The Invitorye of ye goodes and ornaments of ye
parishe churche of Elyng taken ye xii day of July
by Master Richrd Byrd Vicar .Barry loveil,
fohnfonas, William Hocar, Adam Stone,
Lanrans Oiyver, Robert Braty with divers others,
the sixth yere of ye reigh of Kyng Edward ye VIth,

The Church Wardens, fohn Weere,

John Newman,
The Sidesmen, Richard Bennyg,
WWiam Coper.

" Imprimas ii silver chalisses with patentes.ii crosses of coper and gylt, v corpores casis with vcorporis, ipeyre of white vestiments, iiipeyre of browne
silke, i peyre of vestiments of BLew silke, i peyre of vestiments with swannes, i peyre of vestiments imbroderyd with lyons, i peyre of vestiments of redde satyn,
i old clothe tor ye sepulchre, 1 cope of brown silke, i cope of reede silke, i cope of yellow velvet, vi alter clothes.iii hangers for alters, iv banners and ii stremers, ii basins of brasse and ii brasse canstykes, ill silken pillows, ii palles, ii surples Hi belles in the steeple, ii litell belles.Item at ye chappell of Ower, i peyre of vestiments, i cope, ii belles, i alter clothe, i chalise",
 

The Inventory of Eling Church taken in 1553, no doubt at the request of the King's Commissioners, provide a glimpse into the religious change of the time. We do not know how the Reformation of Henry VIII affected Eling.
 

We do not know if it had any costly ornaments or even if it was painted as many pre Reformation churches were. No doubt when the local abbeys such as Beaulieu were despoiled local churches were visited as well. How much damage was done we do not know.

The real changes began in the reign of Edward, Henry's young son, when power was seized by Protestant reformers. These people under the guise of religious reform and personal gain attacked the old Catholic Churches and stripped them of anything valuable. Eling seems to have possessed some fine sets of vestments. Silk ,Satin and Velvet vestments would have been particularly costly. Those with swans and lions may have been the gifts of wealthy patrons. The set with lions could even denote a gift from the Crown. The copper crosses, brass candlesticks and basins might mean that the church at Eling was not well off for expensive ornaments. It could equally mean that these had been taken in a
previous visitation in the reign of Henry VIII. The silver challises could well have survived from earlier times. Though it is possible that they were the gift of the Sandys family who were important patrons of the church in the reign of Henry VIIIth. Lord Sandy's was one of the Gentlemen of the Bedchamber and a personal friend of Henry VIII. It is reputed that Lord Sandy's gave the picture of the Last Supper over the High Altar to the Church. What happened to the challises after the Inventory was taken is not known.

Also in the inventory the mention of Banners and Streamers is interesting. Much of the Catholic ceremony involved processions on Saints Days with Banners and Streamers carried before the images of the Saints. These in an agricultural society were often carried out at important times of the year such as Spring planting and Harvest Festival. This still takes place in Catholic Europe today.

No doubt the Banners and Streamers disappeared. It was probably at this time that the Church was re ordered, stripped of all ornaments, altar screen removed and re decorated severely. Whitewash being used to cover any decoration. What
the locals thought of this is not known or if the Church had a brief Catholic refurbishment in the reign of Edward's sister Mary.

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