ANCIENT USAGES OF THE CHURCH.
(Vol. ix., pp. 127. 257.)
As your well-known correspondent from Clyst St. George has addressed an inquiry to you on this subject, it may not be uninteresting to some of your readers to learn that the practice of kneeling at funerals still exists in this neighbourhood. On a cold December day have I seen men, women, and children bend the knee on the bare sod, during the Lord's and the other prayers used in the outdoor portion of our service, not rising till the valedictory grace concluded the service. Indeed, I have never known (at least the majority of) those attending our funerals here, omit this old custom.
That of dressing graves with flowers, at Easter and Whitsuntide, prevails here as in Wales: and the older folks still maintain the ancient practice of an obeisance as often as the Gloria occurs during the ordinary services. The last railful of communicants are also in the habit of remaining in their place at the altar rails till the service is concluded; but whether these observances are widely spread, or merely local, I have not had sufficient opportunity to judge.
J. T. P.
Dewchurch Vicarage.
At the church of South Stoke, near Arundel, I have heard the clerk respond after the Gospel: "Thanks be to God for the Holy Gospel."
At Southwick, near Brighton, the rector was wont (about four years since) to stand up at the "Glory" in the Litany.
The Bishop of London believes bowing the head when the doxology, or ascription of praise, is pronounced, to be a novelty in our Church (Letter to the Knightsbridge Churchwarden, March 28, 1854). I remember an old woman regularly attending the services of Exeter Cathedral, who was wont always to curtsy at the "Glory." And in The Guardian of April 25, W. G. T. alludes to a parish in Staffordshire where the custom prevails. And A. W. says:
"In the western counties of England there are many parishes where the custom of bowing at the 'Gloria' has been universally observed by the poor from time immemorial. I could mention parishes in Worcestershire or Herefordshire where it has always prevailed."
It should be observed, that the custom is not to bow at the "Glory" only, but whenever, in the course of the service, the names of the Three Persons of the Blessed Trinity are mentioned. See Isaiah, vi. 2, 3.
I have heard sermons commenced in the name of the Holy Trinity, and ended with "the Glory," the preacher repeating the former part and the congregation the latter. I believe this is agreeable to very ancient use. Can any one say whether it has anywhere been retained in our own Church?
J. W. Hewett.
The custom of Lincolnshire mentioned by Mr. Ellacombe as observed by his two parishioners at Bitton had its origin doubtless in the first rubric to the Order for the Administration of the Lord's Supper in our Book of Common Prayer, which enjoins that—
"So many as intend to be partakers of the Holy Communion, shall signify their names to the Curate at least some time the day before."
On this Bishop Wilson remarks:
"It is with great reason that the Church has given this order; wherefore do not neglect it."
"You will have the comfort of knowing, either that your Pastor hath nothing to say against you, or, if he has, you will have the benefit of his advice: and a good blessing will attend your obedience to the Church's orders."
George E. Frere.
Reverence to the Altar (Vol. vi., p. 182.).—Statute XI. Such obeisance was always made in the college to which I belonged, at Oxford, to the Provost by every scholar, and by the Bible clerks when they proceeded from their seats to the eagle lectern, to read the lessons of the day.
I. R. R.
Separation of the Sexes in Church.—It was the custom a few years ago (and I have every reason
to believe it to be so at present), for the men to sit on one side of the aisle, and the women on the other, in the church of Grange, near Armagh, in the north of Ireland. No one remembered the introduction of the custom.
Abhba.
Standing while the Lord's Prayer is read (Vol. ix., pp. 127. 257.).—The congregation of the English Episcopal Chapel at Dundee stood during the reading of the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Song of the Angels at the birth of Christ, when these occur in the order of morning lessons. This congregation joined that of the Scottish Episcopalians several years ago, and whether the practice is continued in the present congregation I cannot say.
In St. Paul's Chapel, Edinburgh, York Place, the congregation stand at the reading of the Ten Commandments in the fifth chapter of Deuteronomy, and they chant "Glory be to thee, O God," on the giving out of the Gospel, and "Thanks be to thee, O God," &c., after the reading of it. In the Communion they sit during the reading of the Exhortation, "Dearly Beloved in the Lord;" and it is but very lately that they have stood when repeating "Glory be to God on high," &c., in the Post Communion.
Henry Stephens.
In Durham Cathedral, on Sept. 5, 1850, at the Anniversary of the Sons of the Clergy, the congregation rose simultaneously on the occurrence of the Lord's Prayer in the lesson. I remember also that the same custom was observed at Trinity Church, Chelsea, during the incumbency of the Rev. Henry Blunt. Where the Bidding Prayer enjoined by the 55th Canon is used (that, by-the-way, being the only authorised pulpit prayer), it is usual I believe for the people to stand during the Lord's Prayer; the preacher then teaching us to pray as our Lord taught His disciples. The short doxology at the end of the Gospel, to which Mr. Ellacombe refers at p. 257., is common in the north of England.
