Stones of the Temple; Or, Lessons from the Fabric and Furniture of the Church

177

Jer. xxii. 18.

178

Most persons know – at least from engravings – the famous "Apprentice Column" in Roslin Chapel. That was perhaps the first church pillar that ever was wreathed with flowers, and those stone flowers are as fresh and beautiful now as when they were carved five hundred years ago.

179

This old custom of copying in stone or marble the surrounding objects of nature has been imitated on the capitals of pillars in the church of St. Mary, Devon, which has recently been so beautifully restored in memory of the late Bishop of Exeter.

180

Acts xiv. 13. Virgil, Æneid, i. 417; ii. 249.

181

1 Cor. xv. 42.

182

Isa. lx. 13.

183

Mark xiv. 4.

184

This word, formerly spelt clear story, plainly expresses its own meaning – a clear or separate story or flight of windows. They are placed between the roof and the nave arches of a church.

185

The word corbel, French corbeille, means literally a large flat basket. It is curious to note how the word obtains its present use in architecture. After the destruction of the city of Caryæ in Arcadia by the Greeks, Praxiteles, and other Athenian artists, employed female figures, instead of columns, in architecture, to commemorate the disgrace of the Caryatides, or women of Caryæ (see Dr. Smith's Dict. of Greek and Roman Antiquities, Caryatis). These figures were always represented with corbels or baskets on their heads. The basket, being thus placed between the head of the figure and the roof, was that which immediately supported the roof. Hence those projecting pieces of stone or wood which support the roofs of our churches, as well as other buildings, have received the name of corbels. Caryatides may be seen on the north and south sides of New St. Pancras Church, London – a church which externally possesses all the appearances of a heathen temple, and few of a Christian church.

186

Although the carved roofs of this period cannot compare in point of elegance and beauty with those of an earlier date, yet, for the abundance of rich and elaborate detail in wood-carving (oak and walnut), no period equalled this. The bench-ends, screens, rood-screens, tombs of wood at this time were exquisitely beautiful. The roofs, however, were too flat, and externally they were concealed altogether by parapets.

187

In some chancels the idea of the keel of a ship is fully carried out, the walls widening as they ascend.

188

The flat roofs well suited the heathen worship of ancient Greece and Rome, where the object of worship was shut up within the walls of the temple itself. It is far different with us, who worship a Deity who, though specially present there, is "not confined to temples made with hands."

189

Wordsworth.

190

See the Builder, Jan. 29, 1865, "The Roof and the Spire."

191

So called from the triple form of the arches it most commonly has.

192

See Parker's Glossary, "Triforium;" and Hook's Church Dictionary.

193

It is probable that all Norman towers originally had low-pointed roofs covered with tiles (as at Sompting, Essex); tower roofs of this period with gable-ends are also sometimes to be found.

194

Chiefly in Norfolk and Suffolk. Of these the round towers of Little Saxham and Brixham are perhaps the most interesting.

195

There are several instances, however, in England of bell-towers standing detached from the church, as the beautiful tower at Evesham, Worcestershire, and the curious belfry at Brookland in Kent.

196

Evidences of these priests' chambers exist throughout England: there are instances at Challock, Sheldwich, and Brook in Kent. In the last mentioned are the remains of an altar, with a portion of the original rude painting above it still remaining.

197

Bells are said to have been introduced into the Christian Church by Paulinus; Bishop of Nola, at the end of the fourth century. The first peal of bells in England was put up in Croyland Abbey, about A. D. 870.

198

"When they heard the bell of the chapel of Isabella sounding through the forests as it rung for mass, and beheld the Spaniards hastening to wards the chapel, they imagined that it talked." – Irving's Life of Columbus, ch. iv.

The office of the church bell in summoning the people to prayer and holy worship was regarded in olden times with such respect that the bell was very solemnly set apart by a special religious service for this sacred use.

