THE POST REFORMATION CHURCH

The church continued as part of the see of Worcester until the Reformation when it was absorbed into the new Diocese of Gloucester created in 1541. The Reformation was responsible for much destruction in churches, particularly in the early part of Elizabeth l's reign. The re- establishment of the Protestant faith follow- ing the brief return to the old religion in Mary's reign, brought about many changes. Chantry chapels were abolished, the rood screen and loft removed and the extensive wall paintings covered over with whitewash. Bishop's Cleeve did not appear to respond rapidly to Protestant conformity and was slow to rid itself of the trappings of the old religion. The archiepiscopal visitation of 1576 noted that the priest 'wereth a surplesse in perambulationl. Surplices were worn during divine service but were forbid- den during perambulations around the parish (at Rogationtide for example). Also, 'they lacke the byble of the largest volumel the paraphrase (two volumes by Erasmus which all parishes were ordered to pur- chase) and the table of the x command- ments and they have a crosse a censer two bells two candlesticke a pix (pyx) and certen vestments and copes. '

As a previous manor of the Bishop of Worcester, Bishop's Cleeve was not entirely absorbed into the new diocese and remained a lpeculiarll that is, a parish where the rector had certain privilegesl powers and exemptions, being able to prove wills and having immunity from the archdeacon's visitation, though not from that of the bishop. 'Peculiars' were not abol- ished until 1846.

The churchwardens' accounts for July 1708 show that in accordance with the law they agreed at a parish meeting '...with Mr John Acock of Glosester Painter to paint the Queens Almes the Creed and the Lord's prayer to be don well and in good Coollers against the walls for which the Parish is to pay him the sum of seven pounds to be payd when the work is finished and approved on' 4. These were probably paint- ed above and either side of the newly erect- ed chancel arch, facing the congregation but it is not known for certain where they were placed, or when they were eventually removed.

After the introduction of the new Book of Common Prayer and the Acts of Uniformity enforcing compulsory church attendance, when the congregation was required to take a more active role in the service, and when the homily or sermon became an important part of the service, it is said that a three- decker pulpit was installed in the church on the south pillar of the chancel arch by the 18th century5. This may well be so, but by the end of the 1 9th centu ry , before restora- tion, a plan of the church shows a large readi~g desk with steps leading to it on the north pillar of the chancel arch, and a large pulpit on the south pillar. The churchwar- dens' accounts for 1837/386 have the fol- lowing references:

Rec'd. for the old Pulpit 0. 70s 3d Pd. rhos. Jackson's bill for puffing up a new reading desk and 3 small pews £79 73s 3d

Whatever the arrangement, the Parish Clerk (in this parish for several hundred years a member of the Tarling family) led the congregation in their responses either from the reading desk, or the lower level of the pulpit. The priest delivered his sermon from the upper level of the pulpit.

THE MODERN CHURCH The church was widely neglected during the 19th century and was in a very dilapidated state when restoration was undertaken in the 1890s. Lack of a proper drainage sys- tem caused damp to seep through the floor and walls and rainwater leaked through the roofs. The south-west corner of the church was in an extremely dangerous condition due to the lack of proper foundations and drainage problems. A fireplace, which had been set into the west wall of the upper porch room, helped to weaken further this part of the church and a particularly ugly chimney marred the roof line. Outside, the constant use of the graveyard over the cen- turies had raised the level of the ground higher than that of the interior floor; heaps of earth were piled against the exterior walls and the tombstones were in many cases broken and half buried.

When restoration began it was done with much skill and sympathy, due in large part to the efforts of the architects, who saved the gallery from destruction, despite the wish of the rector, Reverend B. F. Hemming, that it should be removed. Sadly, only a small part of the medieval painting along the north wall could be saved when the whitewash was removed. This wall was also unsafe and was largely rebuilt.

Restoration continued into the early part of this century .The 14th-century trussed rafter roof of the nave was renewed and also the north aisle roof. Since that time only minor alterations or improvements have taken place within the church. The rebuilding and re-siting of the organ and the installation of the clergy vestry within the north transept have occurred in recent years; there has also been some re-ordering of church furni- ture such as choir stalls and peWs. However, on-going major repairs to the fabric, particu- larly the roof, ensure that the building is now in a sound structural condition.

Seventeenth Century Jacoean Gallery with 16th century pews and early wooden chest