Section F
F 1 Of the
font
1. In every church and chapel where baptism is to be
administered, there shall be provided a decent font with a cover
for the keeping clean thereof.
2. The font shall stand as near to the principal
entrance as conveniently may be, except there be a custom to the
contrary or the Ordinary otherwise direct; and shall be set in as
spacious and well-ordered surroundings as possible.
3. The font bowl shall only be used for the water at
the administration of Holy Baptism and for no other purpose
whatsoever.
F 2 Of the
holy table
1. In every church and chapel a convenient and decent
table, of wood, stone, or other suitable material, shall be
provided for the celebration of the Holy Communion, and shall stand
in the main body of the church or in the chancel where Morning and
Evening Prayer are appointed to be said. Any dispute as to the
position where the table shall stand shall be determined by the
Ordinary.
2. The table, as becomes the table of the Lord, shall
be kept in a sufficient and seemly manner, and from time to time
repaired, and shall be covered in the time of divine service with a
covering of silk or other decent stuff, and with a fair white linen
cloth at the time of the celebration of the Holy Communion.
F 3 Of the
communion plate
1. In every church and chapel there shall be
provided, for the celebration of the Holy Communion, a chalice for
the wine and a paten or other vessel for the bread, of gold,
silver, or other suitable metal. There shall also be provided a
basin for the reception of the alms and other devotions of the
people, and a convenient cruet or flagon for bringing the wine to
the communion table.
2. It is the duty of the minister of every church or
chapel to see that the communion plate is kept washed and clean,
and ready for the celebration of the Holy Communion.
F 4 Of the
communion linen
In every parochial church and chapel there shall be
provided and maintained a sufficient number of fair white linen
cloths for the covering of the communion table and of other fair
linen cloths for the use of the priest during the celebration of
Holy Communion.
F 5 Of
surplices for the minister
In every church and chapel surplices shall be
provided and maintained in a clean condition for the use of the
minister.
F 6 Of the
reading desks and pulpit
In every church and chapel there shall be provided
convenient desks for the reading of Prayers and God's word, and,
unless it be not required, a decent pulpit for the sermon, to be
set in a convenient place; which place, in the case of any dispute,
shall be determined by the Ordinary.
F 7 Of seats
in church
1. In every church and chapel there shall be provided
seats for the use of the parishioners and others who attend divine
service.
2. In parish churches and chapels it belongs to the
churchwardens, acting for this purpose as the officers of the
Ordinary and subject to his directions, to allocate the seats
amongst the parishioners and others in such manner as the service
of God may be best celebrated in the church or chapel; saving the
right of the minister to allocate seats in the chancel and the
rights of any person to a seat or to allocate seats conferred by
faculty, prescription, or statutory authority.
3. Such allocation of seats to non-parishioners shall
not interfere with the rights of the parishioners to have seats in
the main body of the church.
F 8 Of church
bells
1. In every church and chapel there shall be provided
at least one bell to ring the people to divine service.
2. No bell in any church or chapel shall be rung
contrary to the direction of the minister.
F 9 Of the
Bible and The Book of Common Prayer
for the use of the minister
In every church and chapel there shall be provided
for the use of the minister a Bible, including the Apocrypha, and a
Book of Common Prayer, both of large size; a convenient
Bible to be kept in the pulpit for the use of the preacher; and a
service book, together with a cushion or desk, for use at the
communion table.
F 10 Of the
alms box
In every parochial church and chapel there shall be
provided in a convenient place a box for the alms of the people;
which alms are to be applied to such uses as the minister and
parochial church council shall think fit; wherein if they disagree,
the Ordinary shall determine the disposal thereof.
F 11 Of the
register books and their custody
1. In every parish church and chapel where baptism is
to be administered or matrimony solemnized there shall be provided
register books of baptism, banns, and marriage respectively, and,
if a churchyard or burial ground belonging to such church or chapel
is used for burials, a register book of burials.
2. Register books shall be provided, maintained, and
kept in accordance with the Statutes and Measures relating thereto,
and the rules and regulations made thereunder and from time to time
in force.
3. In every parish church and chapel there shall also
be provided a register book of confirmations.
