ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY parish records of London show that much was done between 1605 and 1638 to improve the condition of the churches, many of which were rapidly faUing into decay. Large sums were spent on substantial repairs," and many churches were decorated with painting and gilding inside and out at great expense."" The Communion tables, in some instances at all events, were moved from the body of the church into the chancel ; "' and provision was made for communicants to kneel during the administration of the Sacrament.'"' Bishop Bancroft in his third visitation, 1604, insisted upon their kneeling as a necessary condition of reception.^ There is ample evidence that between 1603 and 1640 a great and general increase took place not only in the number of celebrations of Holy Communion held during the year, but even more in the number of those who communicated."^ The old custom of decorating churches with evergreens, &c., on great festivals was revived. Gifts of church plate and ornaments were frequently made at this time,"' whereas such a thing had hardly been known during the preceding fifty years, possibly owing to the feeling of insecurity produced by the spoliations of Edward VI. In 1633 an order was issued that Communion tables were not only to be set altar-wise in the chancel, but also to be railed in to prevent desecration. This injunction was obeyed in a good many London churches, but not very promptly."* In December 1604 Bancroft, then Archbishop of Canterbury, required all curates and lecturers, on pain of dismissal, to subscribe to those articles which were imposed by the new canons, acknowledging the king's supremacy and declaring the Book of Common Prayer and the Thirty-nine Articles to be in accordance with the Word of God. The beneficed clergy were also to subscribe, or at least to conform, on pain of deprivation."^ It appears that only four or five London ministers were deprived at this time."° As a consequence of the Roman Catholic conspiracy of 1605 new laws against recusants were issued in the following year, ordering all to conform '"See Chwdns.' Accts. St. George Botolph Lane, 1606, 1629, 1638 ; St. Martin Orgar, 1615 ; St. Alphage London Wall, 162^ ; St. John Zachary, 1624 ; Christ Church Newgate, 1605, &c. "' St. George Botolph Lane Vest. Min. 1637 ; St. Stephen Walbrook Chwdns.' Accts. 1600. For cata- logue of churches with particulars of repairs and beautifying at this period see Stow, Surt'. (ed. Dyson, 1633), 819, &c. "' See St. John Walbrook Chwdns.' Accts. 161 2 ; St. John Zachary Accts. 1614 ; St. Katharine Vest. Min. 1623. "' St. John Zachary Chwdns.' Accts. 1600, 1634; St. Stephen Walbrook Chwdns.' Accts. 1630 ; St. Jjhn Walbrook Chwdns.' Accts. 1600 ; St. Benet Paul's Wharf Chwdns.' Accts. 1638 ; St. Katharine Vest. Min. 1623, Lond. Epis. Reg. Bancroft, fol. 337, &c. "° Visitation Articles, 1604. ^ This is proved by the fact that where there was little or no change in the number of celebrations there was a great increase in the suras expended on bread and wine. The average number of celebrations at this time appears to have been twelve per annum. Chwdns.' Accts. generally. See Hutton, His(. of Engl. Ch. 1625-1714, pp. 61, 103. '" Chwdns.' Accts. Allhallows Honey Lane, 1641 ; St. George Southwark, 1624 ; St. Clement Eastcheap, 1636 ; St. Benet Paul's Wharf, 1610 ; St. Stephen Walbrook, 1633, &c.
- " St. Andrew Undershaft Rec. Bk. 1637 ; St. Benet Paul's Wharf Chwdns.' Accts. 1607 ; St. Antholin
Vest. Min. 1648 ; St. Botolph Aldersgate Vest. Min. 1622 ; St. Peter Westcheap Vest. Min. 1621 ; All- hallows Barking Chwdns.' Accts. 1631 ; St. Saviour's Southwark Vest. Min. 1626 ; St. Martin Ludgate Vest. Min. 1612. '" e.g. St. George Botolph Lane Vest. Min. 1637 ; St. Michael Wood Street Chwdns.' Accts. 1637 ; St. Benet Paul's Wharf Chwdns.' Accts. 1638 ; Allhallows Barking Vest. Min. 1638 ; Hist.MSS. Com. Rffi. iv, App. 80. '" Wilkins, Concilia, iv, 409 ; Gardiner, Hist, of Engl, i, 195-200. See Christ Church Newgate Vest. Min. 1609. "° See Hennessy; Novum Repert. 325
