the necessary repairs; the Rate made was 8d. in the pound upon all houses, lands, and tenements in the parish, one half to be paid by the landlord, and the other by the tenant. Thus, in the course of the next year, the church was newly roofed, and in other respects thoroughly repaired. In 1807 and 1808, the Steeple was repaired at the expense of nearly £1000; the buttresses and stone work being much decayed, were covered with Roman cement from top to bottom. Over the beautiful West entrance are inscribed the words This Tower repaired in 1807 and 1808; William Brown and John Phillipson, Churchwardens. At the same time about one rood of land belonging to the premises of the palace, was added to the church-yard*, at the cost of this sum, but as the last annuitant died in 1814, this expense has now ceased. * As to the original of burying places, many writers have observed that at the first erection of churches, no part of the adjacent ground was allotted for interment of the dead; especially in cities and populous towns, where, agreeably to the old Roman law of the Twelve Tables, the place of inhumation was without the walls, first indefinitively by the way side, then in some peculiar enclosure assigned to that use. Hence the Augustine Monastery was built within the walls of Can Ꮮ nearly £800; and in the following year, it was consecrated as part of the burial ground by the most Reverend Charles, the present Archbishop of Canterbury. At the East end of the middle chancel is this inscription; this chancel end was repaired and beautified by Alexander Caldcleugh, Esq. in the year 1808. In 1813 and 1814, the North aisle and Heron's chapel were thoroughly repaired, and terbury, as Ethelburt and Augustine in both their charters intimate, that it might be a dormitory to them and their successors, the Kings and Archbishops for ever. This practice of remoter burials continued to the age of Gregory the great, when the Monks and Priests beginning to offer for souls departed, procured leave, for their greater ease and profit, that a liberty of sepulture might be in churches, or in places adjoining to them. After this Cuthbert, Archbishop of Canterbury, brought over from Rome this practice into England, about the year 750, from which time they date the original of church-yards in this island. The practice of burying within the churches, did indeed (though more rarely) obtain before the use of church-yards, but was by authority restrained when church-yards were frequent and appropriated to that use. However, at the first it was the nave, or body of the church, that was permitted to be a repository of the dead, and chiefly under arches by the side of the walls. Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, seems to have been the first who brought up the practice of vaults in chancels and under the very altars, when he had rebuilt the church of Canterbury in the year 1095. Burn's Ecclesiastical Law. covered with Roman cement; the beautiful windows extended along that side of the church were at the same time restored to their fine original gothic order. In 1815 the Bishop's or St. Nicholas' chapel was also repaired, and covered with Roman cement, the following words are inscribed. This chancel end repaired, James Rogers and Francis Simmonds, Churchwardens, 1815. In this present year 1817, considerable alterations and improvements have been made both in the exterior, and interior, of this handsome gothic edifice. The wall at the East end of St. Mary's Chantry and the vestry room, which was in a delapsed state, has been effectually repaired with cement, and the fine gothic window therein restored to its original order, above which, is the following inscription: This Chancel end repaired, Knevit Leppingwell, & Thomas Hewson, Churchwardens, 1817. Much has also been added to the appearance and beauty of the interior, the antient gothic screens which separated the nave, aisles, and chancel have been taken away; the pulpit removed to a more conspicuous situation; the middle chancel, with that of St. Nicholas, seated with new and handsome pews, the beautiful monuments cleansed and restored; the casings cut away from the fine clustered columns, and their sculpture opened to public view, which gives it on entrance, a cathedrallike appearance, grand and magnificent. During the execution of which works, there was discovered from St. Nicholas' chantry, an entrance or door-way into a circular stair-case, in the South East column of the nave, which probably lead to a rood loft, as they were generally placed near that situation. Further improvements are intended, which if carried into effect, will restore this ancient and venerable fabric to its pristine beauty. In the steeple, is a melodious ring of eight bells, with chimes, which play a psalm tune every six hours; and a clock also, which strikes upon the great bell. These bells were in 1816, newly hung, and had new frames, at an expense of nearly £450. Upon the bells are these respective inscriptions *: FIRST. My voice I will raise, And sound to my subscriber's praise, At proper times.---Thomas Lester made me. 1738. * Bells were formerly baptized, annointed, exorcised, and blessed by the Bishop; and they were then imagined to calm SEVENTH. Robert Osborn and Francis Meager, Churchwardens, Thomas Lester, Londini fecit, 1738. EIGHTH. Mr. Nath. Collier, Vicker, Robert Osborn, and Thomas On the top of the steeple, at the South East corner, hangs the Saints' Bell*; which is tolled storms, cause fair weather, recreate the dead, and drive devils out of the air. Weever's Funeral Monuments. Bells were first introduced into churches about the year 400 by Paulinus, Bishop of Nola in Campania; hence their Latin names Nola, and Campana.---The first ring of Bells in England was in Croyland Abbey, in Lincolnshire, they were six in number. Ingulphus, History of Croyland Abbey. * So called, because in the times of popery, it was rung when the priest came to the Latin Service; Sancte, Sancle, Sancte, Domine, Deus Sabaoth; Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Sabaoth; it was rung at that time in order that those who were absent from the church, might know that the congregation was then engaged in the most solemn part of the office, and might join in it. Consequently the Saints' Bell |