58 CHURCHES IN THE RURAL DEANERY OP DORCHESTER. 



16. MARTINSTOWK 



The church as it stands is mainly of the 15th century. 



The CHANCEL was wholly rebuilt at that time, the walls, 

 windows, door in the south side (now blocked up), the piscina 

 with aumbry above, the excellent roof (now concealed by the 

 plaster ceiling), are all of the period. The cill of the window on 

 the south side was carried down to form a sedilia ; the seat seems 

 inconveniently high above the floor, but there are clear tokens that 

 the floor at the east end of the chancel was originally much higher. 

 On either side of the east window is a bracket supported by a 

 pillar ; these brackets presumably were for images.* 



The roofs throughout the church are of 15th century construction, 

 and are very good for a country church. 



The TOWER pinnacled and embattled, of three stages, is also of 

 the Perpendicular period ; the turret at the side is later than the 

 tower. 



When the walls of the church towards the west end were 

 repaired some years ago MURAL PAINTINGS were found upon them ; 

 they are believed to be still there underneath the whitewash. 



The FONT, of Purbeck marble, is probably Saxon (plate 4). 



The very peculiar arcade dividing the nave from the aisle calls 

 for some remark ; that there was an aisle here anciently is certain 

 from the bases of the columns, which are undoubtedly ancient. 

 That the arcade has not been rebuilt since the 15th century seems 

 probable from the fact that the roof of the aisle is of that style. 

 The stonework of it until recently was coloured. A few years ago 



* "In the 'Concilium Provinciale Cashelense,' Provincial Council of 

 Cashell in Ireland, held A.D. 1453, it was enjoined that in every church 

 there should be at least three images namely, of S. Mary the Virgin, of 

 the crucifix, and of the patron of the place, in honour of whom the 

 church was dedicated. But besides the images thus specially enjoined 

 and required to be placed in every church at the expense of the 

 parishioners, many other images of saints, or such as were so esteemed, 

 were made at the costs of and presented by individual benefactors, or 

 left by will to churches ; and the brackets on which they were placed 

 are still retained, mostly projecting from one side, or both, of an east 

 window." "Principles of Gothic Ecclesiastical Architecture Bloxam. " 



