2 28 THE SAXON WINDOW IN MUGGINTON CHURCH. 



as the west wall of the first stone church when there was 

 no tower. There is a most interesting early Saxon window in 

 this position hidden away in the tower of the small church 

 of Wansford, Northants, and known only to very few. 



The practical ecclesiologist is on the look-out for pre-Norman 

 work in elevated ix)sitions, particularly over nave arcades. 

 During the current year I found two cases of this kind in 

 country churches in Norfolk. There are many more remnants 

 of Saxon stone churches than are usually suspected ; I have 

 learnt much since I wrote on the churches of Derbyshire. 



With regard to the curious and ingenious underbuilding, in 

 which, as Mr. Currey remarks, the mediaeval church builder 

 seemed to delight, and which can be seen in massive minsters 

 such as Beverley, as well as in so many parochial churches, I 

 think the following is the true explanation. The mediaeval 

 priest dare not suffer the continued round of Eucharlstic and 

 other services to be interrupted when there was rebuilding or 

 an extension of the fabric ; he could not take a holiday at such 

 times, nor had he a schoolroom for temporary purposes. Hence 

 much skill was used in sustaining, as far as possible, the fabric 

 whilst the alterations were in progress, and in causing them to 

 be undertaken in sections. 

 December. 1 902. 



