NOTES ON HOPE CHURCH. 79 
is of ‘‘ Late Perpendicular” architecture, very debased in style ; 
the base-course, buttresses, piscina, and sedilia are of earlier 
date ; the walls are built of coarse rubble-stone ; the roof is of 
low pitch, underdrawn by a flat ceiling, and is evidently in a 
bad state of repair, and pushing the walls out of the perpen- 
dicular. We were unable to see the plans of the restoration, 
but were informed by the vicar that it is proposed—To rebuild 
the chancel from the foundations, with entirely new stonework ; to 
replace the flat lead roof with one of a much higher pitch 
and covered with slates, entirely doing away with the present 
embattled parapet and pinnacles; to re-insert the piscina and 
sedilia further eastward than they are at present, making the 
sedilia all on one level, instead of retaining them in three 
steps ; to change the present position of the side windows of 
the chancel, and to close the priest’s door in the south wall; 
to re-lay the floor of the chancel with encaustic tiles, covering 
up several monumental slabs. 
With respect to these proposed alterations we would sub- 
_ mit—That, if it is considered necessary to rebuild the walls, 
the present base-course, buttresses, windows, priest’s door, and 
parapet should be carefully taken down, and rebuilt with the 
same materials, and in the same position; that the pitch of 
the new roof should differ as little as possible from the present 
pitch, and lead should again be used as a covering ; that the 
piscina and sedilia should not be removed in the contemplated 
re-building, nor any change made in their position or level, it 
being quite possible to arrange the chancel steps to suit them ; 
that the monumental slabs on the chancel floor should remain 
in their present position and should not be covered up with 
encaustic tiles. 
We are pleased to see that the ancient oak belonging to 
e church has been carefully preserved, and to hear that the 
ew fittings for the chancel are to be copied from an ancient 
h-end now standing. 
ial 
FRED. J. ROBINSON, 
W. H. St. Joun Hope. 
