ARTICLES To be Enquired of, and Answered unto, BY THE Churchwardens AND SIDEMEN of every PARISH: IN The Triennial Visitation OF THE Right Reverend Father in GOD, THOMAS, Lord Bishop of St. DAVID.  
In the Fifth Year of his Consecration.  
LONDON, Printed for Henry Mortlock at the Phoenix in St. Paul's Churchyard. 1691.   

 

THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE  
‛ In Paradise the Tree  
Of Knowledge was the pride;  
By God's supreme decree,  
The man who eat, then died.   

But Heaven in mercy since  
Does him who tastes forgive;  
To know is no offence:  
Now, he who eats, shall live. '   
HENRY STEVENS of Vermont, FSA, &c 4 Trafalgar Square, London. 1882   

The OATH to be Administered to the Churchwardens of every Parish.  
YOU shall Swear truly and faithfully to execute the Office of a Churchwarden within your Parish, and shall diligently inquire and make true presentment of such things and persons as to your knowledge are presentable by the Ecclesiastical Laws of this Realm. 
 So help you God and the Contents of this Book.   

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 judge fit for Confirmation; and to present it to the Bishop, together with the Persons to be Confirmed, before the beginning of that Holy Office.   


TIT. I. Concerning Churches and Chapels, the Fabric, Furniture and Ornaments thereof.  
I. Is your Parish-Church or Chapel in the Walls, Roof, Windows and Floor in good repair? are all things therein contained kept orderly and decently? when the Floor is opened for any Burial, is it in short time after well paved again? if not, by whose fault?  
II. Hath any part of the Church, Chappel or Steeple fallen, or been pulled down, and when? hath the Bells, Led, Stone or any Materials been embezzled, sold or alienated?  
III. Is there a decent Font of Stone with a Cover? doth the Minister baptise publicly there? have you a decent Table for the Holy Communion, placed where it ought to be in the Chancel, with a decent Carpet and other Covering of white cloth to be spread thereon at the Celebration of the Lord's Supper? and have you a fair Chalice or Cup, with a Cover of Silver, and one or more Flagons? have they been profaned or put to any common use?  
iv Have you a convenient Seat or Pew for Reading Divine Service, a Pulpit with a comely Cloth or Cushion? are the Inhabitants of your Parish Welsh or English for the greatest part? have you accordingly a large Bible of the last Translation, two Common-prayer-books published by Authority Anno Dom. 1662., and the Book of Homilies, and these not only Welsh but English? have you the Books of Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiastical, the 39 Articles of Religion, a printed Table of the prohibited Degrees of Marriage, a fair Surplice and Hood?  
V Have you a Parchment Book for Registering Christen, Marriages and Burials? is the same kept in all regard, according to Law or ancient Custom? and is there a Transcript thereof sent yearly to the Bishop's Registry?  
VI Have you also Paper-books for the Names and Licenses of all Strangers admitted to Preach in your Parish-Churches? for the Churchwardens Accounts, or such Moneys as are collected upon Briefs, & c? have you a Chest with Locks and Keys for the aforesaid Books and Furniture, and the Keys kept by the Minister and Churchwardens? and have you a Bier and a decent Cloth for carrying the Dead to their Graves? and have you a Box in the Church to receive the Alms of charitable persons for the Poor?   

TIT. II. Concerning Churchyard, Houses, Gleab-Land, Tithes, and Deuce belonging to the Church.  
I. IS your Church Yard well fenced and decently kept from all encroachments and profanation? hath any Doors been made in it, or Trees cut down? and how long since?  
II. Is there, or have you heard of any House belonging to the Minister? is the House and Outhouses in good repair? have any of them been pulled down or defaced without licence? have any encroached upon the same, or removed or changed any of the ancient marks or bounds thereof? when, and by whom?  
III. Have you a true and perfect Terrier of all the Gleab-Lands, Gardens, Orchards, Tenements and Cottages belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage? have any Glead-Lands been changed or taken away? have you a Note of such Pensions, Rates, Tithes, portions of Tithes, Composition or any yearly Profits (within or out of 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? and is your Terrier said up in the Bishop's Registry?   

