Charles II, 1662: An Act for the Uniformity of Publique Prayers and Administrac[i]on of Sacraments & other Rites & Ceremonies and for establishing the Form of making ordaining and consecrating Bishops Preists and Deacons in the Church of England.

Statutes of the Realm: Volume 5, 1625-80. Originally published by Great Britain Record Commission, s.l, 1819.

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'Charles II, 1662: An Act for the Uniformity of Publique Prayers and Administrac[i]on of Sacraments & other Rites & Ceremonies and for establishing the Form of making ordaining and consecrating Bishops Preists and Deacons in the Church of England.', in Statutes of the Realm: Volume 5, 1625-80, (s.l, 1819) pp. 364-370. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/statutes-realm/vol5/pp364-370 [accessed 26 April 2024]

In this section

Recital that in the First Year of Queen Eliz. there was one uniform Order of Church Service compiled; and enjoined to be used by 1 Eliz. c. 2.

that many Persons nevertheless refuse to come to their Parish Church; that by the Neglect of Ministers many Persons have been led into Schism; that His Majesty, according to His Declaration of 25th Oct, 1660, had granted a Commission to review the Book of Common Prayer, and that the Convocations were assembled for that Purpose; that they had presented to His Majesty a Book of Common Prayer, which he had allowed and recommended to Parliament that the same should be used in all Churches, &c.; that an universal Agreement in public Worship conduceth to settling the Peace of the Nation; Ministers in Churches, &c. to use the said Book of Common Prayer;; and to read the Morning and Evening Prayers therein.

Whereas in the first yeare of the late Queene Elizabeth there was one uniforme Order of Co[m]mon Service and Prayer and of the Administration of Sacraments Rites and Ceremonies in the Church of England (agreeable to the Word of God and usage of the Primitive Church) compiled by the Reverend Bishopps and Clergy set forth in one Booke entituled The Booke of Co[m]mmon Prayer and Admimistration of Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies in the Church of England and enjoyned to be used by Act of Parliament holden in the said First yeare of the said late Queene entituled An Act for the Uniformity of Co[m]mon Prayer and Service in the Church and Administration of the Sacraments very comfortable to all good people desirous to live in Christian conversation and most profitable to the Estate of this Realme upon the which the Mercy Favour and Blessing of Almighty God is in no wise so readily and plentifully poured as by Co[m]mon Prayers due useing of the Sacraments and often preaching of the Gospell with Devotion of the Hearers And yet this notwithstanding a great number of people in divers parts of this Realm following theire owne sensualitie and liveing without knowledge and due feare of God do willfully and schismatically abstaine and refuse to come to theire Parish Churches and other Publique places where Co[m]mon Prayer Administrac[i]on of the Sacraments and preaching of the Word of God is used upon the Sundayes and other dayes ordained&appointed to be kept and observed as Holy dayes And whereas by the great and scandalous neglect of Ministers in using the said Order or Liturgy so set forth and enjoyned as aforesaid great mischeifs&inconveniencies during the times of the late unhappy troubles have arisen and grown and many people have beene led into Factions and Schismes to the great decay and scandall of the Reformed Religion of the Church of England and to the hazard of many souls [For prevention whereof in time to come for setling the Peace of the Church and for allaying the present distempers which the indisposic[i]on of the time hath contracted The Kings Majestie according to His Declaration of the Five and twentieth of October One thousand six hundred and sixty granted His Co[m]mission under the great Seale of England to severall Bishops and other Divines to [re (fn. 1) ] view the Booke of Co[m]mon Prayer and to prepare such Alterations and Additions as they thought fitt to offer And afterwards the Convocations of both the Provinces of Canterbury and Yorke being by His Majesty called and assembled and now sitting His Majestie hath beene pleased to authorize and require the Presidents of the said Convocations and other the Bishopps and Clergy of the same to reveiw the said Booke of Co[m]mon Prayer and the Booke of the Forme and manner of the making and consecrating of Bishops Preists and Deaco[m]ns And that after mature considerac[i]on they should make such Additions and Alterations in the said Bookes respectively as to them should seeme meet and convenient and should exhibit and present the same to His Majesty in writing for his further allowance or confirmation since which time upon full and mature deliberation they the said Presidents Bishops and Clergy of both Provinces have accordingly reviewed the said Bookes and have made some Alterations which they thinke fitt to be inserted to the same and some additionall Prayers to the said Booke of Co[m]mon Prayer to be used upon proper and emergent occasions And have exhibited and presented the same unto His Majestie in writing in one Booke entituled The Booke of Co[m]mon Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the Church of England togeather with the Psalter or Psalmes of David pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches and [the (fn. 1) ] forme and manner of making ordaining and consecrating of Bishopps Preists and Deacons All which His Majesty haveing duly considered hath fully approved and allowed the same and reco[m]mended to this p[re]sent Parliament that the said Bookes of Co[m]mon Prayer and of the forme of Ordination and Consecration of Bishops Preists and Deacons with the Alterations and Additions which have beene soe made and p[re]sented to his Majesty by the said Convocations be the Booke which shall be appointed to be used by all that officiate in all Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches and Chappells and in all Chappells of Colledges and Halls in both the Universities and the Colledges of Eaton and Winchester and in all Parish Churches and Chappells within the Kingdome of England Dominion of Wales and Towne of Berwick upon Tweed and by all that make or consecrate Bishops Preists or Deacons in any of the said places under such Sanctions and Penalties as the Houses of Parliament shall thinke fitt. (fn. 2) ] Now in regard that nothing conduceth more to the setling of the Peace of this Nation (which is desired of all good men) nor to the honour of our Religion and the propagation thereof then an universall agreement in the Publique Worshipp of Almighty God and to the intent that every person within this Realme may certainely knowe the rule to which he is to conforme in Publique Worship and Administration of Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England and the manner how and by whom Bishops Preists and Deacons are and ought to be made ordained and consecrated Be it enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestie by the advice and with the consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and of the Co[m]mons in this present Parlaiment assembled and by the Authority of the same That all and singuler Ministers in any Cathedrall Collegiate or Parish Church or Chappell or other place of Publique Worship within this Realme of England Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick upon Tweed shall be bound to say and use the Morning Prayer Evening Prayer Celebrac[i]on and Administrac[i]on of both the Sacraments and all other the Publique and Co[m]mon Prayer in such order and forme as is menc[i]oned in the said Booke annexed and joyned to this present Act ( (fn. 3) ) and entituled The Booke of Co[m]mon Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the Church of England togeather with the Psalter or Psalmes of David pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches and [the (fn. 4) ] forme or manner of making ordaining and consecrating of Bishops Preists & Deacons. And that the Morning and Evening Prayers therein contained shall upon every Lords day and upon all other dayes and occasions and att the times therein appointed be openly and solemnly read by all and every Minister or Curate in every Church Chappell or other place of Publique Worshipp within this Realme of England and places aforesaid

