5 - The canons of 1575 (1576)

Summary

Articles whereupon it was agreed by the most reverend father in God the archbishop of Canterbury and other the bishops and the whole clergy of the province of Canterbury, in the convocation or synod holden at Westminster by prorogation in the year of our Lord God, after the computation of the Church of England, MDLXXV, touching the admission of apt and fit persons to the ministry, and the establishing of good orders in the church. Published by the queen's majesty's authority.,

1 [31, 34,36]. First, that none shall be made deacon or minister hereafter, but only such as shall first bring to the bishop of that diocese from men known to the same bishop to be of sound religion, a testimonial both of his honest life and of his professing the doctrine expressed in the articles of religion which concern the confession of the true Christian faith, and the doctrine of the sacraments, comprised in a book imprinted, entituled: Articles whereupon it was agreed by the archbishops and bishops, etc. anno MDLXII [i.e. 1563] put forth by the queen's authority, and which also shall then be able to answer and render to the same bishop an account of his faith in Latin, agreeable and consonant to the said articles, and shall first subscribe to the said articles. And that every such deacon shall be of the age of twenty-three years and shall continue in that office the space of a whole year at the least, before he be admitted to the order of priesthood, and every such minister shall be of the filli age of twenty-four years. And that neither of those orders shall be given but only upon a Sunday or holy day, and in the face of the church, and in such manner and form and with all such other circumstances as are appointed by the book entituled: The form and manner of making and consecrating bishops, priests and deacons.