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.