LESTIXGHAM. 



deposited. From the east end of this subterranean 

 retreat, from the window through which the light 

 gleams, giving a view of the whole extent of it 

 the scene is interesting to astonishment. Here you 

 perceive the massy arches ranged in perspective ; 

 you behold the huge cylindrical pillars, and their 

 variously sculptured capitals (each one differing from 

 the other,) all in the real Saxon style ; to this add 

 the groined roof, and the stairs at the west end lead- 

 ing up to the church ; enveloped in a luminous 

 obscurity, from the scanty light admitted by the 

 window in the east. From the account given by 

 Bede, that the body, of Cedd was buried on the 

 right side of the altar, one may may suppose that 

 this crypt was made after the erection of the church, 

 though the time cannot be ascertained. 



The church has undergone various repairs ; sonfe 

 parts are comparatively modern. It is not impro- 

 bable that it has been new roofed by the person 

 whose arms it bears. From the appearance of the 

 west end of the building, the church was much 

 longer than it is at present ; as part of the pillars 

 are seen projecting without the west wall, which 



devoutly preserved, in honour to their memory, kissed, 

 revered and carried in procession. This practice was a 

 corruption of that proper respect which was at first paid 

 to the memory of the martyrs, and teachers of the Chris- 

 tian faith, and which at length degenerated into adora- 

 tion; and this respect was paid to the relics of holy 

 men, or holy things. In the cemeteries, crypts or bury- 

 ing places, people in ancient times, assembled for the 

 purpose of commemorating the dead, and of performing 

 divine worship ; and it was the practice to deposit relics 

 of saints and martyrs under altars iu churches : hence 

 the use of crypts. 



