236 On Bishopstone Church. 
thoroughly the botanical productions of their own Neighbourhoods, 
and in the consciousness of that much of the information so 
acquired, will become (through their contribution to the Society) a 
permanent addition to the general stock of scientific knowledge, to 
be transmitted to future generations. 
On Bishopstone Church. 
By the Rey. Precentor Lear. 
Read before the Society at Bishopstone, September 15th, 1865. 
=3HE church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Itisa 
cruciform structure, almost a Greek cross, consisting of 
chancel, transepts, and nave; with a sacristy at the north-east angle 
of the chancel, and an external turret, communicating with the 
chancel roof above, and sacristy below; andacentre tower. There 
is a singular, and I believe, almost unique external building, the 
details of which are very curious, attached to the end of the south 
transept, which has been variously termed an almonry, lich-ward, 
and tomb. I shall be glad if some of my archeological friends 
can throw some light upon its former use. I cannot help thinking 
myself, from close observation of the various details of this church, 
that this building had no special uses, but was designed by its 
architect to add beauty and originality to the south transept of the 
church, both within and without. The chancel and transepts, the 
sacristy, and the building mentioned above, are coeval. They are 
highly decorated, and are of the date of Edward III. The stone 
used in this building—the same as that of which our Cathedral is 
built—comes from the Chilmark quarries, about twelve miles from 
here. This material is very durable, as may be seen by the good 
preservation of the building and the sharp angles, which have 
suffered little from the 500 winters to which it has been exposed. 
The walls of the nave, which are of inferior workmanship, are 
rubble, in which much flint is used. The different details of the 
church are very good and interesting, and to some of these I beg 
to direct your particular attention. First, as regards the outside. 