TIT. III. Concerning the Clergy or Ministers.  
I. IS your Minister in Holy Orders and duly qualified? is he licenced by the Bishop? hath he been legally inducted, and read the 39 Articles? and hath he according to Law declared his assent thereto? is he known or suspected to have obtained his Orders or Benefice by any Simoniacal or undue practice?  
II. Hath your Minister any other Benefice or Cure? is he constantly 〈◊〉 in your Parish? and doth he reside in the Vicarage or Parsonage house? doth he preach and officiate every Lord's day? or is he often absent? and how long? and how is your Church served in his absence? doth he provide for the Cure? and what allowance doth he make for the same?  
III. Doth your Parson, Vicar or Curate, in reading daily the Morning and Evening Prayer, baptising of Children, solemnising Marriage, churching Women, celebrating the Lord's-Supper, visiting the Sick, and burying the Dead, 'tice the Forms prescribed in the Book of Common-Prayer, and observe all such Rites and Ceremonies as are therein appointed? doth he in performing all Divine Offices in your Church or Chappel wear the Surplice and other Habits suitable to his degree, if he be a Graduate in either of the Universities?  
iv Doth your Minister often admonish the people not to defer the Baptism of their Children, and that it is most convenient to Baptise them upon Sundays and other holidays when most number of people meet together for the reasons mentioned in the Rubric, and that without great cause and necessity none are to be Baptised in private Houses? and when need compels, doth your Minister do his Office according to the form of private Baptism? and afterward if the Child lives, is it brought to Church with Godfathers and Godmothers? and doth he certify the Baptism of the Child and receive it into the Congregation of Christ's flock? doth he observe the time appointed in the Rubric for that Office, and do all other things prescribed?  
V Doth your Minister celebrate the Lord's-Supper so often that your Parishioners may communicate three times at least every year? doth he give solemn notice thereof by reading the Exhortation appointed for that purpose? doth he in public and private Discourses endeavour to persuade his Parishioners to frequent Communions? doth he keep back them who through scandal or any notorious crimes ought not to be admitted? and doth he give the Bishop notice thereof?  
VI Doth your Minister diligently examine and instruct the Youth of your Parish in the Church-Catechism? doth he present them so instructed and prepared to the Bishop to be confirmed? doth he endeavour to reclaim and reduce all Papists and Separatists (if any be in the Parish) to the true Religion established in the Church of England?  
VII. Doth your Minister presume to Marry any persons in private Houses, or any under Age, without the consent of Parents of Guardians, or before Banns are published three Sundays or holidays in the Church in time of Divine Service, or at any other hours than between right and twelve in the morning, unless he had licence so to do? doth he duly visit, comfort and pray with the Sick? doth he observe the directions as well as form of Prayer in preparing them for Death, in giving them the comfort of Absolution and the holy Eucharist, upon the humble and hearty desire of the person visited? doth he give Christian burial to all who die not unbaptised, excommunicated or laid violent hands upon themselves?  
VIII. Doth your Minister every Sunday declare to the people the days of Fasting and Abstinence, and the holidays in the week following? is he careful and exemplary in observing them? doth he every year twice read the 39 Articles and Book of Canons, that the people may understand and continue steadfast in the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England?  
IX. Is your Minister sober, studious and peaceable, and of exemplary life? is he grave, modest and regular in his behaviour and apparel? is he in any kind whatsoever disorderly or scandalous? is there any one in the Parish in holy Orders who hath laid aside his profession, or any unlicensed or itinerant Clerk, or any one under suspension or other censures of the Church for false doctrine or evil manners? if any such, how doth he behave and comply himself?   

