36 PAPERS, ETC. 
knowledge than I can pretend to, and would also be far 
too extensive for the limits of a single paper. I prefer to 
adhere strietly to one branch of the subject ; and indeed 
the churches which I have recently visited with an especial 
view to the composition of this paper, I have examined 
almost exclusively with reference to that branch, often 
passing by, with but little attention, portions which were 
interesting solely on other grounds. But I cannot help 
recommending to this society to undertake a full and sys- 
tematic examination of all the churches in the county, a 
work to which I should be proud to contribute my humble 
assistance, with a view to the publication of desceriptions 
something in the same form as those put forth by the 
Northamptonshire Society. At present my general re- 
marks will be very brief, and I will pass as soon as possible 
to my immediate subject, the Perpendicular of the district. 
The strength of Somersetshire, like that of Northamp- 
tonshire, lies in its parish churches. It is not indeed so 
entirely denuded of conventual remains as that county, but 
even monastic ruins, much less monastie churches retained 
for parochial purposes, do not seem to be a striking feature 
in its architeetural wealth. The grand buildings which I 
am best acquainted with are all of the strietly parochial type, 
although they occasionally approach in size and splendour 
to the dignity of cathedral or conventual buildings, and 
moreover belong to a style in which the two types of the 
minster and the parish church run much more into one 
another than was usual at an earlier period. Atthe same 
time itis an honourable fact for the local architecture that 
it admitted of having churches of the cathedral type erected 
in it, a circumstance probably occurring nowhere else. The 
Cathedral of Wells was indeed built before a local style 
had been developed of sufficient merit to be employed in 
