
3. Do they take care that no misbehaviour or disorder be done by Men, Women, Servants, or Children, in your Church or Chappel, during the time of Divine Service?  
4. Do they against every Communion appointed in your Church or Chappel, provide a sufficient quantity of Bread and of Wine, according to the number of Communicants, at the Parish Charge?  
5. Do they cause all Strangers that Preach in your Church, or Chapel, to enter their Names the same day in a Book provided for that purpose, together with the Name of the Bishop that Licenced them to Preach in this Diocese? And do they permit no other to Preach?  
6. Have they (the Churchwardens and Sidemen) taken sufficient time to draw up their Presentments, and therein consulted with you their Minister for your faithful Assistance?  
THE Ministers of the respective Parishes are required to give in a List of the Names of all such as they have Catechised and Prepared, and do judge fit to receive Confirmation, and to present it to the Bishop, together with the Persons to be Confirmed, before the Visitation gins.   
FINIS.