By T. II. Baker. 283 



William Bayly, 



who succeeded Thomas Chafyn, D.D., in 1645, is the first Vicar to 

 whom a monumental inscription exists in the Church. His inscribed 

 stone is almost illegible. It has been removed from the west end 

 of the north aisle to the tower (1896). Whether the former was 

 its original position is doubtful, as many memorials were moved in 

 the restoration, A.D. 1856. 



Sir E. C. Hoare puts the date of his induction 1661, but from 

 the inscription we gather he was Vicar forty-six years, and, as his 

 death took place 1691, this brings us back to 1645, the date of Dr. 

 Chafyn's death. Therefore he must have been his immediate 

 successor, but in consequence of the troublous times probably he 

 was not formally inducted till after the restoration, 1660. 1 



The following is all that is legible on his tombstone : — 



depositum bayly 



vicarii myx ti ix 



ecclesia me 31 a axxos 46 



qui okiit xox embris 



axxo dom i 



Edward Garrard. 



Edward Grarrard, who succeeded William Bayly as Vicar of Mere, 

 is buried in the chancel. 



On a gravestone underneath the communion table is the following 

 inscription : — 



1 Mr. Maiden writes from the Diocesan Registry as follows : — " William 

 Bayly, B.A., was not apparently Vicar of Mere before 1661. On the 11th 

 November, 1661, he subscribed to the articles, &c, describing himself, in his 

 own handwriting, as ' admittendus et instituendus vicarius perpetuus vicarisa 

 perpetuee ecclesiae parochialis de Meere,' and he was instituted the same day. 

 He spells his name Bayly, the institution register calls him Baily. The records 

 of 1645 are scanty, and there are none relating to Mere about that time." 



That William Bayly lived at Mere during all the time of the Commonwealth 

 is certain, as the registers contain entries of the baptisms of his children in 1647, 

 1649, 1650, 1656, 1660, and he is described as "then minister of Mere," except 

 in 1650, when he is styled "minister and vicar of Meere." 



