72 Durham Cathedral, by Rev. William Greenwell. 



should have been removed. As the Cathedral is seen at present, 

 I think there is too much of the mere building. It is empty, and 

 wants furnishing ; almost every part of it is seen at once. Others 

 may differ from me upon this matter, and perhaps I may speak 

 influenced by early associations, but I cannot but say that the 

 screens had a good effect, and told generally on the building as 

 a whole. At present the church appears to me too naked. 

 There is nothing left to the imagination, there is nothing of 

 mystery — so important an element in that which appeals to every 

 mind. 



I will now make a few remarks upon the general effect of this 

 most majestic building in which we are assembled. I assert 

 without hesitation that no grander Norman building exists in 

 England, and if not in England, then in no part of the world. E 

 will make a still bolder assertion, and say that no more impres- 

 sive and effective Cathedral exists in England, I would almost 

 say in Europe. You may go where you like, you may tell me of 

 the beauties of Lincoln, the size of York, the varied architectural 

 features of Canterbury, Winchester, and Ely, and the grace of 

 Salisbury ; but I say the Cathedral Church of Durham, as it now 

 stands, is the finest ecclesiastical building in this country. I do 

 not say that some others of our Cathedrals may not possess more 

 exquisite pieces of architectural work, that some of them do not 

 surpass it in siz'e ; but, granting this, where will you find any- 

 thing which will compare with the Galilee. The Galilee is un- 

 equalled for its unique beauty and elegance. It is as beautiful in 

 its lightness as the choir and nave are in their solemn massiveness. 

 The Nine Altars, with its vaulting, its shafts carrying capitals 

 carved with the most charming mixture of foliage and animal 

 form has no rival to compete with. I say unhesitatingly that, 

 taken as a whole, and looking at the solemnity of the building, 

 its beautiful proportions, and the admirable way in which a great 

 design has been carried out, Durham Cathedral stands unrivalled. 

 Look at the symmetry of the great arcades of choir and nave ; 

 the pillars are not too short and broad, nor again too lofty 

 and stilted, but admirably fit into the proportions of the 

 whole. Look how the triforium and clerestory, neither dwarfed, 

 nor too important, harmonise with the arcades which support 

 them, and form with them a design of perfect symmetry and 

 proportion. Everything is in complete harmony, and the church, 