TIT. IU. Concerning Parishioners.  
I. ARE there in your Parish known, or found to be common swearers or blasphemers of God's name, Drunkards, Adulterers, Fornicators or Incestuous persons, or any that be noted to be profane persons, railers, unclean or filthy talkers, standerers, sowers of strife, faction and discord among their neighbours, or any Excommunicated persons?  
II. Doth every Parishioner repair to and in your Church or Chapel both in time of Divine Service and preaching the Word of God, behave themselves reverently kneeling at the Prayers and Sacrament, standing when the Creed and Gospel are read, saying audibly with the Minister the Confession, Lord's-prayer and the creed, and making such answers as are appointed in the Book of Common-prayer?  
III. Are there any in your Parish who neglect the Baptism of their Children, or refuse to send them to be baptised at the Church, except in case of necessity? or do they send them to be baptised at other places or with any form but what is appointed? or are there any persons unbaptised in your Parish?  
iv Are there any married Women, who after their delivery from Childbirth, neglect or refuse to be Churched and make their public Thanksgiving? Do any in your Parish live as Man and Wife who are within the degrees prohibited, or any that being lawfully married and not divorced by course of Law do not cohabit, or any that being lawfully divorced have married again? Do any refuse to pay their East●● Offerings of Duties, or to pay their Rates for repair of the Church or any thing thereunto belonging?  
V Are any last Wills of persons departed concealed or not proved? did any leave any Legacies to your Church or Chapel, or to the Poor, or any charitable and pious use which hath been misspent or misapplied?  
VI Have any Seats or Pews been erected in your Church or Chapel without leave from the Ordinary? is there any dispute or contention about them? hath there been any disturbance, clamour or riot in the Church at any time upon that account?  
VII. Are there any in your Parish, who under pretence of Liberty of Conscience, wholly neglect all public worship of God, neither going to Church, nor any other Assembly, or who do not assemble together according to the late Act for exempting Protestant Subjects, dissenting from the Church of England from the penalties of certain Laws.  
VIII. Have you any such Assembly of Dissenters in your Parish? have they certified the place of their meeting to the Bishop or such other as that Act appoints? do they meet with their doors locked, barred or bolted during the time of their meeting? have their Preachers subscribed the Articles of our Religion (except those excepted in the Act) and taken the Oaths and subscribed the Declaration therein required?  
IX. Are there any who profess themselves to be in the Communion of the Church of England who neglect resorting to their Parish-Church upon Sundays and other holidays, and omit receiving the holy Sacrament, being of years to receive it?   

TIT. V. Concerning Parish-Clerks and Sextons.  
I. HAve you a Parish-Clerk of at least One and twenty years of Age? is he of good fame and honest conversation, and ability for his Office in reading, singing and writing? is he chosen of your Minister? does he attend him in all the Divine Services of the Church? are his wages duly paid him? and who withholdeth them?  
II. Doth your Sexton perform his duty diligently, keeping the Church clean and decent, in tolling and ringing the Bells at the due and accustomed times for Morning and Evening Prayer, and all other occasions.   

TIT. VI Concerning Schoolmasters, Schools and Hospitals.  
I. WHat Schoolmaster private or public have you in your Parish? is he licenced by the Bishop? doth he teach his Scholars the Church Catechism? doth he cause them to repair orderly to the Church or Chapel, and see that they behave themselves there quietly and reverently all the time of Divine Service and Sermon?  
II. Hath any Hospital, Alms-house or Free-schole been founded in your Parish? is the Revenue and Use ordered according to the Founder's appointment and the law of the Land?  
III. What Legacies have any, living or dying in your Parish, given to the Church or Poor of your Pari●● 〈◊〉 ●re they settled and employed in their Revenue and Use according to the Will?  
iv Do any in your Parish practise Physic, Surgery or Midwifery without licence from the Ordinary?   

TIT. VII. Concerning Churchwardens, etc.  
I. ARE the Churchwardens of your Parish yearly and duly chosen by consent of the Minister and Parishioners, or one by the Minister and the other by the Parishioners?  
II. Have the former Churchwardens given up their Accounts to the Parish, and delivered up the money remaining in their hands to the succeeding Churchwardens, together with all other things belonging to the Church or Chappel?  
III. Do they provide against every Sacrament a sufficient quantity of fine white bread and good wine for the Communicants? do they cause all strangers that preach in your Church or Chapel to enter their names, with the name of the Bishop that licenced them in a Book for that purpose? do they take care that no persons stand idle, walk or talk together in the Churchyard during Divine Service, or that no disorder or indecency be there?   
FINIS.