E. H. A.
This custom prevails generally in the Episcopalian churches in Scotland; and our congregations also stand up while the Commandments are read in course of the lessons. We have also the practice of singing, after the Gospel: "Thanks be to thee, O Lord, for this thy Holy Gospel!"
Balivus.
Edinburgh.
This is the practice on the reading of this prayer in the second lesson at the parish church of Edgbaston, near Birmingham. It is probably a remanet of the ancient practice in the Church, not only to stand up during the reading of the Gospel, but throughout the whole service, as symbolic of the resurrection of Christ—the Lord's Day; which still exists in the Greek Church, and may be witnessed any Sunday in London, on visiting the recent edifice in London Wall.
T. J. Buckton.
Birmingham.
The custom is observed in St. Thomas' Church.
W. Hazel.
Portsmouth.
At Exeter Cathedral the people kneel whenever the Lord's Prayer is read in the lesson.
J. W. Hewett.
Tolling the Bell on leaving Church (Vol. ix., pp. 125. 311, 312.).—In this parish a bell is always rung on the conclusion of the morning service, to give notice that a sermon will be given at the evening service. This bell, which a very respectable old man, who was parish clerk here for fifty-four years, called the "sermon bell," is never tolled unless there is a second service. If at any time the morning service is not performed, the bell is tolled at twelve o'clock at noon to inform the parishioners that an evening service will take place. A bell is also rung at eight and nine o'clock on Sunday, or any other morning when morning prayer is said.
The custom of ringing the church bell on Shrove Tuesday, as mentioned by Newburiensis (Vol. ix., p. 324.), is observed here too, and is generally called "the pancake bell."
C. F. P.
Normanton-upon-Soar, Notts.
I am disposed to agree in opinion with E. W. I. as to this custom, not only as regards the priests, but the people also, for in most country parishes it is the signal for the baker—who usually cooks the Sunday's dinner of the humbler classes—to open his oven: and I have often heard old folks speak of it as "the pudding bell."
G. Taylor.
Reading.
The object is to announce that another service is to follow, either in the afternoon or evening, as the case may be. Here the tolling is, not as the congregation are leaving the church, but at one o'clock.
Wm. Hazel.
Portsmouth.
E. W. I., in his answer to this Query in Vol. ix., p. 312., refers to the custom of tolling the church bell at eight o'clock on Sunday morning, and again at nine. This custom is followed at the chapel of ease (at Maidenhead) to the parishes of Bray and Cookham.
Newburiensis.
"The pudding bell," as country folks sometimes call it (under the impression that its use is to warn those at home to get the dinner ready), is still rung in some of the old Lancashire parish churches as the congregation go out. But as in this county parish churches are scarce, and two full services quite a matter of course, W. S.'s
reason cannot apply here. I remember well the custom of the congregations kneeling when the Lord's Prayer occurred in the lesson; it was left off in my own church about thirty years since, this custom, curtseying at the "Gloria," and some others, being considered ignorant, and therefore discountenanced by those who knew better.
P. P.
Arch-priest in the Diocese of Exeter (Vol. ix., pp. 105. 185.).—A question has been asked: "Does a dignity or office, such as rector of Haccombe, exist in the Anglican Church?" I find something similar in the case of the vicar of Newry, who is entirely free from ecclesiastical control; he holds his appointment from the ex-officio rector (Lord Kilmony), who derives his title from the original patent granted by Edward VI. to his Irish Marshal Sir Nicholas Pagnall, who, on the dissolution of the "Monasterium Nevoracense," obtained possession of the land attached, and was farther granted:
"That he shall have all and singular, and so many and the like courts leet, frank pledge, law days, rights, jurisdictions, liberties, privileges, &c. &c., in as large, ample, and beneficial a manner as any abbot, prior, convent, or other chief, head, or governor of the late dissolved monastery heretofore seized, held or enjoyed," &c.
The seal of the ancient charter, on which is inscribed the legend, "Sigillum exemptæ jurisdictionis de virido ligno alias Newry et Mourne," is still used in the courts. A mitred abbot in his albe, sitting in his chair, supported by two yew-trees, is also engraved on it; to perpetuate (it is said) the tradition that these trees had been planted by St. Patrick in the vicinity of the convent.
N. C. Atkinson.
85. Waterloo Road, Dublin.
Holy-loaf Money (Vol. ix., pp. 150. 256.).—In Normandy and Brittany, and probably in other Roman Catholic countries, bread is blessed by the officiating priest during the performance of high mass, and handed round in baskets to the congregation by the inferior officers of the church. On inquiring into the meaning of this custom, I was told that it represented the agapæ of the primitive church; and that, before the first revolution, every substantial householder in the parish was bound in turn to furnish the loaves, or a money equivalent. It is now, I believe, a voluntary gift of the more devout parishioners, or furnished out of the ordinary revenues of the church.
Honoré de Mareville.
Guernsey.