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as few of our Gothic churches are really deficient in this par ticular; and it will be both a safer and cheaper expedient to remove the reading-desk, or pulpit, to a part of the church where more light can be obtained, than to deface and endanger the walls, as is too frequently done, by an ill-proportioned and unsightly window.

The introduction of casements that will open, though apparently a trivial matter, is a regulation of considerable importance, as well to the health and comfort of the congregation, as also a means of preservation to the bullding; it being the readiest and most certain method of producing a free circulation of air, and guarding against the destructive effects of damp. My directions upon this subject have, I trust, been properly observed, and the good effects that must follow, where a due attention is given to let in air, at all times when the weather is favourable, will, I hope, be a sufficient inducement to you to attend to them. I am sorry, however, to be obliged to remark, that, in the few village-churches where I found casements already placed, care had not always been taken to derive the proper benefit from the use of them. Although it must be admitted, that the adding by every means in our power to the comfort, the neatness, and the convenience of our places of public worship, is a matter of very important concern, and what ought to keep pace with the general refinement of manners; yet amidst much that I have found to commend and approve, I ought not to conceal that I have visited some churches, so lamentably deficient, both in cleanliness and comfort, as hardly to bear a comparison with the meanest cottage in the place, though frequented by persons, whose wealth, and attention to their own comfort in all their domestic habits, might, it should seem, have reminded them of the accommodation their families, their servants, and their neighbours, would derive from a trifling expenditure on their parish church.*

The most effectual mode of keeping churches well aired is by means of lattice-doors, made to hang so as to allow of the church doors being left open at all times when the atmosphere is favourable. By this means a large and constant current of fresh air is made to pass through the building at the most proper seasons.

In the appearance of the church-yard the same difference is generally seen as I have already stated to be so discernible in the interior of the church. Where the incumbent resides, and shows a becoming care to preserve order and decency in the several matters more immediately connected with his sacred functions, the church-yard will be found well fenced, free from weeds, and the surface as regular and even as the frequent disturbances of the ground will admit.

In populous parishes, however, where the space is contracted, an accumulation of the soil will unavoidably take place, particularly round the church; this inconvenience is increased, in consequence of a preference, which is too much indulged, of burying close to the walls of the church. To check a practice so injurious to the safety of the building, and so inconvenient to those who frequent it, every proper precaution should be taken. Owing to this custom we continually find churches that originally stood level with the surface of the ground now apparently sunk many feet beneath it; and the walls and pavement, which would otherwise be dry, bearing the strongest marks of damp and unwholesomeness. In most instances, this superabundant soil may be removed, and applied, either within or without the limits of the cemetery, in so careful and decent a manner as not to offend the feelings of the most scrupulous inhabitants. At all events, care should be taken that the water which falls from the roof be conducted away from the walls as speedily and effectually. as possible.

A custom prevails in many parishes for certain farms to repair certain parts of the church-yard fence, which, from the various forms and materials used, often gives a rugged and unsightly appearance to the whole. Might it not be better for this practice to drop, and the whole to be uniformly repaired in the usual manner? But in the mean time it becomes the churchwardens to interpose their authority so far as to require that the materials used shall be of a lasting kind, and that an uniformity of pattern be adopted.

When the grave-stones are broken and defaced, they are at the disposal of the incumbent, and in all cases where the vaults are broken in, and the stones dislodged, or thrown

from their proper level, they should either be repaired by the families they belong to, or the brick-work removed, and the stone laid even with the surface of the ground.

The state of the parish registers was a subject of too much consequence to be overlooked. As these are records of high legal authority, which are always open to be resorted to for the determination of questions of great moment to the parties interested, a suitable attention should be paid to them, and they are to be regarded by the incumbent as an important document, placed under his immediate care, for the accuracy of which he is personally responsible; and from whence he should always be able to furnish a satisfactory and authentic extract; but how can this be done, or how can he answer for the fidelity of this record, unless the entries are correctly and faithfully made with his own hand, and the books preserved in his own custody? Such personal attention is the only sure method effectually to secure them from that disorder and confusion which has sometimes been severely animadverted upon in the courts of law, when unsuccessfully resorted to for the establishment of doubtful and litigated claims. Instances of this, I am reluctantly compelled to remark, have recently occurred within this archdeaconry; and my late examination of the register-books obliges me, in truth, to acknowledge, that if further proofs of similar neglect are not brought to light, it will be more owing to good fortune than to the care of some of the clergy, who appear to leave the performance of this duty to their parish clerk.

