NOTES ON HOPE CHURCH. 83 
the various levels of the sedilia, are probably original in their 
positions, are to be done away with, one step being provided at 
the altar rail. 
In my opinion the guiding principles in this, as in all other 
restorations, should be to make as little alteration in anterial 
features as is practicable, and I confess I do not see any 
sufficient reason for the changes which are proposed. 
There is no doubt the walls of the chancel are in a bad state, 
and to some extent may need rebuilding. This seems to me to 
apply to the centre portion of each of the side walls, that is to 
say, to the long blank spaces between the windows. The re- 
_ mainder might probably be dealt with in the usual way, by 
bonding and grouting, with such under-pinning as the state of 
the foundations may need. 
The window tracery should be repaired and re-used. I see 
no difficulty in doing this ; it is not all seriously decayed, though 
it requires resetting and some new stone. It will be far more 
_ interesting treated thus than if copied in the new windows. The 
_ position of the windows and the sedilia should certainly be 
retained just as at present, as well as the levels of the latter 
and the steps indicated by them. One effect of this would be 
to bring the altar rail further west than is usual, but no incon- 
venience would result, as there is ample length in the chancel. 
The long space free from windows would be very useful if a 
chamber for the organ should be found necessary ; it might be 
provided by forming an arch in the north wall, with a shallow 
Tecess for the organ, and the vestry behind. 
_ ,The old oak cill of the chancel screen remains, and shows 
that there was but one step at this point. This should, I think, 
be kept too, the steps would then be as follows:—one at the 
ancel arch, one at the altar rail, two opposite the sedilia, and 
‘one round the altar. 
_ Turning now to the roof. There is no doubt that there was 
once a high roof, but the existing one is of the same age as the 
greater part of the church, and with its battlemented parapet 
agrees with the character which has been given to the whole 
