30 - Archdeacon William Kingsley's injunctions to the churchwardens of St Margaret, Canterbury, 1639

Summary

[6 February 1639, in St Margaret's Church, before William Kingsley, Archdeacon of Canterbury.]

Comparuerunt personaliter magister Richardus Birkhened notarius publicus et Thomas Gilbert oeconomi moderni ecclesiae pariochialis Sanctae Margaretae civitatis et archidiaconatus Cantuariensis quos dominus peremptorìe monuit

That they the churchwardens take care that there be noe omission of divine service in regard of preaching.

That there be catechizing on Sundayes in the afternoone before evening prayer and that after warning given they take care the children be duly sent.

That in divine service forenone and afternoone the very order of the booke of common prayer bee observed without appointing singing psalmes at either, in stedd of Te Deum, Jubilate, Magnificat, or Nunc Dimittis.

That the sermons in the afternoone (if any) bee by way of catechising according to the kings maiesties iniunctions.

That the holydayes be duly observed and that the churchwardens present neglecters of prayers on those day es, noe shopps open or workers in divine service time.

That the said churchwardens place themselves and other church officers soe as they may best see due order kept in the church.

That they seate all other householders in the body of the church and side chancells orderly according to their qualities, and place the youth and children maides and girles soe as each sexe may sitt togeather orderly by them selves and not in eminent seates with their parents.

That the seates in the body of the church be all made decent and conformable especially that next the pulpit and the two former seates in the middle isle which by reason of their heights are hinderances to those behind them.

That the body of the church over the middle isle be decently seeled to the example of other places, St Margaretts being in the eye of all the jurisdiction.

That if roome be wanting in the church and side chancells the seates shalbe made decent for the young men in the chancell and others of the better ranck to sitt in.

That the seates or stooles for servants at the end of the pewes on the north side of the church be taken away because they exceedingly take upp that isle.

That the clarke have a convenient seate made for him in the eye of the minister and as nere to him as may bee.