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The Church of England identified itself as a reformed church which had rid itself of the abuses and innovations of the Roman Catholic Church. As such, every year bishops conducted ‘visitations’ to check on religious life in the parishes within their diocese.

This unique survival from 1584 asks 32 questions of all church wardens and others active in the parishes across the English diocese of Winchester. Taken together, the questions were designed to ensure the clergy, schoolmasters and parishioners within the diocese were orthodox in their beliefs, and orderly and sober in the performance of their religious duties. 

The bishop was particularly interested in hearing about any parishioners who refused to attend religious services, were of ‘ill repute’, or had been ‘reconciled to the Popish religion’.

Citation:
Interrogatories to be enquired of by the Church-wardens and Sworne-men within the Diocesse of Winchester (London, 1584).,
Marsh's Library Exhibits,
accessed December 6, 2025,
https://www.marshlibrary.ie/digi/items/show/458