CHANCEL OP STRATPORD-ON-AVON. 26? 



feeling his passions warmed, and his imagination excited. This 

 church is the mausoleum of Shakspeare. Here he was baptized — here 

 his remains were interred — here his parents — ^his wife — his family 

 — were all collected in peace and endless harmony. Whatever little 

 incidents in life may have occasioned dissension or discord amongst 

 them, were all reconciled, forgotten, and forgiven, in this their last 

 and closing home ; for " here the tired ceased from labour, and the 

 weary are at rest." 



Architecturally, historically, poetically, this building affords a 

 theme replete with interest, full of pathos, terse in " pith and mo- 

 ment.'' Built and consecrated to the omnicient Creator of the uni- 

 verse, it awakens the most sublime emotions of the human soul ;— 

 it carries the mind " from earth to heaven," and " gives to airy 

 nothing a local habitation and a name." Whilst the vast temples 

 of the old world, with their idols and endless hieroglyphics, astonish 

 and bewilder our reasoning powers, they also oppress the heart 

 with sadness and sorrow. Evidences as they are of human institu- 

 tions and superstitions thousands of years back, they demonstrate 

 the ingenuity and persevering industry of man ; but they also shew 

 that his mental faculties were enthralled, and filled with monstrous 

 absurdities. Even the more modern Grecian and Roman temples, 

 though admired and praised by the architect and artist, and hal- 

 lowed by the poet, have nothing of that truly fascinating charm 

 which belongs to the Christian church ; especially when that edi- 

 fice is large in size, rich and elaborate in sculptured decoration, 

 adorned with painted glass, and stored with monuments of illustri- 

 ous persons. In these characteristics and attributes many English 

 churches abound. The cathedrals, in particular, are volumes of 

 history ; whilst several parish churches abound in varied and im- 

 portant materials for the study of the practical architect, the anti- 

 quary, and the scholar. If that of Stratford be not the most pre- 

 eminent of its class, it has some features and some accessories which 

 render it at once peculiar, attractive, unique, and fascinating : and 

 these peculiarities it will be my duty to point out, in such a way as 

 to claim the attention of every person of laudable curiosity. To 

 the architectural antiquary, and to the artist, I need not appeal : 

 the true lover of Shakspeare, and the enthusiastic poet, will not 

 require the aid of a local ciceroni, or the comments of a critic. The 

 eyes of such are in their imaginations, which, possessing the com- 

 bined powers of the microscope and telescope, magnify the small^ 

 and bring home the distant. 



The parish church of Stratford is peculiarly and invitingly placed 