When these parochial records are accurately entered, and cautiously preserved from injury or mutilation, it may perhaps be thought by some to be less necessary to adhere strictly to the directions of the 70th canon; but so important has this authentic source of information been considered, that it was not long since in contemplation to enact a penal law to enforce the salutary provisions of the canon. I am happy, however, to bear testimony to your general readiness to comply, in this instance as in others, with what you know to be the wish of your diocesan; and have only to recommend your punctual adherence to the practice of delivering the duplicates of your registers, signed always on every leaf by the minister

and churchwardens, into the hands of the registrar, on the day of my visitation, or on that of the bishop; nor should this ever be postponed to a latter period, unless from 'urgent necessity, on account of the danger of it being overlooked or forgotten; as it would interrupt that regular series which is lodged in the bishop's registry, and which may at a future time prove of the utmost importance to verify the descent of property, or establish the right of family succession.*

It will now be expected that I should make some report of the state and condition of the parsonage-houses, which it was a part of my duty to inspect, but it was with real pleasure I found that the difficulty and trouble, which may readily be supposed to attend the due performance of this delicate branch of our official inquiry, was considerably lessened, and the duty in great measure anticipated by the unwearied exertions of our excellent prelate, whose constant endeavour it has been, ever since he presided over this important diocese, to establish resident clergy on every preferment where it was possible to accomplish it; an endeavour in which he had most meritoriously and successfully persevered for many years previous to the late act for enforcing the residence of the parochial clergy. Of this, his first concern, the repair and improvement of the parsonage-house, in which the incumbent was required to reside, formed an essential and often a preliminary part. And it is now with infinite satisfaction I can state, that, with the exception of a very few cases, where accidental cir

In the course of my visitation I met with several registers of a very early date: some few there are as far back as the time when they were first appointed to be kept by an injunction of Lord Cromwell, then vicar-general, in 1538, 30th of Henry VIII. But it is observable, that in whatever part of that century these early registers commence, they always appear to be written in the same hand, and signed by the same minister and churchwardens, until the year 1597. This was owing to a constitution passed in 1597, directing parish registers to be kept in future on parchment ? and that all entries hitherto made on paper should be correctly transcribed on this more durable material. It also directs that every page of the register so transcribed shall be authenticated by the signature of the then minister and churchwardens. The preservation and perfect state of these early records sufficiently recominend the propriety and advantage of our adhering to the use of parchment for this purpose, agreeably to this injunction and positive direction of the canon of 1603,

cumstances have occasioned delays in the accomplishments of the wishes and directions of the bishop, on almost every living, the income of which is sufficient to supply the means of main taining a decent residence for the incumbent, this important object is already attained; many excellent parsonage-houses have been recently built, while others have undergone extensive repairs and improvements. These houses, even without the aid of legal provisions, would now ensure the residence of a numerous and respectable body of the clergy on their preferments; whilst the compulsory part of that law will every day be operating on others to exert themselves in providing such additional comforts, as are within their power to supply, to the house in which they are required to reside so large a portion of the year.

On a former occasion I expressed the little hope I had of finding the glebe-lands tolerably furnished with timber; and how desirable an object it would be, if a sufficient attention were to be shown by incumbents to the interests of their successors. The result of my inquiries on the spot have tended to confirm my previous expectations. Some few instances, however, of an opposite practice have occurred, where a careful attention on the part of the rector to the growth of timber on the glebe has sufficiently evinced the truth of my calcu lation, and satisfied me, that, if properly husbanded and attended to, the timber so produced would be found sufficient to supply, from time to time, all that might be wanting for the repairs of the rectory.

I have the pleasure to state that in consequence of my rerépresentations the attention of several clergymen is now turned to the subject; and that means are taking for rearing such a growth of timber upon their glebes as cannot fail to prove a valuable appendage to the benefice, and an acceptable legacy to their successors; an example which will, I hope, be considered as highly deserving of general imitation.

In the course of my parochial visits more than one or two instances occurrred of applications from the parish clerk for my interference to obtain an augmentation of his salary. The very small pittance they now in general receive from the parish was probably sufficient, when it was first granted, to

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