president's address. 133 



A PERIOD OF RTJISr, 



followed, in the 15th century, by a revival and restoration at the 

 period marked by the commonest style of our Cornish churches. 

 So much has been done in modern days to improve the debased 

 window tracery of churches, which had again been neglected, 

 that many remains of old work have been lost to the present 

 observer, who must look carefully for evidences of it. 



THE WAGGON-ROOF 



was another feature of old Cornish churches, — it displayed 

 square panels and, at the intersection of the ribs, bosses, many 

 of them well carved. I regret that cost has in many places 

 caused the loss of this feature, in the restored churches. I am 

 also aware of the fact that it is not a roof that commends itself 

 as a strong form, for in consequence of the decay of the wooden 

 pins, it throws an unnecessary strain on its support, either 

 on the outside wall or on the arcade on which it rests. 

 The chancel of St. Ives, the small church of Q-olant, and 

 others in different parts of the county, contain certain good work 

 of this kind. The carved work in the wall plate, matching the 

 roof, is also a feature, and in itself a thing of beauty. In 

 Golant, the wall plates contain Latin inscriptions, which have 

 been arranged, not quite in the right order. They have, however, 

 been read, thanks to the care of the late Rev. J. Wallis, (Vicar 

 of Bodmin), when acting as curate there, assisted by Mr. G. 

 "White, of Torfrey, and consist of invocations to pray for the 

 souls of some of those who contributed to the building, &c. 

 Remains of other waggon-roofs are to be found in various 

 churches in a more or less perfect state, some having been hidden 

 by flat ceilings of lath and plaster. 



THE CORNISH TOWERS 



are a striking feature of our church architecture, which 

 cannot be overlooked. They stand most frequently at the west 

 end, and are in most cases, though not in all, connected with 

 the church by a tower-arch. St. Columb Major has its tower 

 with no west door ; a low south and north arch are open to 

 the air, and there is a small door leading into the church. 

 Mawgan, in Pydar has its tower to the south ; St. Enodoc its 

 tower (with a spire) on its north side j Bodmin and Blisland also 



