CONTENTS.

[CHAPTER I.]
OUR HEATHEN FOREFATHERS.
The land only partially reclaimed, [1]—The Anglo-Saxon conquest, [2]—Civil constitution, [4]—Religion, [7]—Structural temples, [8]—Priests, [11].
[CHAPTER II.]
THE CONVERSION OF THE ENGLISH.
Conversion of the heptarchic kingdoms, [14]—Its method, [16]—Illustrations from the history of Jutland, Norway, etc., [17]—The cathedral centres, [20]—Details of mission work, [21]—Mission stations, [24].
[CHAPTER III.]
THE MONASTIC PHASE OF THE CHURCH.
Multiplication of monasteries, [28]: in Kent, [29]; Northumbria, [29]; East Anglia, [31]; Wessex, [31]; Mercia, [31]—List of other Saxon monasteries, [33]—Constitution of the religious houses, [35]—Their destruction by the Danes, [37]—Rebuilding in the reigns of Edgar and Canute, [37].
[CHAPTER IV.]
DIOCESAN AND PAROCHIAL ORGANIZATION.
Character of the new converts, [38]—Coming of Archbishop Theodore, [40]—Union of the Heptarchic Churches, [41]—Subdivision of dioceses, [41]—Introduction of the parochial system, [43]—Northumbria made a second province, [49]—Multiplication of parishes, [50]—Different classes of churches, [53]—Number of parishes at the Norman Conquest, [54].
[CHAPTER V.]
THE SAXON CLERGY.
Laws of the heptarchic kingdoms: of Ethelbert, [57]; of Ine, [57]; of Wihtred, [57]—Council of Clovesho (747), [60]—Laws of Alfred, [65]; of Athelstan, [66]—Canons of Edgar, [66]—Laws of Ethelred, [72]—Canons of Elfric, [74]—Privilege of sanctuary, [75]—Tithe and other payments, [78]—Observance of Sunday and holy days, [79]—Slavery, [81]—Manumission, [81].
[CHAPTER VI.]
THE NORMAN CONQUEST.
Foreign bishops and abbots introduced, [84]—Parochial clergy undisturbed, [85]—Papal supremacy, [85]—Separation of civil and ecclesiastical Courts, [86]—Norman cathedrals and churches, [87]—Revival of monasticism, [90]—Appropriation of parochial benefices, [91].
[CHAPTER VII.]
THE FOUNDATION OF VICARAGES.
Mode of appropriation of parishes, [95]—Evil results, [97]—Ordination of vicarages, [98]—Its conditions, [99]—Not always fulfilled, [108]—Abuses, [109].
[CHAPTER VIII.]
PAROCHIAL CHAPELS.
Chapels-of-ease for hamlets, [110]—Some of them elevated into churches, [110]—Rights of mother churches safeguarded, [121]—Free chapels, [123].
[CHAPTER IX.]
THE PARISH PRIEST—HIS BIRTH AND EDUCATION.
Saxon clergy largely taken from the higher classes, [127]—The career opened up by the Church to all classes, [129]; even to serfs, [130]—Education of the clergy, [131]—The Universities, [136]—Schools of thought, [136]—The scholastic theology, [137]—The contemplative, [138]—Oxford: its colleges, [140]—The students, [141]—Ordination, [144]—Institution, [146].
[CHAPTER X.]
PARSONAGE HOUSES.
Like lay houses, [149]—Examples at West Dean and Alfriston, Sussex, [152]—Descriptions of: at Kelvedon, [154]; Kingston-on-Thames, Bulmer, Ingrave, [155]; Ingatestone, [156]; Little Bromley, North Benfleet, [157]; West Hanningfield, [158]—Hospitality, [158]—Smaller houses, [160]—Dilapidations, [162].
[CHAPTER XI.]
FURNITURE AND DRESS.
Sumptuary laws, [164]—Disregard of them, [167]—Contemporary pictures, [169]—Extracts from wills, [172]—Introduction of sober colours, [174]—Wills, [175].
[CHAPTER XII.]
FABRIC AND FURNITURE OF CHURCHES, AND OFFICIAL VESTMENTS.