II. Parsons, Vicars, &c. publicly to read and declare their Assent to the Use of the same.

And to the end that Uniformity in the Publiq Worshipp of God (which is so much desired) may be speedily effected bee it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That every Parson Vicar or other Minister whatsoever who now hath and enjoyeth any Ecclesiasticall Benefice or Promotion within this Realme of England or places aforesaid shall in the Church Chappell or place of Publiq[ue] Worshipp belonging to his said Benefice or Promotion upon some Lords day before the Feast of Saint Bartholomew which shall be in the yeare of our Lord God One thousand six hundred sixty and two openly publiquely and solemnely read the Morneing and Evening Prayer appointed to be read by and according to the said Booke of Co[m]mon Prayer att the times thereby appointed and after such reading thereof shall openly and publiquely before the Congregation there assembled declare his unfeigned assent & consent to the use of all things in the said Booke contained and prescribed [in these words and no other.

Form of Assent.

I. A. B. doe ( (fn. 5) ) declare my unfaigned assent and consent to all and every thing contained and prescribed in and by the Booke intituled The Booke of Co[m]mon Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the Church of England togeather with the Psalter or Psalmes of, David pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches and the form or manner of making ordaining and consecrating of Bishops Preists and Deacons. (fn. 6) ]

III. Refusing so to do.

Deprivation.; Patrons may present.

And that all and every such person who shall (without some lawfull Impediment to be allowed and approved of by the Ordinary of the place) neglect or refuse to doe the same within the time aforesaid (or in case of such Impediment) within one Moneth after such Impediment removed shall (ipso facto) be deprived of all his Spirituall Promotions And that from thence forth it shall be lawfull to and for all Patrons and Donors of all and singuler the said Spirituall Promotions or of any of them according to theire respective Rights and Titles to present or collate to the same as though the person or persons so offending or neglecting were dead.

IV. Every Person presented, to read the Prayers according to the said Book, and declare his Assent thereto.

Refusing so to do.; Deprivation.; Patrons may present.

