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directly over it, all which was shown to be copied from the 
Romish Ceremonial,* This alteration was first designedly made 
in the Archbishop’s own chapel and afterwards in the Cathedrals 
there to be pointed to as what the parish churches were expected 
todo, In 1633 Dr. William Pierce, Bishop of Bath and Wells, in 
his Visitation Articles, not only ordered this offensive change, but 
being “a great creature of the Archbishop’s” at once appointed 
Commissioners in every division of his Diocese to see it executed, 
or to certify to him any defaulters. Whilst the obedient clergy, 
comparatively few in number, were to present disobedient 
churchwardens, the latter in turn were forced on oath to present 
the clergy and all others who would not submit. 
The order was forcibly opposed throughout the county, and 
_ especially by the parish of Beckington. As in other churches the 
Communion Table at Beckington had for seventy years and more 
stood in the midst of the chancel, enclosed with a very decent 
wainscot border and a door, with seats round about it for the 
communicants to receive in. The churchwardens, backed up by 
their neighbours and the Lord of the Manor, Mr. John Ashe, of 
Freshford, who all agreed to bear their share of any charges which 
might be incurred, refused to obey the Bishop’s injunctions, and 
would have their chancel arranged and the Table there’placed “as 
they thought fit.”* The Bishop’s Commissioners on viewing the 
church certified that there was not a decent Communion Table, 
neither was it placed under the east window, nor railed in 
otherwise than with a border about it where the communicants 
knelt, and that there were seats above the Table. The Bishop on 
this certificate commanded James Wheeler and John Fry, the 
churchwardens, to execute his orders, and to return an answer 
under their hands before Ascension Day, 1634, and afterwards, by 
_ “word of mouth” he “enjoined” them to do it. But they, 
conceiving it to be against the Rubric, Queen Elizabeth’s injunctions, 
* Canterbury’s Doom. 