Grandeur of the churches compared with domestic buildings, [184]—Furniture of churches, [187], [190]—List of necessary things, [189]—Clerical vestments: pallium, chasuble, [191]; stole, maniple, amice, dalmatic, [192]; cope, surplice, [193]; amyss, [194]—Fanciful symbolism, [196]; a bishop in “full canonicals,” [198].
[CHAPTER XIII.]
THE PUBLIC SERVICES IN CHURCH.
Matins, mass, and evensong, [200]—Sunday attendance, [201]—Communion, [200]—Laxity of practice, [204]—Week-day services, [205]—The Bidding Prayer, [207]—Bede Roll, [211]—Chantry services, [212].
[CHAPTER XIV.]
PREACHING AND TEACHING.
Not neglected, [214]—Manuals of teaching, [214]; Archbishop Peckham’s, [216]—Helps for preachers, [223]—Analysis of sin, [226]; Arbor Virtutum, [229]; Arbor Viciorum, [230]—Types and antitypes, [231].
[CHAPTER XV.]
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARISH PRIESTS.
Analysis of a book of that title by John Myrk, [232]—The personal character and conduct which befit a priest, [233]—A parish priest’s duties, [234]—Non-communicating attendance at Holy Communion, [235], note—The “holy loaf,” [235]—Behaviour of the people in church, [236]—The people’s way of joining in the mass, [236]—Behaviour in churchyard, [238]—Visitation of the sick, [239].
[CHAPTER XVI.]
POPULAR RELIGION.
Education more common than is supposed, [241]—Books for the laity in French and English, [242]—Creed and Vision of “Piers Plowman,” the tracts of Richard of Hampole and Wiclif, [242]—“Lay Folks’ Mass-book,” [243]—Primers, [249]—Religious poetry: Cædmon, [250]; “The Love of Christ for Man’s Soul,” [255]; “The Complaint of Christ,” [256].
[CHAPTER XVII.]
THE CELIBACY OF THE CLERGY.
Object of the obligation, [258]—Opposition to it, [259]—Introduced late in the Saxon period, [260]—Endeavour to enforce it in Norman and later times, [261]—Evasion of the canons, [268]—Legal complications, [270]—Popular view, [271]—Disabilities of sons of the clergy, [273]—Dispensations for it, [275].
[CHAPTER XVIII.]
VISITATION ARTICLES AND RETURNS.
Visitation of parishes, [279]—Visitation questions, [280]—Examples from returns to the questions, [285]—Popular estimation of the clergy, [289].
[CHAPTER XIX.]
PROVISION FOR OLD AGE.
Assistant chaplain, [290]—Coadjutor assigned, [291]—A leprous vicar, [294]—Retirement on a pension, [295]—A retiring vicar builds for himself a “reclusorium” in the churchyard, [295]—Parish chaplain retires on a pension, [296]—Death and burial, [296].
[CHAPTER XX.]
THE PARISH CLERK.
Ancient office, [298]—Its duties, [299]—Stipend, [301]—Sometimes students for orders, [302]—Gilds of parish clerks, [303]—Chaucer’s parish clerk, [304].
[CHAPTER XXI.]
CUSTOMS.
Sanctuary for persons, [306]; and property, [307]—Belonged to some persons, [308]—Pilgrimage, [308]—Special ceremonies, [311]—Lights, [311]—Miracles and passion plays, [315]—Fairs, markets, and sports in the churchyard, [316]—Church ales, [317].
[CHAPTER XXII.]
ABUSES.
Papal invasions of the rights of patronage, [319]—The intrusion of foreigners into benefices, [320]—Abuse of patronage by the Crown, [321]—Pluralities, [323]—Farming of benefices, [324]—Holding of benefices by men in minor orders, [324]—Absenteeism, [330]—Serfdom, [332].
[CHAPTER XXIII.]
THE CATHEDRAL.
Served by secular canons, [334]—Organization of its clerical staff, [334]—The dignitaries, [335]—The dean and chapter, [335]—Monastic cathedral, [336]—Archdeacons, [337]—Synods and visitations, [337]—Lincoln Cathedral, [338]—Bishop’s palace, [339]—The close, [340]—Residentiary houses, [341]—Vicars’ court, [341]—Chantries, [342]—Chapter house, [342]—Common room, [344]—The first dean and canons, [343]—Revenues of the bishop, [344]; of the dean and dignitaries, [345]; of the prebendaries, [350]; of the archdeacons, [353]; of the vicars choral, [354]; of the chantry priests, [355]; of the choristers, [356]—Lay officers, [356]—Chichester Cathedral, [359]—Revenues of bishop, dean, dignitaries, prebendaries, archdeacons, and vicars choral, [360-362]—Prince bishops, [363].
