A4 The Parish Church of S. Michael, Mere. 
the original position in 1870: this gave place to the existing organ 
in 1886. 
Jerard the bedeman, who was doubtless stationed beneath the 
organ-loft, probably had charge of the sanctus bell as well as the 
organ bellows, as the marks of the ropes and the squint through 
the mullion of the screen indicate that it was rung from this place. 
The present stalls in the choir were originally in two sets of three ~ 
each, and they are shown retained as returned stalls facing east- 
wards on Mr. Wyatt’s plan for the restoration of the Church in 
1855, since which they have been altered and re-arranged. One 
of the old stalls is separated from the rest and used as the Vicar’s 
seat on the south, and the other two of this set are joined to the 
other three, making the row of five on the south side. The misereres 
are carved to represent (1) a fox with foliage (new) ; (2) an angel , 
holding a shield and with side foliage; (3) foliage; (4) a bearded 
head with foliage at sides; (5) a Tudor rose and leaves; (6) a head 
with tongue and two sprays of foliage protruding from mouth, with 
foliage at sides. The desk fronts on north and south sides are 
original, although much re-cut and re-faced. The ends, with their 
poppy-heads are also original, but it is doubtful whether they occupy 
their former positions. The western ends are traceried only, but 
each of the two eastern has a shield suspended from a human hand 
and bearing the arms of Kymer, which are previously mentioned : 
the latter two are more likely to have been the ends of the desk to 
the returned stalls and conspicuous “on entering the choir.” } 
The Jacobean seats in the nave are the original ones, cut down 
and re-modelled to suit modern requirements: they were made by 
“Walter the Joyner” of Maiden Bradley, between 1638 and 1641, 
when they cost £86 11s.10d. The following are the entries 
referring to them :— ‘ 
“1638. Item to the Joyner for the newe seates xij.” 
“1639, To Walter the Joyner this year 1638 for the making ang we up 
1 
of the new seates on the North side of the Church. xix. x.” 
“To Willm Gough for the Joyners Diet while the Seates were setting 
eo 
Up. Fj. x. 
pis tS eee eee 
1 Hund. of Mere, p. 11. 