And bee it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid that every person whoe shall hereafter be presented or collated or put into any Ecclesiasticall Benefice or Promotion within this Realme of England and places aforesaid shall in the Church Chappell or place of publiq[ue] worshipp belonging to his said Benefice or Promotion within two Monthes next after that he shall be in the actuall possession of the said Ecclesiasticall Benefice or Promotion upon some Lords day openly publiquely and solemnly read the Morning and Evening Prayers appointed to be read by and according to the said Booke of Co[m]mon Prayer att the times thereby appointed and after such reading thereof shall openly and publiquely before the Congregation there assembled declare his unfeigned assent and consent to the use of all things therein contained and prescribed according to the forme before appointed And that all and every such person who shall (without some lawfull Impediment to be allowed and approved by the Ordinary of the place) neglect or refuse to doe the same within the time aforesaid (or in case of such Impediment within one Moneth after such Impediment removed) shall (ipso facto) be deprived of all his said Ecclesiasticall Benefices and Promotions And that from thenceforth it shall and may be lawfull to and for all Patrons and Donors of all and singuler the said Ecclesiasticall Benefices and Promotions or any of them (according to theire respective Rights and Titles) to present or collate to the same as though the person or persons so offending or neglecting were dead

V. Incumbents of Livings residing and keeping Curates shall once in every Month read the Prayers, &c. according to the said Book.

Penalty £5.; Distress.

[And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That in all places where the proper Incumbent of any Parsonage or Vicaridge or Benefice with Cure doth reside on his Living and keepe a Curate the Incumbent himselfe in person (not haveing some lawfull Impediment to be allowed by the Ordinary of the place) shall once (at the least) in every moneth openly and publiquely read the Comon prayers and Service in and by the said Booke prescribed and (if there be occasion) administer each of the Sacraments and other Rites of the Church in the Parish Church or Chappell of or belonging to the same Parsonage Vicarage or Benefice in such order manner and forme as in and by the said. Booke is appointed upon pain to forfeit the su[m]m of Five pounds to the use of the poore of the Parish for every offence upon conviction by confession or proofe of two credible Witnesses upon Oath before two Justices of the Peace of the County City or Town Corporate where the offence shall be comitted which Oath the said Justices are hereby impowered to administer) and in default of payment within ten dayes to be levied by distresse and sale of the goods and Chattells of the Offender by the Warrant of the said Justices by the Church wardens or Overseers of the Poore of the said Parish rendring the surplusage to the party

VI. Deans, Readers in the Universities, Parsons, School masters, &c. to subscribe the Declaration herein mentioned.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That every Deane Canon and Prebendary of every Cathedrall or Collegiate Church and all Masters and other Heads Fellowes Chaplaines and Tutors of or in any Colledge Hall House of Learning or Hospitall and every Publique Professor and Reader in either of the Universities and in every Colledge elsewhere and every Parson Viccar Curate Lecturer and every other person in Holy Orders and in every School master keeping any publique or private Schoole&every person instructing or teaching any Youth in any House or private Family as a Tutor or School master who upon the First day of May which shall be in the yeare of our Lord God One thousand six hundred sixty two or at any time thereafter shall be Incumbent or have possession of any Deanry Canonry Prebend Mastershipp Headshipp Fellowshipp Professors place or Readers place Parsonage Vicarage or any other Ecclesiasticall Dignity or Promotion or of any Curates place Lecture or School or shall instruct or teach any Youth as Tutor or Schoolmaster shall before the Feast day of St. Bartholomew which shall be in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred sixty two or at or before his or theire respective admission to be Incumbent or have possession aforesaid subscribe the Declaration or Acknowledgement following scilicet.

Form of the Declaration.

I A. B do declare that it is not lawfull upon any p[re]tence whatsoever to take Armes against the King and that I do abhorr that traiterous Position of taking Armes by His Authority against His Person or against those that are commissionated by him And that I will conforme to the Liturgy of the Church of England as it is now by Law established And I do declare that I do hold there lies no Obligac[i]on upon me or on any other person from the Oath comonly called the Solemne League and Covenant to endeavour any change or alteration of Government either in Church or State And that the same was in it selfe an unlawfull Oath and imposed upon the Subjects of this Realme against the knowne Lawes and Liberties of this Kingdome.

Before whom to be subscribed.; Deans,&c. not subscribing the same; deprived.; Deanry,&c. void..

