Church Inventory

At the beginning of the reign of the boy king, Edward VI, an inventory was made of all church goods throughout the shires of England.

Towards the end of Edward's reign, on March 3rd, 1551, a decree was issued by the King's Council, who at that time wished to replenish the royal coffers. It was decreed that "for as muche as the King's Magestie had neede presently of a mass of mooney therefore commissions shoulde be addressed into all shires of England to take into the King's handes suche churche plate as remaigneth to be emploied unto his Highnes' use"

The inventory for St. Mary's, was made in 1551, reads as follows:

One chalice
Two bells
One little sacring bell
One cross of copper gilt
One cope of silk
Two vestments of silk and implements
Three alter clothes, linen
Two candlesticks, brass
One pix of ivory
One canabe, silk
Two towels
Three bann clothes
One font drape with case
One corporys with case
One surples
Two canabes, linnen
One corporys in satin case

St. Mary's, like most churches in Warwickshire, was suspicious in that it yielded no silver amongst its goods. It is believed that many objects were hidden or reported to have conveniently been stolen. It is also possible that the county's churches may have been unofficially pillaged at an earlier date.

St. Mary's yielded but one object of value, that being the ivory pix used to hold the sacramental wafers used during the mass.

The church's largest bell listed in the inventory, was sold to re-embellish the church. This was probably to help towards the cost of additional work carried out on the north aisle and the re-building of the south aisle.

During the reign of Elizabeth I (1558 - 1603), the church acquired a silver chalice and paten which is still used for special accessions.

It was during this period that the church's carved oak loft and screen were taken down and a new chancel arch inserted.

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