ARTICLES OF VISITATION and ENQUIRY Concerning Matters ECCLESIASTICAL, EXHIBITED To the Ministers, Churchwardens, and Sidemen of every Parish within the Diocese of WORCESTER, IN THE Episcopal Visitation Of the Right Reverend Father in God WALTER By Divine Permission Lord Bishop of WORCESTER.  
OXFORD, Printed by L. LICHFIELD Printer to the University Anno Domini 1674.   

Bibliography  

THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE   depiction of tree of knowledge 
HENRY STEVENS of Vermont, FSA. etc. 4 Trafalgar Square▪ London. 1882    

The Tenor of the Oath to be tendered to the Churchwardens and Sidemen of every Parish in the Diocese of WORCESTER.  
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 own to God and the Laws Ecclesiastical: And this you shall do as in the sight of God uprightly and truly. So help you God.   

ARTICLES of Visitation and Enquiry within the Diocese of WORCESTER.  

TIT. I. Concerning Churches and Chapels, with the Ornaments and Furniture thereunto belonging.  
I. IS your Parish Church or Chappel kept in good repair in all parts of it, with such cleanliness decency and order as becometh a house dedicated to the public worship and service of God?  
II. Hath any thing belonging to them, as Bells, Led, etc. been sold or embezzled? When and by whom?  
III. Is there a Font of Stone with a good Cover to it standing in a convenient place towards the lower part of your Church for the Administration of Baptism? And is there in your Chancel a decent Communion Table with a fair Carper of Silk, or fine Cloth, with another of Fine Linen, to spread thereon at the Administration of the Lords Supper? And have you a fair Communion Cup or Chalice with a Cover of Silver, and one or more Flagons of Silver or Pewter belonging to that Service?  
FOUR 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 or Cushion for the same: a Bible of the last Translation in a large Volume, and two books of Common Prayer, one for the Minister and the other for the Clerk, all well and substantially bound? Have you likewise the Book of Homilies set forth by authority? A book of Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiastical, The book of Thirty Nine Articles of Religion, and a printed Table of the degrees wherein Marriage is prohibited? Have you also his Majesty's Proclamation commanded to be read yearly upon the Sunday before the Thirtieth day of January?  
V Have you a comely large Surplice and other Ornaments for your Minister according to his Degree to wear in his public Administrations for outward decency and distinction?  
VI Have you a book of Parchment wherein are Registered the names of all such persons as are Married, Christened and Buried within your Parish? And is the Transcript thereof yearly within a month next after the 25th of March brought into the Bishop's Registry?  
VII. Have you likewise another book of Paper wherein to record 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 to writ down the Churchwardens Accounts; and such sums of money as have been collected into your Parish upon any briefs that have come unto it: together with a strong Chest with locks and keys, wherein to keep the aforesaid books, and all other the aforementioned Furniture in safe custody? And lastly have you a Bier, with a black hersecloath for the burial of the dead?   

TIT. II. Concerning the Churchyard, the Houses, Glebe, and Tithes belonging to the Church.  
I. IS your Churchyard sufficiently fenced and kept from all annoyance▪ Hath any person encroached upon the same, or cut down the Trees therein?  
II. Is the Mansion house of your Minister, with all other houses thereunto belonging kept in good repair? Have any of them been pulled down or defaced? Have any encroached upon the land thereto belonging, or felled the Trees thereon 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?  
FOUR Have any of the Ancient Glebe-lands belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage been taken away, or alienated by Lease, Sale, or Exchange, without Licence from the Ordinary, and the free consent of the Incumbent? Have any Enclosures been made in your Parish to the detriment of the Church?   