Which said Declaration and Acknowledgment shall be subscribed by every of the said Masters and other Heads Fellowes Chaplaines and Tutors of or in any Colledge Hall or House of Learning and by every publique Professor and Reader in either of the Universities before the Vice Chancellor of the respective Universities for the time being or his Deputy And the said Declaration or Acknowledgement shall be subscribed before the respective Archbishopp Bishopp or Ordinary of the Diocesse by every other person hereby enjoyned to subscrible the same upon pain that all and every of the persons aforesaid failing in such Subscription shall loose and forfeit such respective Deanary Canonry Prebend Mastershipp Headship Fellowship Professors place Readers place Parsonage Viccarage Ecclesiasticall Dignity or Promotion Curates place Lecture and School and shall be utterly disabled and (ipso facto) deprived of the same And that every such respective Deanry Canonry Prebend Mastership Headship Fellowship Proffessors Place Readers Place Parsonage Viccarage Ecclesiasticall Dignity or Promotion Curates Place Lecture and Schoole shall be void as if such person so failing were naturally dead

VII. Schoolmasters, &c. instructing in private Houses before License. (Fee for License.)

First Offence, Imprisonment; every other Offence, Imprisonment, and Fine of £5.; Parsons, &c. to procure Certificate of Subscription, and to read the same, with the Declaration, in Church, Penalty.; Parsonage, &c. void.

And if any Schoolmaster or other person instructing or teaching Youth in any private House or Family as a Tutor or School master [shall instruct or teach any Youth as a Tutor or Schoolmaster (fn. 7) ] before Licence obtained from his respective Archbishop Bishop or Ordinary of the Diocesse according to the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme (for which he shall pay twelve pence onely) and before such subscription and acknowledgement made as aforesaid then every such Schoolmaster and other instructing and teaching as aforesaid shall for the first offence suffer three monthes Imprisonment without bail or mainprize and for every second and other such offence shall suffer three moneths Imprisonment without baile or mainprize and alsoe forfeit to his Majesty the su[m]m of five pounds And after such subscription made every such Parson Viccar Curate and Lecturer shall procure a Certificate under the Hand and Seale of the respective Archbishop Bishop or Ordinary of the Diocesse (whoe are hereby enjoyned and required upon demaund to make and deliver the same) and shall publickly and openly read the same togeather with the Declaration or Acknowledgement aforesaid upon some Lords day within three moneths then next following in his Parish Church where he is to officiate in the presence of the Congregation there assembled in the time of Divine Service upon pain that every person failing therein shall loose such Parsonage Vicarage or Benefice Curates place or Lecturers place respectively and shall be utterly disabled and (ipso facto) deprived of the same And that the said Parsonage Viccarage or Benefice Curates place or Lecturers place shall be void as if he was naturally dead

VIII. What Words to be omitted in the Declaration after March 25, 1682.

Provided alwaies that from and after the Twenty fifth day of March which shall be in the yeare of our Lord God One thousand six hundred eighty two there shall be omitted in the said Declaration or Acknowledgm[en]t so to be subscribed and read these words following scilicet.

And I do declare that I do hold there lies no Obligac[i]on on me or any other person from the Oath comonly called the Solemne League and Covenant to endeavor any change or alteration of Government either in Church or State and that the same was in it selfe an unlawfull Oath and imposed upon the Subjects of this Realme against the knowne Lawes and Liberties of this Kingdome.

So as none of the persons aforesaid shall from thence forth be at all obliged to subscribe or read that part of the said Declaration or Acknowledgement.

IX. What Persons shall not hold Ecclesiastical Promotion.

Provided alwaies and be it enacted that from and after the Feast of St. Bartholomew which shall be in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred sixty and two no person who now is Incumbent and in possession of any Parsonage Vicarage or Benefice and who is not already in Holy Orders by Episcopall Ordination or shall not before the said Feast day of St. Bartholomew be ordained Preist or Deacon according to the forme of Episcopall Ordination shall have hold or enjoye the said Parsonage Vicaradge Benefice with Cure or other Ecclesiasticall Promotion within this Kingdome of England or the Dominion of Wales or Town of Berwick upon Tweed but shall be utterly disabled and (ipso facto) deprived of the same And all his Ecclesiastical Promotions shall be void as if he was naturally dead.

X. Persons administering the Sacrament before they are ordained Priests;

Penalty £100; and Disability for One Year.

