ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



been already observed that the Leicestershire churches were not badly 

 neglected even in the eighteenth century ; and in Archdeacon Bonney's first 

 visitation of 1 832 he did not find many cases of great disorder. Of course there 

 were a few. Of Branston in Framland deanery he notes the church in 

 wretched condition ; pews and seats rotten, everything in disorder ; the 

 chancel out of repair, the roofs, walls, and floor requiring attention, dirt 

 accumulated. An old green ' communion cloth,' patched and ragged, hung 

 over the altar ; there were no cloths for the pulpit or reading desk, and no 

 heating apparatus. 813 At Barkestone things were not much better. Of Ab 

 Kettleby he remarks that it was in a ' deplorable condition,' ' the worst I have 

 seen.' But the churches in the towns and larger villages were usually in fair 

 order, and it is only just to note that in every place where the archdeacon 

 found anything amiss, some effort was made to comply with his directions, so 

 that throughout the county there was a distinct improvement by 1842. 



Yet the general standard, even where all was considered decent and 

 sufficient, seems to us deplorably low. Thus, as in the days of Bishop Wake, 

 fifteen or sixteen celebrations of the Holy Eucharist in a year (that is to siy 

 once a month besides the three great festivals) was the maximum recorded, 

 and that only in large towns. 314 Three or four in a year sufficed for most of 

 the country villages. In the matter of mattins and evensong there had been 

 a distinct railing off ; the recitation of these offices on Wednesdays, Fridays, 

 and holy days, which was almost universal a century before, had now 

 practically ceased ; in towns there was a single weekday service, 816 in the 

 country none at all. Ash Wednesday was sometimes noticed ; that curiously 

 unpopular festival, Ascension Day, scarcely heeded at all. Then the furniture 

 of the churches was certainly plain, even to meanness. A green baize altar- 

 cloth, or a cover of black, brown, or purple, would pass muster with the arch- 

 deacon so long as it was sound and strong ; a crimson velvet one, the gift of 

 noble patrons, as at Ashby de la Zouch, was noted with satisfaction, and not 

 too common. Pulpit and desk cloths were often ragged and faded ; and it is 

 especially distressing to notice that the altar linen, even at such a church as 

 St. Martin's, Leicester, was so often old, stained, and in need of mending or 

 renewal, and the clergy and wardens in some places seem to have required two 

 or three admonitions on this subject. 818 



So matters stood in i842, 817 and it is of real importance in this generation 

 to set such facts in a clear light, as without their help we are in danger of 

 forgetting how wonderful are the changes that have passed over the Church 

 during the last half-century. It is easy to count up churches that have been 

 built and restored ; this form of activity is partly the result of influences not 



111 The rector was at this time non-resident. In 1 842 the archdeacon noticed that the rector had 

 returned, and had made real efforts to put things straight ; and said the church was much improved since he 

 first saw it. 



"* In Leicester, at St Martin's, St. Mary's, All Saints, and St. Nicholas, there was a monthly celebration. 

 This was a distinct improvement since the days of Bishop Wake. St. Margaret's did not come under the 

 archdeacon's jurisdiction, but the standard there was probably the same as at the other Leicester churches. 

 Loughborough and Ashby de la Zouch maintained their old standard well, with some variations (e.g. at the 

 latter place there were fifteen celebrations in 1832, but in 1842 only twelve). 



" 5 St. Martin's, Leicester, is again an honourable exception, having services every day but one in 1832, and 

 every day in 1842. At Loughborough there were daily services all the time. 



116 For proof see the visitation reports of St. Martin's, Bottesford, Barkestone, Bringhurst, &c. 



117 Even in 1846 at Claybrooke the only chalice was a cup of German glass with views of German towns 

 on it, which was actually in use. Trollope, Ch. Plate of Le'ic. i, 340. 



397 



