So also we have Cyrstemal-ac (=oak). Cod. Dipl. 118. In a charter relating to Niwanham (Newnham), in Kent, we have a point of boundary described as " þær þæt Christes-mæl stod,” (where the Christ-mal stood). Cod. Dipl., 526. All these notices would seem to indicate that way-side crosses, or figures of our Lord on the cross, were customary in this country, as they still are in parts of Europe, in the early days of of Christianity. All that has been attempted has been to give an example or two under each of the general classes we have endeavoured to explain. Some Names there are which cannot very fitly be placed under any one of these four heads;-others which might be included under more than one. These, together with many that will be additional illustrations of the various portions of this and the two previous papers, we hope some day to give in a supplementary list. Names of Wiltshire Churches. By the Rev. CANON J. E. JACKSON. HAT Churches should be distinguished by names may not be necessary where there is only one: but in cities where they are numerous, the time-honoured custom of naming them after some Saint is convenient and almost unavoidable. But it should be remembered that though a church bears the name of St. Paul, St. Peter, St. Leonard, &c., it is not dedicated to them, but to the glory and worship of God, in memory or as a memorial of them. The word "saint" is properly an adjective, not a substantive: but just as we incorrectly speak of the classic writers as "the classics," so, use (the "norma loquendi ") has given a substantive form to "the saints." The word, whether spoken of a person or thing, simply means holy. In the latter case, "Saint cross" and "Saint sepulchre" are merely the equivalent of "Holy cross" and "Holy sepulchre." The authorities for the names of our churches are Ecton's Thesaurus, 1742; Bacon's Liber Regis, 1786; Browne Willis's Parochiale Anglicanum, and the "Liber Scholasticus," an abridgement from the Report of the Commissioners appointed to enquire into the Revenues of the Established Church, presented to Parliament in 1835, which contains the dedication names, so far as was known, of every church in England and Wales. : In some instances these authorities do not agree: and the causes of uncertainty are various. 1. It was sometimes the case in ancient times that one part of a church was finished and consecrated before another part and the name given to a part may have been mistaken for the name of the whole. 2. There were also chantry chapels in the church, each having its altar and name. Confusion has arisen from this. 3. The village feast or revel, originally a religious festival instituted to mark the day of consecration, is generally, but not invariably, good evidence of the name of the church. 4. Sometimes upon the rebuilding or restoration of a church a new name was given; and 5, sometimes when the name had been forgotten the accidental discovery of some fresco-painting of a saint has led to that name being adopted. If a name cannot be found in any of the authorities above-mentioned, it might possibly be met with in ancient records relating to the parish preserved at the Diocesan Registries: especially in mediaval or pre-Reformation wills. Testators frequently specified by name the church in which they desired to be buried, or to the repair of which they made some bequest of money.1 ALDBOURNE ALDERBURY ALDERTON I. NAMES OF PARISHES. B. V. Mary St. Giles ALD CANNINGS St. Anne 3 1 For some of these observations the writer is indebted to various correspondents in Notes and Queries. 2 So in the King's Book. The village feast happening to be held on the Monday nearest to St. Mary Magdalen's day has sometimes connected that name with the church. So in Ecton and Bacon. In Wilts Mag. (xi., 14) All Saints is considered more probable. BLUNSDON BROAD St. Andrew (Quemerford) Holy Trinity St. Leonard CALSTON WILLINGTON B.V.Mary In "Wiltshire Collections," p. 34, Note, St. Mark is an error of the press for St. Mary. BURCOMBE BUTTERMERE BROKENBOROUGH St. John Baptist St. Nicholas BROUGHTON Gifford B. V. Mary St. Peter St. John Evangelist All Saints St. John Baptist St. James CALNE B. V. Mary 1 |