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Rh the same period. Since the complete dismantling of the abbey church at Biddlesden in 1569, the parishioners of that village had attended a little chapel dedicated to the honour of St. Margaret ; but this also was pulled down in 1713 by the lord of the manor, and the only place for many years available for services was a large room under the same roof as the stables of the manor house. The tower of the disused church of Filgrave was pulled down about 1758 to repair a mill, because it was thought that old stones which had stood the weather so long would be more trustworthy than new ; and the very foundations were dug up shortly after by the rector, who was desirous to repair and fit up his parsonage 'in a very handsome manner.' It is also written of Sir William Stanhope, successor of the Dormers at Eythrope, that in 1738 he ' wickedly, sacrilegiously and impiously demolished ' the remains of the ancient chapel there to repair a bridge. Such acts were unhappily only too common at the time ; it was much if the parish churches still in use were kept in decent repair. A real effort of reform in this direction was made by Archdeacon Ibbetson of St. Albans in 1757, which affected four churches now in the archdeaconry of Buckingham : Grandborough, Little Horwood, Winslow and Aston Abbots. The first two needed a complete repair of the whole fabric of the chancel, besides whitewashing, glazing, etc. ; at Aston Abbots the pavement and the flooring of the seats were out of order, and a new carpet was needed for the altar ; at Winslow the pavement and pews wanted repair, and a new west door had to be provided. The directions, often repeated during this visitation, that there should be a napkin provided to cover the sacred vessels at the time of celebration, and that the surplice belonging to the church should be washed at least four times a year, point to a general slovenliness in the services of the Church at this time. Yet there are indications here and there of a higher standard ; one in particular connected with the church of Bledlow is of great interest and deserves special notice.

An inventory referring to this church and dated 1785 is still in existence, and shows that it was better furnished than we should naturally expect during this period. It is evident that the Holy Eucharist was celebrated with much reverence and care, though we do not know how frequently ; the bread and wine were placed before the service not on the altar but on a ' sideboard ' or credence covered with linen ; water and cambric towels were provided for the cleansing of the sacred vessels ; and the celebrant was vested in an alb. It seems probable too that he said the consecration prayer at any rate before the altar. There is a similarly careful and reverent provision of all things needful for occasional services : a litany desk stood in