By the Ven, Archdeacon Macdonald. 151 



In the lapse of time, the open seats of the church having become 

 much dilapidated, and the rest of it disfigured by unseemly and in- 

 convenient pews, it was resolved in vestry, a.d. 1829, to remove the 

 whole of the old and decayed seats and square pews, and by refit- 

 ting to increase the accommodation of the church : which was 

 accordingly effected at the expense of £490; the Society for Promo- 

 ting the Building and Repairing of Churches contributing a con- 

 siderable portion of the outlay. 



At the same time a ringing loft was constructed, and the steps 

 in the tower leading to the belfry repaired. In a.d. 1840 the stocks 

 of the bells eight in number, and the rest of the apparatus for ring- 

 ing being much out of order, it became necessary to engage 

 some competent person or persons to repair and render them fit for 

 the purpose for which they were placed in the tower. Accordingly 

 Messrs. Mears of Whitechapel were employed : and by them one 

 bell was re-cast, and the whole peal, at the expense of much time 

 and money, were re-hung. Since that time nothing of any im- 

 portance has required to be done. 



Registers. The earliest Parish Register is dated a.d. 1591; 

 there was no interruption down to the time of the Common- 

 wealth : but from 1642 to 1650 the entries are fewer, and no 

 clergyman's name appears, as heretofore, at the foot of each page. 



Charities. 



Naish's. Two pieces of land, each measuring about two acres, 

 were given to the tything of Bishop's Cannings for the benefit of 

 the poor, by a benefactor, traditionally said to have been a Mr. 

 Naish: but the name of the donor, as well as the date of the gift 

 have not been so carefully recorded as they ought to have been. 

 These two pieces are bestowed whenever a vacancy occurs, on the 

 oldest men of the tything, born and residing in it, and in commu- 

 nion with the church. The patronage is with the vicar and parish 

 officers, viz., the two churchwardens and four overseers. 



There are also other lands called Church lands, consisting of 

 several parcels, let on leases to different persons by the feoffees. 

 It is not known how the land was originally acquired. The oldest 



