4 PROCEHDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 



staircase to the rood-loft still remains, with its lower steps 

 jutting into the north-west angle of the north chapel. 

 The present church consists of a nave, chancel chapels on 

 the north and south sides of the chancel, a south transept, 

 north nave aisle, south porch, and a tower nearly lOO feet 

 high. Henry VII, it has been suggested, had directly or 

 indirectly a connection with the building of the tower, for 

 on the entrance door-way and around the turret are the 

 fleur-de-lys and the Tudor rose. On a gable over the 

 chancel arch a sanctus bell-cot still remains. 



After lunching at the PortcuUis Inn, the party paid a 

 visit to Chipping Sodbury Church, which w^e are told by 

 Mr Pope in a paper in Vol. XIII of the Transactions of 

 the Bris. and Glos. Archccological Society, was erected in 

 the 13th century. The chancel was probably built first; 

 the older builders almost invariably commencing at the 

 east end, so that the offices of religion might be celebrated 

 with becoming decency and reverence as soon as |)ossible. 

 Some early side chapels, into which existing arcades must 

 have opened have disaj)peared. Possibly some relics of 

 them are the 13th century capitals used as corbels for the 

 north aisle roof, which is of 15th century date. 



The eastern end of the north aisle is 14th century 

 work, and it is suggested that it was \)an of a design for a 

 church on a grand scale, but which the black death 

 prevented being carried out. As the town pros[)ered, 

 lirst the north aisle in the early part of the 15th century, 

 and then the south aisle in the latter part of the same 

 century, were erected. A stone pulpit of 15th century 

 work forms a [)art of the first pier of the north aisle, and 

 at the back is an inscription " Tobias Davis his charge." 

 In the north chapel is a beautiful incised slab, which 

 probably commemorates a Flemish Merchant who had 

 settled in the town. The ancient altar slab, with four 

 dedication crosses upon it, has been appro})riated as a 

 grave-stone. 



