The New Forest :. its History and its Scenery. 



Since the Austin canons were more especially concerned with 

 man's struggle in daily life, their churches assumed a parochial 

 character. Hence we here have the spacious nave, so different 

 to that of the old Nunnery Church of Ptomsey, the west tower 

 and doorway absent at Ronisey and the lovely north porch 

 looking out to the town. 



The whole building, I am sorry to add, is sadly out of 

 repair. Restoration has been going on for some time past ; 

 but here, as in all similar cases, money is sadly needed. Surely 

 men might give something, if from no higher motive than of 

 keeping up a memorial of the piety of a past age. We inveigh 

 against Cromwell and the Puritans against the sacrilege of 

 horses stabled in the choir, and the stalls turned into mangers; 

 against the sword which struck down the sculptured images, 

 and the fire which consumed the carved woodwork. But the 

 harm which the Puritans wrought is little compared to ours, 

 in allowing the loveliness of our churches to rot by our negli- 

 gence, and their sacredness to perish by our apathy. 



The North Poroh and Doorway 



144 



