CRANBORNE AND TEWKESBURY. 37 



gone, and contemplate the vicissitudes that have befallen both 

 churches during that long and eventful period ; it may be with 

 somewhat of regret for the past, but assuredly with more of 

 thankfulness for the present, though the feeling be not unalloyed 

 with somewhat of distrust of the future. But now we may turn 

 our gaze on Tewkesbury, and rejoice that the once proud abbey, 

 doomed to neglect, has been restored, in this nineteenth century> 

 to a large measure of that architectural beauty and that structural 

 stability which were her portion in the sunshine of her olden days, 

 and then with humbler pride we may turn our sight on our own 

 fine old parish church, which has lifted up her head through the 

 liberality of her noble patron and the help and sympathy of many 

 other friends. And now we can unite with our ancient rival in 

 the closer connection of Christian brotherhood. And if, in 

 looking to the future, we should see from time to time dark clouds 

 rising on our horizon, threatening to sweep away our most 

 cherished and time-honoured institutions, we trust that the whirl- 

 wind, if it come, will howl around these walls in vain, and that 

 the churches of our forefathers will withstand the shock, and 

 remain, even to the consummation of time, the monuments of our 

 national faith and guardians of our homes ! 



August 1 7th, 1886. T. W. W. S. 



