46 



The Parish Church of 8. Michael Merc 



tower in 1705, to accommodate twenty-four singers, and the rood- 

 loft (called the " Middle Grallery ") was arranged to seat thirty-six : 

 this was in 1815 "reserved for a school." Besides these there 

 appear to have been no galleries erected in the Church. 



There is no evidence of the mediaeval 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 Greorge 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 — ffirst ffor that theise accomptants 

 had notice to make pvision ffor Mr. Deanes Corninge at the Visitacon they came 

 w ch they pvided ffor but came not and coste the v u dinner. Secondly yt fell owte 

 that the north leads of the South pte of the Church weare soe muche in decaye 

 y l th coste there betweue 30 and 40 1 ' the Repayrenge. Thirdleye they paved 

 all the Boodye of the Churche w th 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 m . 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 1703 :— 



" Itm paid for 2 loads of Pavio rs for the Church and laying them and for 

 carriage of them up to Mere £05= 18 9 .— 09 J ." 



And an entry of 18s. 4r/., 