[CHAPTER XXIV.]
MONKS AND FRIARS.
Character of the monks, [365]—Place of the monasteries in social life, [366]—Influence upon the parishes, [369]—Friars, their origin; organization, [370]—Work, [373]—Rivalry with parish clergy, [374]—Character, [377]—Faults of the system, [378].
[CHAPTER XXV.]
THE “TAXATIO” OF POPE NICHOLAS IV.
Origin of firstfruits and tenths, [380]—Taxation of a specimen deanery, [381]—Number of parishes, [384]—Value of parochial benefices, [386]—Number of clergy, [389].
[CHAPTER XXVI.]
THE “VALOR ECCLESIASTICUS” OF HENRY VIII.
Number of parishes, [394]—Income, [395]—Sources of income, [397]—Comparative value of money in 1292, 1534, and 1890, [404]—Economical status of parochial clergy, [406].
[CHAPTER XXVII.]
DOMESTIC CHAPELS.
Early existence, [408]—Saxon, [409]—Norman, [409]—Edwardian, [410]—Later, [411].
[CHAPTER XXVIII.]
THE CHANTRY.
Characteristic work of the centuries, [438]—Definition of a chantry, [438]—“Brotherhood” of the religious houses, [439]—A chantry a kind of monument, [441]—Began in thirteenth century, [442]—Their distribution over the country, [443]—Foundation deed of Daundy’s chantry, [444]—Chantry of the Black Prince, [446]—Burghersh chantry, [447]—Chantry of Richard III., [447]; of Henry VII., [447]—Parochial benefices appropriated to chantries, [449]—Nomination to, [451]—Chantry chapels within the church, [453]; at Winchester, [453]; Tewkesbury, [454]—Additions to the fabric of the church, [454]—Separate building in the churchyard, [455]—Temporary chantries for a term of years, [457]—Mortuary services, [458]—Remuneration of chantry priests, [461]—Number of cantarists, [464]—Their character, [465]—Hour of their services, [466]—Some chantries were chapels-of-ease, [467]—Some were grammar schools, [469].
[CHAPTER XXIX.]
GILDS.
Definition, [473]—Trade gilds, [475]—Religious gilds, [476]—For the augmentation of Divine service, [478]—For the maintenance of bridges, roads, chantries, [478]—Services, [479]—Social gilds, [482]—Methods of obtaining better services and pastoral care, [483].
[CHAPTER XXX.]
THE MEDIÆVAL TOWNS.
Description of, [486]—Parochial history of the towns, [489]—Peculiar jurisdictions, the origin of town parishes, [490]—Norwich, [490]—London, [492]—Exeter, [497]—Bristol, [499]—York, [503]—Ipswich, [506]—Burton, [508]—St. Edmund’s Bury, [510]—St. Albans, [513]—Manchester, [514]—Rotherham, [516]—Sheffield, [519]—Newark, [523]—Recluses, [526]—Bridge-chapels, [527]—London Bridge, [529].
[CHAPTER XXXI.]
DISCIPLINE.
Definition, [531]—Exercise of, in Saxon times, [532]—Norman and subsequent times, [533]—Examples of, among the clergy, [533], [537]—Laity, [535]—Resistance to, pictorial illustrations, [543]—General sentences of excommunication, [544].
[CHAPTER XXXII.]
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS.
Schools of thought: progressive, [546]; and conservative, [547]—Religious character of the centuries: twelfth, [547]; thirteenth, [548]; fourteenth, [549]; Chaucer’s “Poore parson;” fifteenth, [552].
[APPENDIX I.]
The history of the parish of Whalley, [557].
[APPENDIX II.]
Comparative view of the returns of the “Taxatio,” the “Valor,” and the modern “Clergy List” in the two rural deaneries of Barstaple, Essex, [562]; and Brigg, Canterbury, [564].
[APPENDIX III.]
References to pictorial illustrations in MSS. in the British Museum, [567].