Archdeacon's Court, penances

DCb/PRC/13

Archdeacon's Court, penances

1683 - 1732

Contains penances issued by the Archdeacon's court.

These are schedules of penances (punishments or acts of self-mortification or devotion performed voluntarily to show sorrow for a sin) which were addressed to the minister of the parish, giving details of the confession to be said or read out by the guilty party in church, and which were returned with a certificate of performance and filed in court.

Penances were required to be carried out for a variety of moral offences ranging from slander to adultery. In 1732 Martha Tumber was given a penance to perform in the parish church of St Paul, Canterbury. She was required to read the following statement

"Whereas I Martha Tumber have spoken several disgraceful and defamatory deeds of and against Ann Constable of the parish whereby her good name and reputation are greatly injured and abused, to the great offence of almighty God and breach of Christian charity do here before God and you all present acknowledge my offence and declare myself heartily sorry for the same. Hoping by God's assistance never to offend in the like manner again. Amen." [DCb/PRC/13/2]

The following statement was read by Elizabeth Kite of High Halden, Canterbury on 6 August 1732. She was required to dress in a whit sheet and hold a white wand for the entirety of the Divine Service.

"Whereas I Elizabeth Kite have committed the grievous sin of fornication, adultery or whoredom to the great offence of almighty God and breach of his Majesty's ecclesiastical law and evil example of others I do here before God and his congregation, humbly confess and acknowledge such my great wickedness for which I am heartily sorry and penitent beseeching almighty God to forgive the same and my neighbours to be satisfied with this my penitent confession. And I promise by God's grace to live more chastely and honestly for the time to come which God grant. Amen." [DCb/PRC/13/2]

English

2 files