Reproduced from

DRYPOOL - Being a History of the Ancient Parish of Drypool cum Southcoates
by M. Edward Ingram (1959)

27 decay in the roofe." They reported that it was" now in repaire." In 1637, the year of Laud's Scottish Prayer Book, there are a number of presentments. This time a charge was preferred against James Watkinson, John Blaides and WiIliam Popple, who are described as the Proprietors, i.e. the Lay Rectors of the Parish. It was their responsibility to keep the chancel in repair, and they had neglected to do so. In pre-Reformation times, when a church was appropriated to a monastery as Drypool was to Swine, the tithes which had originally supported the Rector were transferred to the monastery, which employed a vicar to serve the church. With these tithes went the obligation to repair the chancel of the church. At the Dissolution they passed into lay hands, but whilst the Impropriators were willing to accept the tithes they often neglected their duties, with the result that the chancels fell into decay. The charge in 1637 was of" sufferinge the Chauncell to be in decay in the seates or deskes." The Improprietors promised" to make decent seates chauncelwise . . . and to flagg or pave the saide chauncell." The second charge was against the churchwardens, John Lillywhite and William Holmeton, " they want a Communion table and decent stult' to be before it." Holmeton was also described as " excommunicate for not attending the visitation." Lillywhite promised to provide a " decent cotnmunion table and to cause decent railes to be placed before it." At the same Court, the churchwardens of Sculcoates were presented because" they want a decent Carpett and a linen Cloth for the Communion table." The Royal Order of 1561 required such a covering, i.e. a frontal of" silk, buckram or other such like" with a " fair white linen cloth," for the Communion. These orders had been confirmed by the Canons of 1604. The Communion Table was to stand in the old place once occupied by the stone altar, and was to be brought into the body of the church for the service. Gradually, however, the habit crept in of leaving it beneath the east

28 Drypool village in 1640, sketch after Wenceslaus Hollar [Click image for larger version]