TIT. III. Concerning Ministers.  
I. IS your Minister Episcopally Ordained Priest or Deacon according to the Laws of the Church of England?  
II. Is he defamed, or suspected to have obtained either his Benefice or Orders by any Simoniacal compact?  
III. Hath he been legally Instituted and Inducted into his Benefice: and 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 39 Articles of the Church of England, and there pulickly declare his assent thereunto?  
FOUR Hath he any Ecclesiastical Benefice, or doth he supply any other Church besides his own? Is he constantly resident among you, or is he at any time for any long season absent? Hath he a settled Curate to assist him in his absence? Is that Curate an able, discreet, and conformable person, licenced by the Bishop, residing and attending only upon that Cure? And hath he a competent allowance according to the Value of the Living?  
V Doth your Parson, Vicar, or Curate read the daily morning and Evening Service, with the Second Service (as it is prescribed) on Sundays and Holidays? Doth he read also the Litany on Sundays, as likewise on Wednesdays and Fridays. And doth he in reading the Services, and in the Administration of the holy Sacraments, Celebration of Marriage, Churching of Women after Childbirth, Visitation of the Sick, Burial of the Dead, and Pronouncing God's Commination against impenitent sinners, use the Form and words prescribed in the book of Common Prayer, without any addition, omission, or alteration of the same? And doth he use all such rites and ceremonies in all parts of Divine Service as are appointed in the said Book?  
VI Doth your Minster at the reading and celebrating the Divine offices in your Church, or Chapel constantly wear the Surplice, together with such other Scholastical habit, as is suitable to his Degree?  
VII. Doth your Minister give you notice of, and duly observe Holidays, Festivals, or Feasts, with other Solemn times, as Ember and Rogation Weeks, according as it is by Laws and Canons of this Church appointed?  
VIII. Hath your Minister been licenced to officiate the Bishop of this Diocese, or either of the two Universities? Doth he being thus licenced, diligently read Divine Service and Preach every Lordsday in your Church, or Chapel, unless hindered by Sickness, or reasonable absence? And in such cases doth he procure some lawful Minister to read prayers, to preach and perform other Ministerial duties?  
IX. Doth your Minister constantly on Sundays in the afternoon, immediately after the second Lesson diligently instruct the youth of your Parish in the Church Catechism? And doth he prepare and present them being so instructed to be Confirmed by the Bishop? And doth he endeavour to reclaim all Popish Recusants and other Sectaries (if any such be inhabiting within your Parish) to the true Religion established in the Church of England, and to their bounden duty in obeying the laws and submitting to the Government thereof?  
X. Doth your Minister celebrate the Sacrament of the Lords Supper so often every year, that every Parishioner may receive thrice at the least? And doth he repel those that ought not to be admitted, giving an account of them to the Bishop?  
XI. Is he ready to Visit the Sick, and to baptise Infants that are in danger of death? Is there any Infant or other person, by his default unbaptised in your Parish? Doth he use to baptise any without Godfathers or Godmothers, or admit either of the Parents to be Godfather or Godmother to their own Child, or doth he baptise any at home except in case of imminent danger?  
XII. Hath he at any time (as you know, or have heard) Preached any false, heretical, seditious, or Schismatical Doctrine, thereby to seduce the People into parties and factions, to the disturbance of the public peace and unity either of Church of State?  
XIII. Hath he presumed to marry any persons in private houses? Or such as being under age, have not the consent of their Parents, or Guardians? Or without the Banns first published on Three Sundays or Holidays in the Church? Or any other hours then between Eight and Twelve in the morning, unless he had a Licence so to do?  
XIIII. Hath your Minister taken upon him to appoint any public or private Fasts, Prophesying 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, thanksgiving, or humiliation, contrary to the Laws and Canons in that case provided?  
XV. Is your Minister conformable to the holy Rule and Great Example of our Lord Jesus Christ? Is he a man of a studious, sober, peaceable and exemplary life, for sanctity, charity and industry in his Calling? Is he grave, modest and regular in his outward demeanour, without Vanity in his hair, and his apparel such as may distinguish him from the Laity, as the Canons of the Church require? Is his discourse and whole Conversation becoming a Minister of the Gospel, who remembers the great account he must give for his own and other men's souls committed to his care? Or is he in any kind whatsoever disorderly and Scandalous?   