And bee it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid that no person whatsoever shall thenceforth be capable to bee admitted to any Parsonage Vicarage Benefice or other Ecclesiastical Promotion or Dignity whatsoever nor shall presume to consecrate&administer the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper before such time as he shall be ordained Preist according to the forme and manner in and by the said Booke prescribed unlesse he have formerly beene made Preist by Episcopall Ordination upon pain to forfeit for every offence the su[m]m of One hundred pounds One moyety thereof to the Kings Majesty the other moyety thereof to be equally divided betweene the Poore of the Parish where the offence shall be co[m]mitted and such person or persons as shall sue for the same by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information in any of His Majesties Courts of Record wherein no Essoine Protection or Wager of Law shall be allowed And to be disabled from taking or being admitted into the Order of Preist by the space of one whole yeare then next following

XI. Proviso for Aliens of Foreign reformed Churches.

Provided that the penaltics in this Act shall not extend to the Forreiners or Aliens of the Forrein Reformed Churches allowed or to be allowed by the Kings Majestie His Heires and Successors in England

XII. No Title to present by Lapse under this Act, but on Notice.

Provided alwaies that no title to conferre or present by lapse shall accrewe by any avoydance or deprivation (ipso facto) by vertue of this Statute but after six moneths after notice of such voidance or deprivation given by the Ordinary to the Patron or such sentence of deprivation openly and publiquely read in the Parish Church of the Benefice Parsonage or Vicarage becomeing void or whereof the Incumbent shall be deprived by vertue of this Act.

XIII. No other Form of Prayer to be used but according to the said Book.

Heads of Colleges, &c. within the time herein mentioned. to subscribe the 39 Articles mentioned. 13 Eliz. c. 12.; and declare their Assent thereunto,; and to the said Book; and once in every Quarter of the Year read the Prayers, &c.; Suspension; and if Person so suspended do not within Six Months subscribe, then his Government, &c. void.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid that no Form or Order of Co[m]mon Prayers Administrac[i]on of Sacraments Rites or Ceremonies shall be openly used in any Church Chappell or other publique place of or in any Colledge or Hall in either of the Universities the Colledges of Westminster Winchester or Eaton or any of them. other then what is p[re]scribed and appointed to be used in and by the said Booke And that the present Governour or Head of every Colledge and Hall in the [said (fn. 8) ] Universities and of the said Colledges of Westminster Winchester and Eaton within one moneth after the Feast of St. Bartholomew which shall be in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred sixty and two And every Governour or Head of any of the said Colledges or Halls hereafter to be elected or appointed within one moneth next after his Election or Collation and Admission into the same Government or Headshipp shall openly and publiquely in the Church Chappell or other publique place of the same Colledge or Hall and in the p[re]sence of the Fellowes and Scholars of the same or the greater part of them then resident subscribe unto the Nine and thirty Articles of Religion mentioned in the Statute made in the thirteenth yeare of the Reigne of the late Queene Elizabeth and unto the said Booke and declare his unfeigned assent and consent unto and approbation of the said Articles and of the same Booke and to the use of all the Prayers Rites and Ceremonies Formes and Orders in the said Booke prescribed and contained according to the form aforesaid And that all such Governours or Heads of the said Colledges and Halls or any of them as are or shall be in Holy Orders shall once (at least) in every quarter of the yeare (not having a lawfull Impediment) openly and publiquely read the Morning Prayer and Service in and by the said Booke appointed to be read in the Church Chappell or other publique place of the same Colledge or Hall upon pain to loose and be suspended of and from all [the (fn. 8) ] Benefitts and Profitts belonging to the same Government or Headshipp by the space of Six moneths by the Visitor or Visitors of the same Colledge or Hall And if any Governour or Head of any Colledge or Hall suspended for not subscribing unto the said Articles and Booke or for not reading of the Morning Prayer and Service as aforesaid shall not att or before the end of Six monthes next after such suspension subscribe unto the said Articles and Booke and declare his consent thereunto as aforesaid or read the Morning Prayer and Service as aforesaid then such Government or Headshipp shall be (ipso facto) void

XIV. Proviso for reading the Prayers in Latin in Colleges, &c.

Provided alwaies that it shall and may be lawfull to use the Morning and Evening Prayer and all other Prayers and Service prescribed in and by the said Booke in the Chappells or other publique places of the respective Colledges and Halls in both the Universities in the Colledges of Westminster Winchester and Eaton and in the Convocations of the Clergies of either Province in Latine Any thing in this Act contained to the contrary notwithstanding (fn. 9) ]

