The Abbey-church. 143, 



instrument in effecting, that great work of genuine restora- 

 tion by which, in 1874, after ten years' labors, and a very 

 large expenditure, all deformities were swept away, and the 

 citizens of Bath found themselves in possession of a church 

 which they could justly regard with feelings of pride. 



It must suffice to name the principal of these acts of 

 restoration and completion. For sanitary and other reasons, 

 the burial-vaults were partially cleared and concreted over. 

 The ceilings which covered the nave, its aisles, and the 

 south transept were replaced by fan-traceried stone-groining, 

 in harmony with that of the choir and its aisles. Perforated 

 machicolated parapets were substituted for plain copings, 

 and new pinnacles crowned the turrets. The cumbrous 

 galleries, and bishop's throne were removed, and the church 

 re-seated ; the organ was much enlarged, and removed to 

 the transept ; an old screen, which stood under it in its 

 former position at the east end of the nave was transferred 

 to the west end ; and an extensive re-arrangement of ceno- 

 taphs was effected. The beautiful chantry of Prior Birde, 

 which had been sorely disfigured, was restored ; the sanctuary 

 tiled, and furnished with altar-rails ; a new stone reredos and 

 carved screen-work of oak were erected ; a new carved oak 

 pulpit replaced the old one ; a brass lectern was presented, 

 and a stone memorial-font added to the two already in the 

 church. Coloured windows were inserted, and heating 

 apparatus fixed. 



The floor of the present church is about six feet higher 

 than that of its predecessor, the Norman church of De Villula, 

 which appears to have been planned on a much larger scale. 

 In 1864 the lower portions of three of its massive piers 

 were found in situ. Two of these are " under the second 

 and third piers of the nave-arcading from the west, partly 



