Now! Then! Edmund Grindal, Puritan archbishop of York, orders the removal of rood-lofts (and their superstitious images), and the erection of pulpits

26 December 1570: Edmund Grindal, Puritan archbishop of York, orders the removal of rood-lofts (and their superstitious images), and the erection of pulpits

The 14th century rood loft and the upper part of the rood screen in St Ellyw’s Church, Llanelieu, Powys, Wales (Verbcatcher 2014).

John Strype. 1821. The History of the Life and Acts of the Most Reverend Father in God, Edmund Grindal, Vol. 1. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Get it:

Excerpt

(1) That the form and order appointed in the printed schedule hereunto annexed for taking down rood-lofts be duly and precisely observed within the said archdeaconry. (2) That every parson, vicar, curate, and other minister within the said archdeaconry, when he reads morning or evening prayer, shall stand in a pulpit to be erected for that purpose, and turn his face to the people, that he may be the better heard, and the people the better edified; provided always, that when the churches are very small, it shall suffice that the minister stand in his accustomed stall in the choir, so that a convenient desk or lectern with room to turn his face toward the people be there provided. Provided also, that all the prayers and other service appointed for the ministration of the holy communion, be said and done at the communion table only. (3) That every minister saying any public prayers, or ministering the sacraments, or other rites of the church, shall wear a comely surplice with sleeves; and that the parish provide a decent table, standing in a frame, for the communion table: and that no linen cloths, called altar-cloths, and before used about masses, be laid upon the communion table; but that new be provided, where provision has not so been made afore.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations

Comment

At some stage in 1571, either on the eve of or during a metropolitan visitation to his wayward flock, Grindal issued yet more injunctions:

By the heeding of which injunctions one may observe, how old Popish customs still prevailed in these northern quarters, and therefore what need there was of this general visitation; as the frequent use and veneration of crosses, months minds, obits and anniversaries, the chief intent whereof was praying for the dead; the superstitions used in going the bounds of the parishes; morris dancers and minstrels coming into the church in service-time, to the disturbance of God’s worship, putting the consecrated bread into the receiver’s mouth, as among the Papists the Priest did the wafer; crossing and breathing upon the elements in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, and elevation; oil, tapers, and spittle in the other sacrament of Baptism; pauses and intermissions in reading the services of the Church; praying Ave-Maries and Pater-nosters upon beads; setting up candles in the churches to the Virgin Mary on Candlemas-day, and the like.

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Original

Our Archbishop began his visitation this present year 1570, giving forth his commission, which bore date the 26th of December, at Bishopsthorp; issuing out commission then to the four Archdeacons of the diocese, and to the Bishop of Man, “for the pulling down and demolishing those sustentacula, commonly called roodlofts, placed at the door of the choir of every parish church, as footsteps and monuments of the old idolatry and superstition.” [For it seems those roodlofts (at least in many churches) were still remaining in these northern parts.] “And this in pursuance of the Queen’s injunctions, and an order of her Commissioners for ecclesiastical causes to that purpose.” To each of which commissions a schedule of three articles were annexed, (together with a printed copy of the foresaid orders, which was as followeth:

These articles following, we Edmonde, by the permission of God, Archbishop of York, Primate of England, and Metropolitan, do command and enjoin to be put in execution within the archdeaconry of York, by the Archdeacon of the same, or his Official, with speed and effect.

I. Imprimis, That the fourme and order appointed in the printed schedule hereunto annexed, for taking down roodlofts, be duly and precisely observed within the said archdeaconry, as well within places exempt as not exempt.

II. Item, That every Parson, Vicar, Curate, and other Mynister within the said archdeaconry, as well in places exempt as not exempt, when he readeth morning or evening prayer, or any part thereof, shall stand in a pulpit to be erected for that purpose, and turn his face to the people, that he may be the better heard, and the people the better edifyed; provided always, that when the churches are very small, it shall suffyce that the Mynister stand in his accustomed stall in the queere, so that a convenient desk or lecterne, with a rowme to turn his face toward the people, be there provyded, at the charges of the parish. The judgment and order whereof, and also the fourme and order of the pulpit, as before, in greater churches, we do refer unto the same Archdeacon, or his Official. Provyded also, that all the prayers and other service appointed for the mynistration of the holy Communion, be said and done at the communion table only.

III. Item, That every Mynister saying any publick prayers, or ministring the sacraments, or other rites of the Church, shall wear a comely surplesse with sleeves; and that the parish provyde a decent table, standing in a frame, for the communion table: and that no linnen clothes, called altar-clothes, and before used about masses, be laid upon the communion table; but that new be provyded, where provision hath not so been made afore.

474 words.