#3G On the Consuetudinary of S. Osmund. 



Reference is made to these matters, not merely to show how care- 

 fully all arrangements were made for the various services and offices, 

 hut also to explain how, in these early days, all members of the 

 cathedral body, from the bishop downwards to the youngest of the 

 " pueri " or choristers, regarded themselves as part of one religious 

 household, not only attending the services in the cathedral itself? 

 but also meeting daily in the chapter-house for private devotion and 

 edification ; although, as members of a secular foundation, they were 

 bound by no vows, and lived each in their separate dwellings. 



There is one other matter on which light is thrown by the portion 

 of the Consuetudinary which we are now considering, on which it 

 may be well to say a few words-^- namely, the original position of 

 the high altar. 



From the subjects of the roof-pain tings in the choir — all of which, 

 from the entrance to the choir eastward as far as the arch in a line 

 with the aisle of the lesser transept are sacred, and culminate just 

 above that arch in a majestic figure of Our Lord in glory, whereas, 

 eastward of that spot the roof-painting was not only of secular 

 subjects, but inferior in point of execution — it has been conjectured 

 that the high altar originally stood under the " Majesty/'' or at all 

 events under the arch immediately to the east of it. 



The matter is, of course, one in which positive proof 'can hardly be 

 adduced, and all that can be claimed for any theory on the subject 

 is " very high presumption." But as Mr. Gilbert Scott has, by 

 the re-issue, in the " Sacristy," of the " tractate " by his father and 

 himself, first printed some four or five years ago, almost challenged 

 discussion on it, and a paper on the subject has already appeared in 

 this Magazine, 1 it may not be amiss to give a short extract or two 

 from the Consuetudinary, from which some general conclusions at 

 all events may be arrived at, which more or less clear the way for a 

 full consideration of the matter. 



In § 25, among services, &c, for Advent Sunday, are directions 

 for incensing the altar, and the priest is directed to incense it first 



1 A paper on the " Original Position of the High Altar in Salisbury Cathedral | 

 will be found in vol. xvii., pp. 136 — 147 of this Magazine. 



