Order for the Suppression of Innovations (8 September 1641).

Whereas divers Innovations, in or about the Worship of God, have lately been practised in this Kingdom, by injoining some Things, and prohibiting others, without Warrant of Law, to the great Grievance and Discontent of his Majesty's Subjects: For the Suppression of such Innovations, and for Preservation of the publick Peace, it is this Day Ordered by the Commons in Parliament assembled,

That the Churchwardens of every Parish Church and Chapel respectively, do forthwith remove the Communion Table from the East-End of the Church, Chapel, or Chancel, into some other convenient Place; and that they take away the Rails, and level the Chancels as heretofore they were before the late Innovations:

That all Crucifixes, scandalous Pictures of any One or more Persons of the Trinity, and all Images of the Virgin Mary, shall be taken away and abolished; and that all Tapers, Candlesticks, and Basons, be removed from the Communion-Table:

That all corporal Bowing at the Name Jesus, or towards the East End of the Church, Chapel or Chancel, or towards the Communion-Table, be henceforth forborn:

That the Orders aforesaid be observed in all the several Cathedral Churches of this Kingdom, and all the collegiate Churches or Chapels in the Two Universities, or any other Part of the Kingdom, and in the Temple Church, and the Chapels of the other Inns of Court, by the Deans of the said Cathedral Churches, by the Vicechancellors of the said Universities, and by the Heads and Governours of the several Colleges and Halls aforesaid, and by the Benchers and Readers in the said Inns of Court respectively.