46 The Parish Church of S. Michael, Mere. 
tower in 1705, to accommodate twenty-four singers, and the rood- 
loft (called the “ Middle Gallery ’’) was arranged to seat thirty-six : 
this was in 1815 “yreserved for a school.” Besides these there 
appear to have been no galleries erected in the Church. 
There is no evidence of the medieval pulpit, but we may conclude 
that, the other woodwork of the Church being so rich, this was not 
neglected. The new pulpit set up in 1625, with its peg for the 
preacher’s hat, has also disappeared, and the present one is modern. 
There are entries for colouring the font, 1695 ; colouring pulpit and 
pew, 1699; new pulpit cloth and cushions (£10 10s.) in 1701; 
“coullering the Skrene and Font and writing the Tenn Command- 
mts,” £7 16s.,in 1603; painting font, 1705; colouring “ skrene,” 
1720; black cloth for pulpit, 1817 and 1821 (on the occasions of 
the deaths of Princess Charlotte and George III.) ; pulpit cushions 
and lights in 1822; two oak chairs, 1844. 
The floor of the Church appears to have been originally of chalk, 
and there are entries for ‘“‘malm”’ for repairing the holes. In 1636. 
we read that :— 
“ This was an extraordnye yeare ffor 3 causes—fiirst ffor that theise accomptants 
had notice to make pvision ffor Mr. Deanes Cominge at the Visitacon they came 
w* they pvided ffor but came not and coste the v" dinner. Secondly yt fell owte 
that the north leads of the South pte of the Church weare soe muche in decaye 
y* th coste there betwene 30 and 40" the Repayrenge. Thirdleye they paved — 
all the Boodye of the Churche w out the Chauncell and the ij Porches and 
Paynted the vaute and Both Church doores as by the pticulers in the said 
Accompte will shewe.” 
In 1680 an entry states :— 
“To John Bayly and W™. Ribb for draweinge the mame stoue and layenge 
the paviere at the Church 00=13=00.” 
By this it would appear that more paving was done, and again, 
in 17038 :-— 
“Ttm paid for 2 loads of Pavio's for the Church and laying them and for 
carriage of them up to Mere £05=18*.=09%.” ; 
And an entry of 18s. 4d., 
