p [85] (25 March–25 March) (Particular receipts)
...
| Received of the hockmoney gathered by the women | xj s. |
| Received of the kyng play at witsontide | xxiiij s. vj d. |
...
This is the last year of customary events until 1554 although the accountant made provision for entries in 1551. St Giles seems to have immediately responded to the Edwardian reforms (as they would to the Marian ones some years later). In 1548–9 they sell 'Stonys of the Crosse,' two 'Tabernacles & the Sepulchre,' and the 'curtayn plate' (p [88]), whitewash the church, paint scripture verses on the rood loft, and buy psalters, the paraphrases of Erasmus, and new music (pp [88–9]). They also paid 16d to make an inventory of all the 'Church goodes' (p [88]). In 1550–1 they take down the altars (p [92]).
Record title: St Giles'
Churchwardens'
Accounts
Repository:
BRO
Shelfmark: D/P 96/5/1
Repository location: Reading
These accounts begin with an accounting year based on Easter. The first three accounts run from Good Friday to Good Friday. Good Friday in 1521 fell on March 29, only four days after the fixed feast of the Annunciation (Lady Day), March 25. The churchwardens took advantage of this small discrepancy and, despite the fact that the heading for the 1520–1 accounts specifies that the account would run until Good Friday 1521, the account for 1521–2 clearly states that it begins March 25. Dating from March 25 became the custom of the parish from that year. St Giles was a parish that followed the custom of wardens serving staggered two year terms. It is likely that the warden who served both these years, Richard Hayne, was instrumental in making the change.
This volume is very fragile and was consulted only by special permission. The transcriptions were made from a microfilm copy. The first four folios are taken up with rents suggesting that the parish had considerable property holdings. The accounts indicate a full liturgical life with processions on Ascension Day and Corpus Christi with streamers and the ringing of bells. The patronal feast day for St Giles was also celebrated with a procession with banners. The bells were rung when royalty passed through.
1518–1808; English; paper; i + c 500 + i; 402mm x 287mm; unnumbered; display capitals; binding now broken, originally boards covered in white imitation parchment, title written in script on front cover: 'St Giles Parish in Reading beginning | 1518,' followed by printed title: 'Churchwardens | Register | 1518.'