In the churchwarden's accounts of St. Lawrence, Reading, is the following curious entry: —

"1449. It payed for halowing of the bell named Harry, vjs. viijd., and over that, Sir William Symys, Richard Cleck, and Maistres Smyth, being Godfaders and Godmoder at the consecraycyon of the same bell, and beryng all oth' costs to the suffrygan."

199

Kirke White.

200

In the last century it was a favourite custom with village bellringers to set forth their rules in verse. They were generally painted on a board and fixed in the belfry. In all cases the rhyme appears to be the production of native talent. The rules are themselves unexceptionable. The following are examples: —

In the belfry, Charlwood, —

"Ye men of action, strength, and skill,Observe these rules which I do will:First, – Let none presume to swear,Nor e'er profane the house of Prayer.Next, – He that doth a bell o'erthrowA groat shall forfeit where'er he go;And if he do refuse to pay,Be scorn'd, and simply go his way,Like one who will for ever wrangleAs touching of a rope to jangle."

In the belfry, Bredgar, —

"My friendly ringers, I do declareYou must pay one penny each oath you do swear.To turn a bell overIt is the same fare;To ring with your hats on you must not dare."MDCCLI."

In the belfry, All Saints', Hastings, —

"This is a belfry that is freeFor all those that civil be;And if you please to chime or ring,It is a very pleasant thing.There is no music play'd or sungLike unto bells when they're well rung;Then ring your bells well if you can;Silence is best for every man.But if you ring in spur or hatSixpence you pay, be sure of that;And if a bell you overthrowPray pay a groat before you go."1756."

201

In the preface to the Prayer Book the curate is directed to "cause a bell to be tolled" for morning and evening prayer; but Durandus says that this ringing of the bell was itself once part of the minister's own duty.

202

At Cairnwent, in Wales, the parish clerk "used often to knock a bit or two from one of the bells when any one wanted a bit of metal." In a neighbouring church two bells were taken down and sold to pay for the ceiling of the roof. Many church bells in England have, alas! met with as sad a fate. The same parsimony which has sacrificed the bells has, in many cases, not spared the belfry. It seems hardly credible – but it is true – that some years ago, at St. Bride's, Monmouthshire, there being no ladder in the village long enough to reach the top of the tower, the tower was lowered to meet the length of the ladder.

203

The following are a few examples taken from village church bells in Wales. At Nevern, —

"I to the church the living call,And to the grav do summon al. – 1763."

At Llandyssil, —

"Come at my call,Serve God, all. – 1777.""Fear God, honour the king. – 1777."

At Llangattock, —

"Be peaceful and good neighbours."

204

Such as: – on six bells at Northfield Church, —

1st. "We now are six, tho' once but five,"2nd. "But against our casting some did strive;"3rd. "But when a day for meeting they did fix,"4th. "There appear'd but nine against twenty-six:"5th. "Thomas Kettle and William Jervis did contrive"6th. "To make us six that were but five."

At Tamworth, —

"Be it known to all that doth me see,That Newcombe, of Leicester, made mee. – 1607."

At Nevern, —

'Thomas RudallCast us all. – 1763.'

205

Durandus, "Of Bells."

206

Ps. xcii. 13.

207

2 Cor. v. 1.

208

Heb. ix. 23.

209

Eph. ii. 20-22.

210

Isa. xxviii. 16. 1 Pet. ii. 6.

211

Ps. cxviii. 22. Matt. xxi. 42.

212

Eph. ii. 21.

213

1 Pet. ii. 5.

214

2 Cor. vi. 16.

215

S. James ii. 17.

216

Col. iii. 14.

217

Ezek. xiii. 10.

218

Ps. cxxvii. 1.

219

Rom. ii. 7.

220

Rev. iv. 8; v. 13.

221

In the parish registry of Dymock, in Gloucestershire, is the following entry: – "Buried: John Murrel, aged 89 years. Thomas Bannister, aged 13 years." To which is appended the following note: "John Murrel and Thomas Bannister died nearly at the same moment, though the latter was in apparent good health. He had always attended upon Murrel, who was much given to prayer, and being by his bed at the time, Murrel, in his last struggle, extended his hand to him, when both instantly expired."