BX 5179 .P95 1805 THE acknowledged learning of the Reverend Author of the Directions to Church-wardens, is a sufficient recommendation of the Work. The notes and observations, it is hoped will be found to be useful. The Compendium of the Law of Tithes, contains much useful information on that subject. GRAYS INN SQUARE, 6 Nov. 1804.. G. C.. TO THE REVEREND THE CLERGY OF THE ARCH-DEACONRY OF SUFFOLK. MY WORTHY BRETHREN, The ignorance of Church-wardens as to the duties of their office, which they have been sworn to, making Visitations in a manner ineffectual, and also frequently causing great differences and disturbances at home among their neighbours, through the errors and mistakes which they run into, about the repairs of your Churches, and the levying of rates for the same; I have thought it necessary to draw up these directions for the preventing of the like mischiefs and inconveniencies for the future; and if you will join your endeavours with me so far, as out of this paper every year to inform and instruct your Church-wardens, that they may the better know their duty both in presenting such things things as are amiss in your respective parishes, and also in repairing your Churches, I would then hope that sin might be more effectually corrected, and Churches so repaired, that the worship of God might be performed in them with that decency which is fitting, without making this matter a fire-brand of contention among you (as it too often happens) to the wasting of that Christian charity among your people, which it is one of the main duties of your Ministry to support and maintain among them. I pray God bless us all in our endeavours to promote his honour and glory in that holy function which he hath called us to And I am, Your affectionate Brother and Servant, HUMPHREY PRIDEAUX. DIRECTIONS то CHURCH-WARDENS, &c. CHURCH-WARDENS are officers of the parish in ecclesiastical affairs, as the constables are in civil, and the main branches of their duty are to present what is presentable by the ecclesiastical laws of this realm, and repair the Churcha. For the better information of Church-wardens as to those particulars, which they are to present, barticles are to be given them extracted out of the It was not till about the year 700, that the Saxons in large districts, founded Churches for themselves and their tenants; and those were the original of parish churches. Seld. de Dec. 259. c. 9. s. 4. Within these districts other Churches were afterwards erected, which in process of time have obtained tithes, burials and baptism, and thereby become Parish-Churches. Id. 262. c. 9. s. 4. D. of Plu. 92. And therefore every Church having burial, baptism and tithes, is -now esteemed a Parish Church. Id. 265. c. 9. s. 4. And so if a place has not a Church, Church-wardens and Sacra mentalia, it is not properly a parish. So it shall not be a parish by reputation within Stat. 43. El. 2. if it had not a Parochial Chapel, Chapelwardens and sacramentalia, at the time of Statute. Although it had a distinct overseer and maintained its own poor, Sal. 501. And though it had also a Chapelwarden by whom rates are collected there, and paid to another parish. Ibid. A Church built within the precinct of a Parish Church, to which burial and sacraments belong, is a chapel of ease. 2 Rol. 340. Churchwardens are lay persons, though ecclesiastical officers. Hard. 379 (see 2 Rol. 71. 1 Sal. 166. 5 Mod. 326.) a The book of Articles delivered to them for their direction, are for the most part founded on the book of Canons made in 1603, and the Rubricks of the Common Prayer. B laws |