F 12 Of the
register book of services
1. A register book of services shall be provided in
all churches and chapels.
2. In the said register book shall be recorded every
service of public worship, together with the name of the
officiating minister and of the preacher (if he be other than the
officiating minister), the number of communicants, and the amount
of any alms or other collection and, if desired, notes of
significant events.
F 13 Of the
care and repair of churches
1. The churches and chapels in every parish shall be
decently kept and from time to time, as occasion may require, shall
be well and sufficiently repaired and all things therein shall be
maintained in such an orderly and decent fashion as best becomes
the House of God.
2. The like care shall be taken that the churchyards
be duly fenced, and that the said fences be maintained at the
charge of those to whom by law or custom the liability belongs, and
that the churchyards be kept in such an orderly and decent manner
as becomes consecrated ground.
3. It shall be the duty of the minister and
churchwardens, if any alterations, additions, removals, or repairs
are proposed to be made in the fabric, ornaments, or furniture of
the church, to obtain the faculty or licence of the Ordinary before
proceeding to execute the same.
4. In the case of every parochial church and chapel,
a record of all alterations, additions, removals, or repairs so
executed shall be kept in a book to be provided for the purpose and
the record shall indicate where specifications and plans may be
inspected if not deposited with the book.
F 14 Of the provision of things appertaining to
churches
The things appertaining to churches and chapels,
and the obligations relating thereto, and to the care and repair of
churches, chapels, and churchyards referred to in the foregoing
Canons shall, so far as the law may from time to time require, be
provided and performed in the case of parochial churches and
chapels by and at the charge of the parochial church council.
F 15 Of
churches not to be profaned
1. The churchwardens and their assistants shall not
suffer the church or chapel to be profaned by any meeting therein
for temporal objects inconsistent with the sanctity of the place,
nor the bells to be rung at any time contrary to the direction of
the minister.
2. They shall not suffer any person so to behave in
the church, church porch, or churchyard during the time of divine
service as to create disturbance. They shall also take care that
nothing be done therein contrary to the law of the Church or of the
Realm.
3. If any person be guilty of riotous, violent, or
indecent behaviour in any church, chapel, or churchyard, whether in
any time of divine service or not, or of disturbing, vexing,
troubling, or misusing any minister officiating therein, the said
churchwardens or their assistants shall take care to restrain the
offender and if necessary proceed against him according to law.
F 16 Of
plays, concerts, and exhibitions of films and pictures in
churches
1. When any church or chapel is to be used for a
play, concert, or exhibition of films or pictures, the minister
shall take care that the words, music, and pictures are such as
befit the House of God, are consonant with sound doctrine, and make
for the edifying of the people.
2. The minister shall obey any general directions
relating to such use of a church or chapel issued from time to time
by the bishop or other the Ordinary.
3. No play, concert, or exhibition of films or
pictures shall be held in any church or chapel except the minister
have first consulted the local or other authorities concerned with
the precautions against fire and other dangers required by the law
to be taken in the case of performances of plays, concerts, or
exhibitions of cinematograph films, and the said authorities have
signified that the proposed arrangements are a sufficient
compliance with the regulations in force as to precautions against
fire or other dangers.
4. If any doubt arises as to the manner in which the
preceding clauses of this Canon are to be observed, the minister
shall refer the matter to the bishop or other the Ordinary, and
obey his directions therein.
F 17 Of
keeping a record of the property of churches
1. Every bishop within his diocese shall procure so
far as he is able that a full note and terrier of all lands, goods,
and other possessions of the parochial churches and chapels therein
be compiled and kept by the minister and churchwardens in
accordance with instructions and forms prescribed from time to time
by the General Synod.
2. Every archdeacon shall at least once in three
years, either in person or by the rural dean, satisfy himself that
the directions of the preceding paragraph of this Canon have been
carried out in all the parishes within his jurisdiction.
F18 Of the
survey of churches
Every archdeacon shall survey the churches,
chancels, and churchyards within his jurisdiction at least once in
three years, either in person or by the rural dean, and shall give
direction for the amendment of all defects in the fabric,
ornaments, and furniture of the same. In particular he shall
exercise the powers conferred upon him by the Inspection of
Churches Measure 1955.