Berkshire, Reading, 1572–3
BRO: D/P 97/5/2

p 349 (29 September–29 September)

...

In Consideracion That the Colleccions or gatheringes heretofore Accostomably vsed for and towardes the mayntenaunce of the Church as well on the feast of All saintes, The feast of the Byrthe of our Lord god As on Hocke Monday Hocke Tewesdaye, Maye daye and at the feast of Penticost commonly called Whytsontyde togyth<..> With the Chauntery Landes ar Lefte of and cleane taken from the Churche to the great Impoverishement therof, the which heretofore dyd muche healpe the same, It is therefore of Necessytye By and with the Assent Concent and aggreament of the parisheners then and there beinge presente, for and towardes the mayntenaunce of the Contynuall chardges of the Churche by these presentes foreuermore Ordayned concluded vpon and fully Aggreed as hereafter followith

That is that every woman, that heretofore hathe byn sett by any of the Churchwardens, or that of themselves do or have vsed to sytt on the Sondayes or holydayes in any of the seates beneathe the pulpett, and above the southe syde, Churche doore, or in any of the Seates in the Mydle Raynge of seates above the saide Churche doore Shall yerely paye iiij d. A pece for the Churche profytt & towardes the contynuall chardges therof. At to ‸⸢two⸣ feastes in the yere That is to saye At the feast of the Byrthe of our Lord god, and at the feast of pentycost by even porcions. And that all women that be or have byn sett by or without the Churchwardens in any of the seates on the southe syde Beinge above the pulpett, Shall yerely paye vj d. A pece At the foresaid feastes by even porcions The same to be gathered by the Churche Wardens or theire Assignes for the tyme beinge at theire perell &c/

  • Footnotes
    • In Consideracion: display script
    • togyth<..>: letters lost to trimming at right edge of page
    • It is: display script
  • Glossed Terms
    • gather v inf to collect, here used to refer specifically to the act of collecting money for the parish; gathered, gatherid, gatheryd pass;
    • gatheryng vb n collection, here used to refer specifically to the act of collecting money for the parish; gaderyng gathering; gatheringe; gatherynge;
  • Endnote

    This ordinance with its preamble is the last mention in these accounts of any customary activities. By this time they had clearly become a thing of the past. Since pews had been rented almost since the beginning of the sixteenth century the implication that this custom was to replace gatherings seems rather ingenuous.

  • Document Description

    Record title: St Laurence's Churchwardens' Accounts
    Repository: BRO
    Shelfmark: D/P 97/5/2
    Repository location: Reading

    The churchwardens rendered their accounts on the feast of the Annunciation (25 March) until 1516 when they adopted the Michaelmas–Michaelmas pattern rendering their accounts on 29 September.

    1498–1626; English; paper; 250 leaves; 330mm x 225mm; modern pagination; some display capitals; pp 1–2, 490–3 are separated but have been repaired and put separately in a brown paper wrapper; bound in boards covered in parchment, title on front cover: 'The Book of the | Church-Wardens Accounts | of the Parish | of | St Laurence.'

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