On 28th July 1900 was published in the Athenæum of that date a paper by the late Rev. Prebendary Kitto, Vicar of St. Martin’s in the Fields, on the changes effected in the rites and ceremonies of that church during the years 1537–1560 or thereabouts. This instructive document was compiled from the accounts and papers preserved in the archives of the church.

Thus the ritual remained much the same during the reign of Henry VIII. as it had been before the commencement of the Reformation. They provided, as of old, candles, palms, incense; they hallowed sacred coals for Easter Eve; they provided lights for the font, for the rood loft, and for the altars; they set up the Easter sepulchre; they used the great Paschal Candle, the tabernacle, and the pyx; they maintained the side altars, and they not only repaired the vestments but they received gifts of new vestments. They had obits and “minds,” celebrated mass and kept up the images.

In 1538 lights before images were forbidden; but a perpetual light was maintained at the high altar.

In 1539 the Parish sold the iron and latten candlesticks which had been used for the images.

In the same year a Bible was bought for the church. It cost 12s. 8d.

In 1540 Henry is described under the title of “Defender of the Faith and Supreme Head, under God, of the Church of England and Ireland.”

In 1547 they sold all the wax they had in stock, according to the injunction.

In 1548 no more lights were allowed. The Parish sold the rest of their candlesticks, and bought a Paraphrase of the Gospel and a Communion Cup; they also whitewashed the church, in order, I suppose, to obliterate the pictures.

In 1549 the altars were stripped: there were to be no more flowers or garlands, no incense and no lights.

In 1550 they set up a box for the poor; sold their vestments; bought white surplices, and put a green cloth over the “Communion Table.”

In 1553 they sold the “old broken stuff of the Rood Loft” and made “Communion Pews.”

In the same year they were made to feel the mutability of things religious, because everything had to be restored at great expense. Their candlesticks, however, were of tin. They bought a cross for processions; a mass-book, a holy water stoup with a sprinkle; a basket for the holy bread; a pyx and all the other old vessels. Also, because under Edward they had written texts on the walls, they were now ordered to wipe them all out.

In 1559 they began to go back again to the Edwardian time, but not immediately. In 1560 the Bible was restored.

It is worthy of note that the parish officers were a little uncertain, after their melancholy experience, of the stability of things. They therefore kept the vessels bought in the time of Queen Mary until 1569, when, feeling somewhat reassured, they sold them all.