This was the condition of those parishes in 1569, and doubtless many
others were similarly situated.
The Injunctions of Archbishop Grindal, issued in 1571, are severe and
outspoken with regard to lay ministration. He wrote as follows:
"We do enjoin and straitly command, that from henceforth no
parish clerk, nor any other person not being ordered, at the
least, for a deacon, shall presume to solemnize Matrimony, or
to minister the Sacrament of Baptism, or to deliver the
communicants the Lord's cup at the celebration of the Holy
Communion. And that no person, not being a minister, deacon,
or at least, tolerated by the ordinary in writing, do attempt
to supply the office of a minister in saying divine service
openly in any church or chapel."
In the Lincoln diocese in 1588 the clerk was still allowed to read one
lesson and the epistle, but he was forbidden from saying the service,
ministering any sacraments or reading any homily. In some cases greater
freedom was allowed. In the beautiful Lady Chapel of the Church of St.
Mary Overy there is preserved a curious record relating to this:
"Touching the Parish Clerk and Sexton all is well; only our
clerk doth sometimes to ease the minister read prayers,
church women, christen, bury and marry, being allowed so
to do.
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