Chichester, Councils of
Chichester, Councils Of
(Conacilium Cicestrense), provincial, were as follows.
I. Held at Whitsuntide in 1156, concerning the privileges of the Abbey " de Bello," i.e. Battle Abbey, founded by William the Conqueror, who (it was alleged by the abbot, but disputed by the bishop of Chichester) had founded it to be "free and at ease from all claim of servitude, and from all subjection, oppression, and domination of bishops, as is Christ Church, Canterbury." See Labbe, Concil. x, 1176; Wilkins Concil. i, 428
II. Held in 1289, under Gilbert, bishop of Chichester. In this council forty- one canons were drawn up.
1 and 2. Recommend to all curates, prayer and Leading, humility, continence, and all the evangelical virtues, and forbids them to attend plays, tournaments indecent shows, and taverns.
4. Sentences those curates who shall seduce their own parishioners to perpetual imprisonment in some monastery, after having first made a penitential pilgrimage during fifteen years.
5. Imposes a fine of sixty shillings, to, be applied towards the fabric of the cathedral at Chichester, upon all those who appoint to the care of a parish priests who are notorious fornicators, or who are convicted or suspected of incontinence.
9. Relates to the priestly garments.
10. Orders that well-informed and pious men only be made curates.'
15. Orders that the hours be said by the priests at the appointed times, and in such a manner as to minister to edification and true religion.
16. Directs that the priests. shall visit the sick on every Sunday and festival, and administer the sacraments. to them in their own houses at their own choir. It forbids also (what some had presumed to do) the sending of the eucharist to the rich by the hands of a deacon, while they are themselves indulging in drinking or other carnal pleasures.
19. Declares that neither the viaticum nor burial is to be refused on account of select crimes.
20. Forbids every curate to receive confession or administer the communion to strange parishioners without the leave of their: own curate, or of the pope.
21. Forbids all mention of tithes, or other temporal affairs, during the time of confession.
27. Orders that the communion be administered at Easter, and that no money be taken for so doctrine.
29. Orders that all churches be provided with suitable vessels, hooks, and. ornaments and that the folt and the chrism be kept under lock and key.
33. Directs that the monks shall present to the bishop those monks whom they desire to appoint to parishes belonging to them.
37 and 35. Relate to marriages.
39. Condemns false preachers, who, without lawful mission, preach and receive confession for the sake of gain.
40 and 41. Excommunicates church plunderers, calumniatori, etc. See Labbe, Concil. 1:1346; Wilkins, Concil. 2:l69
III. Held in 1292, by the same prelate here seven canons were published.
1. Forbids the permitting any animals, except tithe-lambs, and those for fifteen days only, to feed in churchyards.
2. Forbids any restraint upon voluntary offerings made by the people to the Church.
3. Excommunicates, ipso facto, those who retain the tithe.
4. Orders silence and decent behavior in church.
5. Forbids indiscriminate burial within the church; the lord of the manor, and the patrol, with their wives, the rector, and the curate, are excepted.
6. Forbids the putting up an alms-box in the church without the bishop's permission.
7. Directs that these regulations shall be published four times in each year. See Labbe, Concilium, 11:1361; Wilkins, Concilium, 2:183.
