Seen on the rear wall of St Werburgh’s, Dublin. The church was built to the design of Thomas Burgh around 1715 but extensively refurbished after a fire less than forty years later. As can be seen, this elegantly composed notice dates from June 1728 and carries a full list of charges for the services on offer, along with their respective fees. Note how non-parishioners were charged considerably more, so for example muffled bells cost a parishioner £1 and a shilling while a ‘foreigner’ had to pay an additional six shillings. And for the former burial within the church’s vault was almost half the price it was for the latter. Conclusion: one way or another in the 18th century you paid your dues at St Werburgh’s.
More on St Werburgh’s in the coming weeks.
A tradition continued to this day in every British Embassy. They’ll be charging us an entrance fee before long.
LOVED THE BILL OF FARE FOR CHURCH — KIND OF LIKE THE AIRLINES TODAY. BEST LAWRIE
A tradition carried on to this day in every British Embassy worldwide. Pretty soon, they’ll be charging us just to get in.
What does MUFFLED or is it Mussiled mean – third column in bold black ?
Muffled, so as to stop the bells being too LOUD!
And so the socially acceptable art of silent campanology was born.
Moderated is the term rather than silent, I think. A certain subdued tone ought always to be acceptable.
We wouldn’t know anything about being too loud.
Being too loud is entirely alien to all our (hushed) natures…