of wine for church use, when the Holy Communion was celebrated only quarterly. A later clergyman used to tell how the clerk, soon after he came, followed him to the pulpit, saying "Please, sir, you "have forgotten your wine." All this is changed. At the desire, as is usually understood, of Lady Sefton, where public houses are not absolutely needed they are being banished from Lord Sefton's estates; and the four public houses which, until a somewhat recent period, existed in Altcar are now no more, much to the moral benefit of the parish. The great improvement in sobriety which has taken place of late years was forcibly set forth by Dr. Barron, one of the leading magistrates of Southport, at the Birkdale Brewster Sessions, August 24th, 1893. Speaking of the annual report of the superintendent of police, he said "It was "a very pleasant matter for him to be able to point "out to them that during the whole of the ten "years alluded to in the statement drawn up by Superintendent Jervis, Altcar occupied the premier "position. There had been only 14 convictions during that period. It was also another singular "fact that there had not been a single woman from "Altcar convicted for drunkenness during the ten "years. This was a circumstance, he considered, "which bore strongly upon the morality of the "inhabitants of that particular parish. Banks used "to occupy the premier position, but that place was now taken by Altcar, which was one of the "most sober districts in the whole petty-sessional "division." แ I am afraid the Church has been far from guiltless in the past with regard to the intemperate habits of the country districts John Aubrey, the antiquary—who was born in 1626 and died in 1700 -tells us : "There were no rates for the poor in my grandfather's day; the Church Ale of Whitsuntide did the business." 38 The churchwardens bought and received presents of a large quantity of malt, which they brewed into ale, and sold to the company. Hence these feasts were called "Church Ales." They were held on the feast of the dedication of the church, the proceeds being devoted to the maintenance of the poor. Sometimes they were held at Whitsuntide also, sometimes four times a year, and sometimes as often as money was wanted, or a feast desired. An arbour of boughs was, in some cases, erected in the churchyard, called "Robin "Hood's Bower," which the young women of the parish used as a bar for dispensing the liquor, and receiving the money. Drinking habits were thus encouraged, and consciences were quieted by the knowledge that the money went for a good cause, until increasing scandals caused the Church Ales to be prohibited. These Church Ales were generally held on a Sunday, and we are told that the services were better attended on these days than on others. The only relics of these old customs I can find floating in the memories of the people, are connected with Mid-Lent Sunday, known in some places as Simnel Sunday, and All Souls' Day. Mid-Lent Sunday was known in Altcar as Braggot Sunday. A specially concocted drink was prepared for this Sunday, which was of a nonintoxicating character, and was called braggot. As the older generation passed away, the secret of its manufacture seems to have been lost, and its place was taken by mulled ale. The publicans, in later days, provided small cakes for the occasion. Every labourer expected four eggs from his 38 Ditchfield's English Villages, p. 89; and Andrews' Curiosities of the Church, p. 39. employer, with which he repaired to the ale-house, where the eggs, with spices, were drunk in hot ale. This custom died with the closing of the publichousés. Mid-Lent Sunday was also known as "Mothering Sunday." 39 On that day, it was the pleasing custom for servants and apprentices to carry cakes or furmety, as presents to their mother, and to receive from her a cake with her blessing. This was called "going a-mothering." The old poet Herrick alludes to this custom, in Gloucestershire, in these words :— "I'll to thee a simnell bring, Half that blessing thou'lt give me." The other custom was observed on All Saints' Day, the 1st of November, for All Souls' Day, the 2nd of November. On that day, children, until a few years ago, went from house to house, saying, "For God's sake, a so' loaf" (soul loaf). As gifts for these young visitors, householders had prepared small round cakes, containing a few seeds and impressed with the butter-print of the farm.4° The Church also made it its business to provide for the amusement of the parishioners. Near many of the old churches there was a place called the church-house. It was used at fair times as a storehouse for the goods of travelling pedlars. In this building also the parishioners were accustomed to meet round the large open fireplace for gossip and amusement. Aubrey tells us," It had spits, "crocks, and other utensils for dressing provisions. "Here the housekeepers met. The young people 39 Ditchfield's English Villages, p. 107. 4o This is, no doubt, a relic of an old Roman Catholic custom of making small oatcakes, called "soul mass cakes," on All Souls' Day, to give to the On receiving the cake, the recipients repeated-. poor. "God save your saule, "were there too, and had dancing, bowling, "shooting at butts, &c., the ancients (old folks) "sitting gravely by and looking on." The Altcar church-house is close to the churchyard, and, with its yew trees, was once, no doubt, included in the church ground. Till somewhat recently it was an inn. It is a fair example of the description given of a church-house by the Rev. S. Baring Gould: "The church-house was a long building, situated close to the churchyard, consisting of a basement and an upper storey, usually with a single great chimney that had a fireplace below and one above. It consisted of two great rooms, one above the other, and it was intended as a place in which the congregation should stay between morning and afternoon services, and eat their dinner and drink ale, which latter was usually provided by the sexton or clerk. The food they brought with them, but not the liquor. There were stables beside the church house, in which the parishioners put their cobs and horses, on which they had ridden to church, and the stepping blocks whereby the women might mount their pillions are an invariable feature. By degrees there ensued encroachment. The sexton or clerk found it convenient to live in the church-house, so as to keep an eye on his barrels of ale, and the mugs and tankards in which the ale was drawn. Accordingly he moved into it, brought up his family in it, appropriated more of the space to his convenience, accommodated churchgoers with ale after service, kept them supplied till, what with ale inside and water without, it was sometimes convenient to lodge the night with him, and so-there is no saying exactly when-the church-house, which was the hall of assembly belonging to all the parish, into which every parishioner had a right to enter and eat and rest, became the Church-house Inn." With regard to the rush-bearings, it is almost certain that no rush-cart has been used in Altcar during the present century. An old man of eightyfour years of age, who remembers the Rev. William Naylor, informs the writer that he never saw a rush-cart, and never heard of one. No money was spent on rush-bearing in the churchwardens' accounts after 1774, and probably about that time the rush-carts ceased to be used. The method of observance in the earlier part of this century was as follows. Preparatory to Rushbearing Sunday the larders of the villagers were replenished, and friends from a distance were invited to partake of specially prepared dinners. On the Monday following, a number of stalls were erected, not far from the church, for the sale of sweets, Ormskirk gingerbread, &c., and occasionally a travelling show put in an appearance. In the evening the elder people repaired to the publichouses, for drinking and dancing, Altcar Hall being the chief. The first man who succumbed to the intoxicating potions by falling asleep became the mayor-elect. On the Tuesday, dressed in an old hat and old clothes, with face blackened, the mayor was accompanied round the parish by neighbours, who danced round him to fiddle and tambourine and anything that would jingle, and offered him various indignities. They wore extravagant garments, decorated with ribbons, and calling at the various houses they passed, received money or drink. These customs ceased about fifty or sixty years ago. SCHOOLS AND CHARITIES. It is very evident from the church registers that the office of "parish clerk and schoolmaster" has been a very ancient and important institution, and that the said official has magnified his office is apparent from the elaborate caligraphy and personal entries found here and there. Bishop Gastrell (1722), who obtained his information from the clergy and churchwardens of the different parishes, remarks, "In Altcar there is a school erected by "the inhabitants, endowed by Richard Whitehead, "and his son John with £30, and by Thomas "Tickle with £32." Commissioners were appointed in 1828, to |