REPORT. XXXII 
itself to the faithful of the Church of England for upwards of 1140 years, but 
simply argue, from the dry archeological stand-point, that any ceremonial 
which adds greater sanctity, and therefore greater chance of preservation, to 
these valuable specimens of handicraft in precious metals, ought to be encour- 
aged by antiquaries. When, therefore, it can so readily be proved, as I have 
just shown with regard to Derbyshire, how shameless has been the robbery of 
Church Plate in comparatively recent days, I cannot help hoping that such 
associations as ours will bring all the influence they may possess to bear upon 
our bishops to induce them to revert to so primitive and conservative a 
practice, and not to permit the use of any save consecrated plate at the altar, 
the plate being in some significant way stamped, if not more fully inscribed, 
after the completion of the ceremony. The Canons of Elfric, Archbishop of 
Canterbury, 995, order that :—‘‘ No person shall celebrate Mass in any other 
vessel save in the chalice that is blessed thereto.” 
The forms for the benediction of sacramental utensils are a principal part of 
all the ancient Pontificals. The Pontifical of Archbishop Egbert, cz7ca a. D. 
740, gives this form for the hallowing of the chalice :— 
“*Let us pray, most beloved brethren, that our: God would hallow this 
chalice to be consecrated to the use of the ministry by the inspiration of 
celestial grace, and to human benediction apply the plentitude of divine 
favour, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
**Vouchsafe, O Lord God, to bless + this chalice for the use of Thy 
ministry, formed by pious devotion, and to bedew it with that sanctification 
with which Thou didst bedew the sacred chalice of Melchisedec Thy servant, 
and may that, which by the art and nature of metal cannot be accomplished, 
through Thy benediction become worthy of Thy altars, precious and sanctified, 
through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 
Here let the bishop anoint the chalice and say :— 
‘* Almighty God, indivisible Trinity, pour upon our hands the help of this 
benetdiction, that through our benediction this vessel may be sanctified, and 
by the Spirit of Thy Grace be made a new sepulchre of the body and blood 
of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.” 
This form, with one or two trifling verbal alterations, is to be found in all 
the known varieties of English Pontificals of different dates down to the 
Sarum Pontificals of the fifteenth century. 
It is a complete mistake to imagine that the consecration of sacramental 
vessels ceased with the Reformation. When one of the charges against 
Archbishop Laud was that in his chapel he ‘‘ consecrated plate,” that prelate 
replied that “in all ages of the Church, especially in Constantine’s time, there 
have been consecrations of sacred vessels as well as of churches themselves ;” 
and explained that he made use of the form drawn up by the saintly Bishop 
Andrewes. This form, first used by Bishop Andrewes when consecrating the 
2 