TIT. IU. Concerning the Parishioners.  
I. ARe there any in your Parish that are reputed Heretics, or Schismatics, refusing communion with the Church of England, or professing any other Religion then what is established in this Church, seduceing others from it, and railing against it? Are there any convicted Papists, known Anabaptists, Familists, Quakers and other Saperatists in your Parish?  
II. Is there any person in your Parish that lieth under any Common Fame, or Vehement suspicion of Adultery, Fornication, or Incest? Are there any common Drunkards, Swearers, or Blasphemers of God's Name, and his holy Word? Are any noted for Railers, unclean and filthy Talkers, or Sowers of sedition, or living in discord and contention?  
III. Do any of your Parish upon Sundays, or Holidays follow their bodily, or ordinary labour, or permit their servants so to do? Are any Shops kept open, or wares sold? Or do any Vintners, Innkeeper's, or Victuallers and sellers of Ale and Beer suffer any persons to tipple, or game in their houses upon those days?  
iv Doth every person inhabiting and sojourning within your Parish duly resort unto your Church, or Chapel, upon every Sunday and Holiday appointed for Divine Service? Do they then quietly abide with reverence, order, and decency, during all the whole time of Common Prayer, Preaching, or other Service of God there used? And are there any among you that come only to the Preaching, and not to the Common Prayers of the Church?  
V Doth every person uncover his head, and so continue all the time of Divine Service in the Church? Do they all reverently kneel at the Prayers and stand up when the Creed and Gospel are read, making due reverence when the name of our Lord Jesus is mentioned?  
VI Are there any in your Parish that refuse to send their Infant Children to be baptised publicly in the Church, unless in case of urgent danger; in which case the Child may be baptised at home by a lawful Minister, after the Form and Rites appointed in the Liturgy? Or do they send them from their own Minister to be baptised in any other Parishes, or make use of any other Minister to baptise, when their own is at home? Or do they keep their Children any longer unbaptised than the Church alloweth? And are there any Infants or more aged persons in your Parish as yet unbaptised? Who are they, and of what Age?  
VII. Doth every Householder in your Parish cause their Children, Apprentices and Servants to learn the Church Catechism, and give account of it to your Minister as he shall require it in the Church on Sundays, or Holidays as it 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?  
VIII. Is there any person in your Parish, who being Sixteen years of age doth not receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, at least three times in the year, of which Easter is always to be one? Doth any in your Parish refuse to receive the same kneeling, or from the hands of your own Minister, repairing for it to other Parishes and Ministers abroad?  
IX. Have you any among you that be denounced and declared Excommunicate for any crime committed? How long have they been so excommunicated? And do any of your Parish keep Society with them before they be reconciled to the Church and absolved?  
X. 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?  
XI. Are there any Married Women in your Parish who after their delivery from the peril of Childbirth refuse to make their public Thanksgiving to God in the Church; and when they come so to do, do they come decently apparelled, and make their Offerings according to custom?  
XII. Are there any of your Parish who refuse to pay their Eastter Offerings and other Duties to your Minister; or to pay the Rates assessed on them for the repair and Provisions of the Church?  
XIII. Do 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 yet unproved? Or any Goods Administered without a due Grant from the Ordinary? Did any dying in your Parish or else where, leave any Legacy to your Church, or Chapel, or to the use of the Poor, or to any other pious and charitable purposes? What were those Legacies, and how have they been bestowed?  
XIV. Do you know, or have you heard of any in your Parish, who having the Presentation of an Ecclesiastical Living, hath made any Simoniacal compact, or gain thereby, either in Money, or by reserve of any part of the Tithes, or Glebe belonging to that Benefice?  
XV. Have any pews or Seats been erected in your Church or Chapel without leave from the Ordinary? Is there any strife, or contention about seats in the Church? Have any occasioned Riot, Clamour, or Fight in the Church at any time?   