XV. Lecturer to read the 39 Articles of 13 Eliz. c. 12. and declare his Assent thereto;

13 Eliz. c. 12.; and at the first time of Preaching to read the said Common Prayers, and declare his Assent thereto; also upon the first Lecture Day of every Month.; Refusing, &c. so to do,; Disabled.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid [that no person shall be or be received as a Lecturer or permitted suffered or allowed to preach as a Lecturer or to preach or read any Sermon or Lecture in any Church Chappell or other place of Publique Worshipp within this Realme of England or the Dominion of Wales and Towne of Berwick upon Tweed unlesse he be first approved and thereunto licensed by the Archbishopp of the Province or Bishopp of the Diocesse or (in case the See be void) by the Guardian of the Spiritualties under his Seale and shall in ( (fn. 10) ) p[re]sence of the same Archbishop or Bishop or Guardian read the nine and thirty Articles of Religion mentioned in the Statute of the Thirteenth yeare of the late Queene Elizabeth with declaration of his unfeigned assent to the same And (fn. 11) ] that every person and persons whoe nowe is or hereafter shall bee licensed assigned [or (fn. 11) >] appointed or received as a Lecturer to preach upon any day of the weeke in any Church Chappell or place of Publique Worship within this Realme of England or places aforesaid the first time he preacheth (before his Sermon) shall openly publiquely and solemnly read the Co[m]mmon Prayers and Service in and by the said Booke appointed to be read for that time of the day and then and there publiquely and openly declare his assent unto and approbation of the said Booke and to the use of all the Prayers Rites and Ceremonies Formes and Orders therein contained and prescribed according to the forme before appointed in this Act And alsoe shall upon the first Lecture day [of every moneth afterwards so long as he continues Lecturer or Preacher there at the place appointed for his said Lecture or Sermon before his said Lecture or Sermon openly publiquely and solemnly read the Common Prayers and Service in and by the said Booke appointed to be read for that time of the day at which the said Lecture or Sermon is to be preached and after such reading there of shall openly and publiquely before the Congregation there assembled declare his unfeigned assent and consent unto and approbation of the said Booke and to the use of all the Prayers Rites and Ceremonies Forms and Orders therein contained and prescribed according to the forme aforesaid (fn. 11) ] And that all and every such person and persons who shall neglect or refuse to do the same shall from thenceforth be disabled to preach the said or any other Lecture or Sermon in the said or any other Church Chappell or place of Publique Worship untill such time as he and they shall openly publiquely and solemnly read the Common Prayers and Service appointed by the said Booke and conform in all points to the things therein appointed and prescribed according to the purport true intent and meaning of this Act

XVI. Proviso where Lecture preached in Cathedrals, &c.

[Provided alwaies That if the said Sermon or Lecture be to be preached or read in any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church or Chappell it shall be sufficient for the said Lecturer openly at the time aforesaid to declare his assent and consent to all things contained in the said Booke according to the form aforesaid. (fn. 11) ]

XVII. Persons so disabled preaching,; Imprisonment in Common Gaol.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any person who is by this Act disabled to preach any Lecture or Sermon shall during the time that he shall continue and remaine so disabled preach any Sermon or Lecture that then for every such offence the person and persons so offending shall suffer Three Monthes Imprisonment in the Co[m]mon Goal without baile or mainprize and that any two Justices of the Peace of any County of this Kingdome and places aforesaid and the Maior or other Cheife Magistrate of any City or Town Corporate within the same upon Certificate from the Ordinary of the place made to him or them of the offence committed shall and are hereby required to committ the person or persons so offending to the Goal of the same County City or Town Corporate accordingly

XVIII. The said Common Prayers to be read whenever any Sermon or Lecture is preached.

Lecturer to be present.

[Provided alwaies and be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That att all and every time and times when any Sermon or Lecture is to be preached the Common Prayers and Service in and by the said Booke appointed to be read for that time of the day shall be openly publiquely and solemnly read by some Preist or Deacon in the Church Chappell or place of Publique Worshipp where the said Sermon or Lecture is to be preached before such Sermon or Lecture be preached and that the Lecturer then to preach shall be present att the reading thereof

XIX. Proviso respecting University Sermons preached in the University Churches.

Provided neverthelesse that this Act shall not extend to the University Churches in the Universities of this Realme or either of them when or att such times as any Sermon or Lecture is preached or read in the [said (fn. 13) Churches or any of them for or as the publick University Sermon or Lecture but that the same Sermons and Lectures may be preached or read in such sort and manner as the same have been heretofore preached or read This Act or any thing herein contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. (fn. 11)

XX. Former Laws for the Uniformity of Prayers, &c. confirmed.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the severall. good Lawes and Statutes of this Realm which have beene formerly made and are now in force for the Uniformity of Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments within this Realme of England and places aforesaid shall stand in full force and strength to all intents and purposes whatsoever for the establishing and confirming of the said Booke intituled The Booke of Co[m]mon Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites&Ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the Church of England togeather with the Psalter or Psalmes of David pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches and the forme or manner of making ordaining and consecrating of Bishopps Preists and Deacons herein before mentioned to be joyned and annexed to this Act and shall be applied practised and put in ure for the punishing of all offences contrary to the said Lawes with relation to the Booke aforesaid and no other.

