Bede Roll
A list of those to be mentioned by name in the pulpit that they might be
remembered in the prayers of the parishioners. You can find references to this
in many published Churchwardens' Accounts:
eg: Those of St Mary at Hill: "The Medieval Records of a London City Church
(St Mary at Hill) A.D.1420-1559. Edited by Henry Littlehales, EETS, Original
Series vols 125 and 128, 1904, 1905
p 238: "Item, ffor wrytyng off the Bedrow, iiiid."
p149: "to Mr John Redy ffor rehersyng of the bederoll, viiid."
and p80:
"To the parissh preste, to Remembre in the pulpite the sowle of [Richard]
Bliot, whiche gave to the Churche workis vis viiid - iid."
Apart from the bederoll honouring those who had given to the church there
was a general one bidding prayers (hence "bidding of the Bedes" for pope,
bishop, parish priests, king, queen royal family, lords etc).
By the 15th century names could be added for a price: Parish accounts from
Salisbury for 1499-1500 record that Robert Southe, Gent, paid 40s, for himself,
his wife, and their fathers and mothers to be put on the bederoll so that
Christian people would pray for their souls every Sunday.
Bidding of the Bedes took place on Sunday before the offertory in a solemn
prayer in English (see Duffy, "Stripping" pp.124-5. The whole Bederoll would be
read at the annual parish Requiem at All Souls. [Our parish here in
Barton will be doing so next Wednesday].
Gordon Plumb
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