to those of the niches that contain the statues. Even the dial plate of the clock possesses its share of appropriate embellishment. The effect of this superb cluster of windows, canopies, pinnacles, and statues is exceedingly striking, and cannot fail to impress the beholder with admiration of the inventive genius, the taste, and the skill that have been called into exercise in forming so brilliant a combination. The spire is delicately tapering, and rises to the height of 180 feet: it is adorned with rolls at the angles. The interior of the church is kept in the most praiseworthy order; but no sooner do we gain it, than, from the number and magnitude of the windows, and the absence of painted glass, added to the pure white of the walls, we become almost painfully sensible of a too great glare of light. The arches that support the side walls of the nave are high and pointed: they spring from light fluted pillars, which would have a yet finer effect were they unencumbered with monuments". A spacious area, between the part appropriated to divine service and the chancel, is paved with black and white marble. In a gallery over the entrance to the chancel is placed the organ, a good instrument, but ornamented in an extremely puerile taste. The builder of this organ was the celebrated father Smith, but the skill of Byfield has since been exercised in improving it. A former pair of organs was purchased with a bequest of 41. made in 1521, by W. Gray, Archdeacon of Berks; but there appear to have been organs in the church long before his time. The only parochial churches in Oxford that now contain organs are m Monuments are numerous in most of the churches. St. Mary's, St. Peter's in the East, and St. Martin's; but previously to the Reformation many of the other churches appear to have been provided with them. That the organs of those days were often of a very simple construction, appears from the sum mentioned before as bequeathed for those of St. Mary's, and is farther shewn in the following extracts from parochial archives: "St. Mi chael's parish paid for mending the organs, 4d. "They were made 17th Henry VIII. and cost 31. 38. "All Saints, an organ player incidentally mentioned. "St. Peter's in the East, in 1490, pro emendatione "le belous (sic!) organorum, 2d. St. John's, an organ set up in 1489, which cost 281. but was "pulled down in 1677. St. Peter's in the Bailey, "in 1489, for mending "the organs, 6s. 8d. St. "Mary Magdalen's, the old organs sold for 20s. "temp. Ed. VI.n" On the northern side of the church is the monumental chapel of Adam de Brom, Founder of Oriel College, to the Society of which College the patronage of the living (a vicarage) appertains. St. Mary's Church is said to have been originally built, for the use of the University, by King Alfred, after he had collected into Halls within the City those Scholars whom the violence of the Danes had driven from their ancient seat in the northern suburb. Of the present edifice, the chancel was built in 1492, the rest of the church in 1498. On the day after Michaelmas day, annually, the Mayor and chief burgesses of Oxford take in n Peshall's Oxford. • Previously to the Reformation there were in this of St. Mary, as well as in the other parish churches, numerous chantry chapels, founded by pious individuals. this church an oath to maintain the rights and privileges of the University. The situation of ST. PETER'S IN THE EAST, though so near the main street, is pleasingly retired, and the church itself possesses claims to particular notice. It is, indeed, in some respects, more curious than any of the other parish churches of the City; and it is confessedly one of the most ancient, if not the most ancient, among them. It is even thought to have been the first church built of stone in these parts of the country; and, although it has since undergone many alterations, a considerable part of the original building yet remains for the inspection of the antiquary. In our concise view of the academical history of Oxon, mention was made of St. Grymbald, as having been one of the professors placed by Alfred in the University, then recently restored. By this St. Grymbald the church of St. Peter is said to have been built, towards the end of the 9th century, chiefly as a place of resort for Scholars. Of St. Grymbald's edifice, the chief part, or what is considered to be the chief part, now remaining forms the chancel of the present structure; the other portions, according to Hearne P, having been rebuilt during the reign of Henry V. The length of this venerable building is 115 P Hearne says, "the only remaining portion;" but the peculiarity of structure which marks the tower, inclines to believe it also coeval with the chancel. Nay, may not the whole shell of the original edifice, the aisles excepted, be yet standing, and the various pointed windows of the nave, &c. have been merely insertions of a later date? |