"nigh unto the place where the
Table standeth." Bishop Wren's orders for the diocese of Norwich in 1636
are "That women to be churched come and kneel at a side near the
Communion Table without the rail, being veiled according to custom, and
not covered with a hat." In Devonshire churching was sometimes called
"being uprose." Churchings were formerly registered in some parishes. In
pre-Reformation days it was the custom in England for women to carry
lighted tapers when being churched, in allusion to the Feast of the
Purification of the Virgin (February 2nd), the day chosen by the Roman
Catholic church for the blessing of the candles for the whole year (see
CANDLEMAS). At her churching a woman was expected to make some offering
to the church, such as the chrisom or alb thrown over the child at
christening.

CHURCH RATE, the name of a tax formerly levied in each parish in England
and Ireland for the benefit of the parish church. Out of these rates
were defrayed the expenses of carrying on divine service, repairing the
fabric of the church, and paying the salaries of the officials connected
with it. The church rates were made by the churchwardens, together with
the parishioners duly assembled after proper notice in the vestry or the
church. The rates thus made were recoverable in the ecclesiastical
court, or, if the arrears did not exceed L10 and no questions were
raised as to the legal liability, before two justices of the peace. Any
payment not strictly recognized by law made out of the rate destroyed
its validity. The church rate was a personal charge imposed on the
occupier of land or of a house in the parish, and, though it was
compulsory, much difficulty was found in effectually applying the
compulsion. This was especially so in the case of Nonconformists, who
had conscientious objections to supporting the Established Church; and
in Ireland, where the population was preponderatingly Roman Catholic,
the grievance was specially felt and resented. The agitation against
church rates led in 1868 to the passing of the Compulsory Church Rates
Abolition Act. By this act church rates are no longer compulsory on the
person rated, but are merely voluntary, and those who are not willing to
pay them are excluded from inquiring into, objecting to, or voting in
respect of their expenditure (s. 8).

CHURCHWARDEN, in England, the guardian or keeper of a church, and
representative of the body of the parish. The name is de