Зображення сторінки
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

the Jews for synagogues, whatever the places may be called in which they

stand."

It is uniformly admitted by the above, and other intelligent writers, that the church of the Holy Sepulchre, at Jerusalem, was the archetype of these circular churches in England. Some edifices of this description [as, particularly, the Temple church, at London] were undoubtedly erected by the Knights Templars, "who were originally instituted, and stationed, at the church of the Holy Sepulchre," being charged with the protection of Christian pilgrims against the Saracens. Mr. Clarke, however, thinks it possible to shew that two, at least, and those the most early of the examples noticed above, "were not erected by the Templars, or at all connected with that order of knighthood."

The buildings to which he refers, are the churches of St. Sepulchre, at Northampton and at Cambridge. These we find to be parochial, and vicarages, and to be entered as such in Ecton's Thesaurus. "It would be diffi cult," says Mr. Clarke, "to account for the round churches above noticed, if ever they belonged to houses of Knights Templars, becoming parochial and appropriated before the dissolution of that order, considering how seldom any of the monasteries have been reserved for that purpose; or, if possessed of the right of patronage, that a vicarage should be ordained in favour of another house."

This writer, therefore, supposes that the churches in question were built by affluent crusaders, in imitation of that of the Holy Sepulchre, or Resurrection ;

[blocks in formation]

rection; and he presents the following historical notices, in defence of such an opinion." Simon St. Liz is said to have re-edified the town of Northampton, which was burnt by the Danes, and lay in ruins for some time after the Conquest. About the year 1084, he repaired the priory of St. Andrew, near his castle in that town, of which he was the Earl, and endowed, and replenished it with Cluniac monks. To this priory we find the church of St. Sepulchre presented by Simon St. Liz, or Seinliz, second Earl of Northampton, upon his return from the crusade. He died in 1141. The right of patronage, thus granted to the monks, could only have been possessed by this Simon, in consequence of himself, or one of his ancestors, having been the founder of the church, as within a demesne of his own. This is evident from the customs of those times, when it was also common to present such right to the religious houses, for the sake of its being better exercised. And, from what we have seen of the ardour of the first crusaders, it is highly probable that he was himself the builder of this edifice, in imitation of the church of the Resurrection A like train of circumstances attends the round church at Cambridge, a more ancient structure than that at Northampton." See many further remarks on the character and history of round churches, in Britton's Architectural Antiquities, Vol. I. A view of the interior of the Temple church, London, is presented in the "Beauties" for London and Middle

sex.

2 D

HAMPSHIRE.

[blocks in formation]

Abbey church at Rom

sey. Mr. Warton mentions this build

Noticed in the Beauties.

P. 211-217.

ing, as "one of the In the early part P. 223-226, with a

most complete mo

numents he can re

collect," of the Nor

of the twelfth

century......

print.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Stow church......Latter part of 11th century...P. 666-669.

Clee church.................

2 D2

........P. 691-692.

LEICESTER

This church is included in my previous enumeration of ecclesiastical buildings attributed by some writers to the Anglo-Saxons; but, in the Beauties for Kent, it is judiciously observed, that, "from the exuberance of its ornaments, and the peculiarities attending them, together with the form of some of its arches, it may, with greater probability of truth, be classed among those of our Norman edifices which were built in the times immediately preceding the general adoption of the pointed style." Some very ingenious remarks on the architectural character of this celebrated church, are presented in the fourth volume of Britton's Architectural Antiquities.

+ Many churches in this county, besides those noticed in the present page as curious examples, afford instances of the circular style of architecture.

[ocr errors]

The

[blocks in formation]

Church of St. Bartho

Noticed in the Beauties.

{P. 348.

{P. 349, with a print.

Beauties for London, Part IV. p. 691—2, with a print.

lomew the Great, in Reign of Henry I. Ibid. Part. III.

West Smithfield......

NORFOLK.*

Founded in the

p. 431,

439, 443, with a print.

Binham priory church. reign of Henry I. P. 315.

Church at Castle Rising..

Attleburgh church }

[ocr errors]

Church of Gillingham
St. Mary's, near Bec-
cles.......

Wymondham church.....
Church of St. Marga-)
ret's, at Lynn, for-
merly appertaining
to a priory.........

...P. 303.

SP. 252-253, with a print.

SP. 50, and 208, with a

print.

...........P. 258.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

The following are described in the Beauties for Lincolnshire, and are referred to under the article "Churches," in the index:ong Sutton; Crowle; Washingborough; Fiskerton; and St. Peter, at Gowt.

• Examples of ecclesiastical buildings in the circular style, are very nu merous in this county. "Of thirty-five churches [four of them in ruins) in the rural deanery of Fincham alone, fifteen contain indisputable remains of Saxon, or Norman architecture." The above list comprises such only as are Cescribed in the Beauties for Norfolk.

This county produces many specimens of the circular style in parochial churches

F

« НазадПродовжити »