244 Tlie Churches of Devizes, St. Mary's. 



Church Plate. — This is described in the terrier of 1783, as 

 follows : — 



Silver Cup. Inscription. — " Mr. Henry Johnson, Minister. This Cupp and 

 Plate belongeth to St. Mary's Church in the Devizes. Bought by Philip Strong 

 and Ambrose Zeley, June, 1654." 



Salver. Inscription. — "Robert Townsend, Rector of St. Mary's, Devizes. 

 John Hill, Richd. Paradice, Church Wardens. Anno 1716." 



Flagon. Inscription. — as on salver; date 1718. 



Weight of the whole 86 ozs. 12 dwts. 



It has since this date been re-cast. 



Church Chest. — The chest itself appears to be of no great 

 antiquity, but it contains many early accounts of receipt and ex- 

 penditure by the churchwardens and overseers of this parish. The 

 accounts of the churchwardens begin in 1499 ; and, although im- 

 perfect, are interesting, as they give some idea of the ornaments, 

 furniture, and vestments of the church prior to the Reformation, 

 of their destruction at that period, of their temporary restoration 

 in the reign of Queen Mary (the accounts of which reign are pre- 

 served entire), of the second and more effectual removal by sale of 

 the whole contents of the church, at the visit of the commissioner, 

 1561 (4 Elizabeth), as well as of the wretched appearance which 

 the interior, bare, rifled, and dilapidated, must have presented 

 during the Great Rebellion. 



Some extracts, bearing particularly on these points, are appended ; 

 the rest refer chiefly to repairs, &c, of the property belonging to 

 the church. 



The overseers accounts commence in 1613. 



A second chest, belonging to the feoffees of the church lands, 

 contains many ancient deeds, some of which are of the fourteenth 

 century. 



Royal Arms. — These occupy a portion of the wall above the 

 chancel arch ; date 1797. 



Ancient Paintings. — The walls of this church, like those of most 

 others during the middle ages, were covered on the inside with an 

 entire series of paintings in fresco, many remains of which have 

 been disclosed at various times on removing the whitewash accu- 

 mulated over them. 



