246 WHITE 



mentioned, and by which, as a criterion, we would prove the 

 date of the building. 



At the bottom of the south aisle, between the west and 

 south doors, stands the font, which is deep and capacious, 

 and consists of three massy round stones, piled one on another, 

 without the least ornament or sculpture : the cavity at the 

 top is lined with lead, and has a pipe at the bottom to convey 

 off the water after the sacred ceremony is performed. 



The east end of the south aisle is called the South Chancel, 

 and, till within these thirty years, was divided off by old carved 

 Gothic framework of timber, having been a private chantry. 

 In this opinion we are more confirmed by observing two Gothic 

 niches within the space, the one in the east wall and the other 

 in the south, near which there probably stood images and 

 altars. 



In the middle aisle there is nothing remarkable : but I 

 remember when its beams were hung with garlands in honor 

 of young women of the parish, reputed to have died virgins ; 

 and recollect to have seen the clerk's wife cutting, in white 

 paper, the resemblances of gloves, and ribbons to be twisted 

 in knots and roses, to decorate these memorials of chastity. 

 In the church of Faringdon, which is the next parish, many 

 garlands of this sort still remain. 



The north aisle is narrow and low, with a sloping ceiling, 

 reaching within eight or nine feet of the floor. It had origi- 

 nally a flat roof, covered with lead, till, within a century past, 

 a church-warden stripping off the lead, in order, as he said, 

 to have it mended, sold it to a plumber, and ran away with 

 the money. This aisle has no door, for an obvious reason ; 

 because the north side of the church-yard, being surrounded 

 by the vicarage-garden, affords no path to that side of the 

 church. Nothing can be more irregular than the pews of 

 this church, which are of all dimensions and heights, being 

 patched up according to the fancy of the owners ; but whoever 

 nicely examines them will find that the middle aisle had, on 

 each side, a regular row of benches of solid oak, all alike, with 

 a low back-board to each. These we should not hesitate to say 

 are coeval with the present church ; and especially as it is 

 to be observed that, at their ends, they are ornamented with 



