20 The History of the Parish of All Cannings. 



A handsome new pulpit of solid carved oak, has also been erected 

 by friends of the Rector as a memorial of his ministrj'. It contains, 

 in the cornice, the legend — " Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel." 



A brass plate beneath the window given by the Rt. Honourable 

 Sotheron Estcourt bears the following inscription : — " This window 

 is dedicated to the honor and glory of Almighty God, by Thomas 

 Sotheron Estcourt, in memory of a friendship of more than 50 years 

 between the houses of Methuen and Estcourt. ' "We took sweet 

 counsel together, and walked in the House of God as friends— Psalm 

 55., V. 14.' " 



Another brass plate over the chancel door thus records, in 

 illuminated characters, the general work of restoration : — 



" To THE HONOE AND GLOET OF AlMIGHTT GoD, AS A THANK-OFFERING FOB 



the meecies of his bortntifirl hand, as a memorial of a happy home, 

 and in remembrance of beloved ones who sleep here till the 

 morning of the eestjerection, this chancel was rebuilt by the 

 Rector, Thos. Anthony Methuen, and his Sons. A.D. 1867." 



Before we leave the subject of restoration, it may be mentioned 

 that some extensive repairs and alterations were carried out in 

 1843, the expense being partly borne from church rates, though 

 chiefly by donations and subscriptions. The handsome old oak 

 roof of the Nave, which bore on one of its corbels, on the 

 south east end, the date 1638, (which indeed still remains), was 

 then pulled down in consequence of its decayed state, and the 

 present roof erected in humble imitation of its predecessor. The 

 fitting the entire church with open seats was carried out at the 

 same time. The vestry also, which had previously occupied the 

 east end of the Chantry Chapel, was removed to the extremity of 

 the north transept. The window to the west of the north porch, 

 which had been barbarously mutilated was restored, and a gallery 

 blocking up the west window removed. 



There are fragments of Norman work still remaining in the 

 pier at the north-east angle of the tower, from which the original 

 chancel arch probably sprung ; and also in another pier built into 

 the masonry of the arch dividing the south aisle and transept ; 

 which show that in very early times, certainly in the 12th century, 

 All Cannings had a church of no mean pretensions. Possibly, the 