XXI. Prayers relating to the Royal Family to be altered as required.

Provided alwaies and be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That in all those Prayers Letanies and Collects which doe any way relate to the King Queene or Royall Progeny the Names be altered and changed from time to time and fitted to the present occasion according to the direction of lawfull Authority.

XXII. A true printed Copy of the said Book of Common Prayer to be

provided for Parish Churches, &c. at the Costs of the Parishioners. Penalty.

Provided alsoe and be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid that a true printed Copy of the said Booke entituled The Booke of Co[m]mon Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the Church of England togeather with the Psalter or Psalmes of David pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches and the form and manner of making ordaining and consecrateing of Bishops Preists and Deacons shall att the costs and charges of the parishoners of every Parish Church and Chappelry Cathedrall Church Colledge and Hall be attained and gotten before the Feast day of St. Bartholomew in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred sixty and two upon pain of forfeiture of three pounds by the moneth for so long time as they shall then after be unprovided thereof by every Parish or Chapelry Cathedrall Church Colledge and Hall making default therein.

XXIII. The Bishops of Hereford, St. David, Asaph, and Bangor to take Order that the said Book shall be translated into Welch, and had in Churches, &c.

and the Form of Prayer &c. therein to be used.; The same to be paid for by the Churchwardens out of the Parish Money.; Bishops to set the Price.; And one other Book in the English Tongue to be also had.; Proviso for the Use of the former Forms until the said Book can be had.

Provided alwaies and be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Bishops of Hereford St Davies Asaph Bangor and Landaff and their Successors shall take such order among themselves for the souls health of the Flocks committed to theire Charge within Wales That the Booke hereunto annexed be truly and exactly translated into the British or Welsh Tongue and that the [same (fn. 14) ] soe translated and being by them or any three of them at the least viewed perused and allowed be imprinted to such number at least so that one of the said Bookes so translated and imprinted may be had for every Cathedrall Collegiate and Parish Church and Chapell of Ease in the said respective Diocesses and places in Wales where the Welsh is co[m]monly spoken or used before the First day of May One thousand six hundred sixty five And that from and after the imprinting and publishing of the said Booke so translated the whole Divine Service shall be used and said by the Ministers and Curates throughout all Wales within the said Diocesses where the Welsh Tongue is co[m]monly used in the British or Welsh Tongue in such manner and forme as is prescribed according to the Booke hereunto annexed to be used in the English Tongue differing nothing in any Order or Form the said English Booke for which Booke so translated and imprinted the Church wardens of every the said Parishes shall pay out of the Parish [moneys (fn. 15) ] in theire hands for the use of the respective Churches and be allowed the same on theire Accompt And that the said Bishops and theire Successors or any three of them at the least shall sett and appoint the price for which the said Booke shall be sold And one other Booke of Common Prayer in the English Tongue shall be bought and had in every Church throughout Wales in which the Booke of Co[m]mon Prayer in Welsh is to be had by force of this Act before the First day of May One thousand six hundred sixty and foure and the same Booke to remaine in such convenient places within the said Churches that such as understand them may resort at all convenient times to read and peruse the same and alsoe such as do not understand the said Language may by conferring both Tongues togeather the sooner attaine to the knowledge of the English Tongue Any thing in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding and untill printed Copies of the said Booke so to be translated may be had and provided The Form of Co[m]mon Prayer established by Parliament before the makeing of this Act shall be used as formerly in such parts of Wales where the English Tongue is not comonly understood

XXIV. Deans, &c. to obtain Copies of this Act and of the said Book;

to be kept by them and their Successors.; Copies of this Act and of the said Book to be delivered to the Courts at Westminster and the Tower of London.; Such Copies to be examined with the Original and certified; and thereupon accounted good Records.