TIT. V. Concerning Parish Clerks and Sextons.  
I. HAve you belonging to your Church or Chappellry a Parssh Clerk of honest life and conversation? And doth he perform his duty in reading, writing, and singing? Is he chosen by your Minister, and doth he duly attend him in all Divine Services at your Church? And are his wages duly paid unto him?  
II. Doth he, or your Sexton take care of the Church, to keep it locked 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 death, and to commend the others weak condition to the mercy of God?   

TIT. VI Concerning Hospitals and Almshouses, Schools, Schoolmasters, Physicians, Surgeons, and Midwives.  
I. WHat Hospital, Alms-house, or Free-school hath been founded in your Parish? Are they so ordered in the Revenue and Use as the Founders appointed, and the Law of the Land allows?  
II. What Schoolmaster, private, or public, is there in your Parish? Is he Licenced by the Bishop? Doth he teach his Scholars in the Catechism of Religion set forth by Authority? Doth he cause them upon Sundays and Holidays orderly to repair to your Church, or Chapel, And see that they behave themselves there quietly and reverently during the time of divine Service & Sermon?  
III. Do any in your Parish practice Physic, Chirurgery, or Midwifery, without Licence from the Ordinary?   

TIT. VII. Queries to be put to the Minister, concerning the Churchwardens and Sidemen.  
1. ARe the Churchwardens of your Parish yearly and duly chosen by the joint consent of the Minister and Parishioners; or one of them by the Minister, and the other by the Parishioners?  
2. Have the former, and last Churchwardens given up their Accounts duly to the Parish, and delivered up to the succeeding Churchwardens the money remaining in their hands, together with all other things belonging to your Church or Chappel?  
3. Do your Churchwardens and Sidemen diligently take notice of their names, who without a sufficient cause are absent from Divine Service and Sermons on the Lords days, and other Holidays? Do they, by Warrant from the next Justices, Levy Twelvepences by way of Distress (according to Law) upon their Goods, in case they refuse to pay it, for their wilful and causeless absence? And is the money so Levied distributed to the Poor of your Parish, and kept upon account in a book?  
4. Do they present them that come late to Church, after Divine Service is begun, or departed before it be ended? Do they suffer any to stand idle, or talk together in the Church Porch, or walk in the Church, or Churchyard, during the time of Prayer, Preaching, or other Sacred Offices?  
5. Do they, against every Communion appointed in your Church or Chappel, provide a sufficient quantity of fine White Bread, and of good Wine, according to the number of Communicants?  
6. Do they cause all Strangers that Preach in your Church, or Chapel, to subscribe 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?  
7. Have they (the Churchwardens, and Sidemen) who are to give in a true answer upon their Oaths unto all these Articles of Enquiry, in their several Titles, taken sufficient time to draw up their Presentments at home, before they come to the Visitation? And have they therein consulted with you their Minister for your faithful assistance?  
FOR both you and they are seriously to consider, that as the faithful discharge of your Trusts, according to your Duties, or Oaths, is a special means to repress and reform all sins and disorders in your Parishes, and so 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 Visitations:) So if you neglect your duties therein, by refusing to present such crimes and faults, as either you know to have been committed, or otherwise have heard of by public Fame, you will not only sin against God, your Consciences, and the Church's Prosperity, and consequently draw upon yourselves the guilt of being accessary to the sad decay of Religion, but also become liable to those punishments, which in case of wilful omission and Perjury, are by the Law to be inflicted on you for your defaults, and must expect that the Bishop and his Officers will proceed against you accordingly.   
WALTER WIGORN.   

THe Ministers of every Parish are desired to give in the Names of such of the younger sort in their several Parishes, as they shall think fit to receive Confirmation from the Bishop, and to present them to him to be Confirmed; Especially such as having competently learned their Catechism have not yet received the Holy Communion. And every person that is to be Confirmed, is to have a Godfather, or Godmother as a witness at their Confirmation as is appointed by the Book of Common Prayer.  
FINIS.