When the day appointed by the Bishop is come, after Morning Prayer is ended, there shall be a Sermon or Exhortation, declaring the duty and office of such as come to be admitted Deacons; how necessary that Order is in the Church of Christ, and also, how the People ought to esteem them in their Office.
First the Archdeacon, or his Deputy, shall present unto the Bishop (sitting in his chair near to the Holy Table) such as desire to be ordained Deacons (each of them being decently habited) saying these words,
The Bishop shall say, "Take heed that the persons, whom ye present unto us, be apt and meet, for their learning and godly conversation, to exercise their Ministry duly, to the honour of God, and the edifying of his Church."
The Archdeacon shall answer, "I have inquired concerning them, and also examined them, and think them so to be."
Then the Bishop shall say unto the People,
And if any great crime or impediment be objected, the Bishop shall surcease from ordering that person, until such time as the party accused shall be found clear of that crime.
Then the Bishop (commending such as shall be found meet to be ordered to the prayers of the congregation) shall, with the Clergy and people present, say the Litany, with the Prayers as followeth.
Then shall be sung or said the Service for the Communion, with the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, as followeth.
Or else this, out of the sixth of the Acts of the Apostles.
And before the Gospel, the Bishop, sitting in his chair, shall examine every one of them that are to be Ordered, in the presence of the people, after this manner following:
Then the Bishop laying his hands severally upon the head of every one of them, humbly kneeling before him, shall say,
Then shall the Bishop deliver to every one of them the New Testament, saying,
Then one of them, appointed by the Bishop, shall read the Gospel.
Then shall the Bishop proceed in the Communion; and all who are Ordered shall tarry, and receive the Holy Communion the same day, with the Bishop.
The Communion ended, after the last Collect, and immediately before the Benediction, shall be said this Collect following.
And here it must be declared unto the Deacon, that he must continue in that Office of a Deacon the space of a whole year, (except for reasonable causes it shall otherwise seem good unto the Bishop,) to the intent he may be perfect and well expert in the things appertaining to the Ecclesiastical Administration. In executing whereof if he be found faithful and diligent, he may be admitted by his Diocesan to the Order of Priesthood on the Sundays immediately following the Ember Weeks or on the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels or of Saint Thomas the Apostle, or on other such days as shall be provided by Canon, in the face of the Church, in such manner and form as hereafter followeth.