And to the end that the true and perfect Copies of this Act and the said Booke hereunto annexed may be safely kept and perpetually preserved and for the avoiding of all disputes for the time to come Be it therefore enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the respective Deanes and Chapters of every Cathedrall or Collegiate Church within England and Wales shall at theire proper costs and charges before the Twenty fifth day of December One thousand six hundred sixty&two obtain under the Great Seale of England a true and perfect printed Copy of this Act and of the said Booke annexed hereunto to be by the said Deanes and Chapters and theire Successors kept and preserved in safety for ever and to be alsoe produced and shewed forth in any Court of Record as often as they shall be thereunto lawfully required And alsoe there shall be delivered true and perfect Copies of this Act and of the same Booke into the respective Courts at Westminster and into the Tower of London to be kept and preserved for ever among the Records of the said Courts and the Records of the Tower to be alsoe produced and shewed forth in any Court as need shall require which said Bookes soe to be exemplified under the Great Seale of England [shall be examined by such persons as the Kings Ma[jes]tie shall appoint under the Great Seale of England (fn. 16) ] for that purpose and shall be compared with the Originall Booke hereunto annexed and shall have power to correct and amend in writing any Error committed by the Printer in the printing of the same Booke or of any thing therein contained and shall certifie in writing under theire Hands and Seales or the Hands and Seales of any three of them att the end of the same Booke that they have examined and compared the same Booke and find it to be a true and perfect Coppy which said Bookes and every one of them so exemplified under the Great Seale of England as aforesaid shall bee deemed taken adjudged and expounded to bee good and available in the Law to all intents and purposes whatsoever and shall be accounted as good Records as this Booke it selfe hereunto annexed Any Law or Custome to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding

XXV. Proviso for King's Professor of Law at Oxford for Prebend of Shipton.

Provided alsoe that this Act or any thing therein contained shall not be pp[re]judiciall or hurtfull unto the Kings Professor of the Law within the University of Oxford for or concerning the Prebend of Shipton within the Cathedrall Church of Saru[m] united and annexed unto the place of the same Kings Professor for the time being by the late King James of blessed memory

XXVI. Proviso in respect of the 36th Article, one of the said 39 Articles.

Provided alwaies That whereas the Six and thirtieth Article of the Nine and thirtie Articles agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London in the yeare of our Lord One thousand five hundred sixty two for the avoiding of diversities of Opinions and for establishing of consent touching true Religion is in these words following vizt.

That the Booke of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops and Ordaining of Preists and Deacons lately set forth in the time of King Edward the Sixth and confirmed at the same time by Authority of Parliament doth contain all things necessary to such consecration and ordaining neither hath it any thing that of it selfe is superstitious and ungodly And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to the Rites of that Booke since the second yeare of the aforenamed King Edward unto this time or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same Rites We decree all such to bee rightly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered.

It be enacted And be it therefore enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all Subscriptions hereafter to be had or made unto the said Articles by any Deacon Preist or Ecclesiasticall person or other person whatsoever who by this Act or any other Law now in force is required to subscribe unto the said Articles shall be construed and [be (fn. 17) ] taken to extend and shall be applied (for and touching the said Six and thirtieth Article) unto the Booke containing the forme and manner of making ordaining and consecrating of Bishops Preists and Deacons in this Act mentioned in such sort and manner as the same did heretofore extend unto the Booke sett forthe in the time of King Edward the Sixth mentioned in the said Six and thirtieth Article Any thing in the said Article, or in any Statute Act or Canon heretofore had or made to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding

XXVII. Proviso for the Use of Book of Common Prayer, &c. as established by 1 Eliz. c. t. until the Feast of St. Bartholomew 1662.

Provided alsoe That the Booke of Co[m]mon Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of this Church of England togeather with the form and manner of ordaining and consecrating Bishops Preists and Deacons heretofore in use and respectively established by Act of Parliament in the First and Eighth yeares of Queene Elizabeth shall be still used and observed in the Church of England untill the Feast of Saint Bartholomew which shall be in the yeare of our Lord God One thousand six hundred sixty and two.

Footnotes

  • 1. interlined on the Roll.
  • 2. annexed to the Original Act in a separate Schedule.
  • 3. This Book is in Mauuscript and is in the Parliament Office, and in the same Press, but not in the same Division of that Press, with the Acts of this Year.
  • 4. interlined on the Roll.
  • 5. here O.
  • 6. annexed to the Original Act in a separate Schedule.
  • 7. interlined on the Roll.
  • 8. interlined on the Roll.
  • 9. annexed to the Original Act in a separate Schedule.
  • 10. the O.
  • 11. annexed to the Original Act in a separate Schedule.
  • 12. O. omits.
  • 13. same O.
  • 14. some O.
  • 15. Money O.
  • 16. interlined on the Roll.
  • 17. O. omits.