B>/ C. E. Pontine F.S.A. 



43 



pulpit and altar from 1856 until 1895, when they were replaced on 

 the bridge 



The four arches between the chancel and north and south chapels 

 and the one on the west of the south chapel were provided with 

 screens at the same time, and these, whilst being varied in design, 

 all exhibit the same feeling as the rood-screen, and the same delicate 

 treatment. The two arches on the south of the chancel (one of 

 which is made to fit the tomb, so that the first Lord Stourton did 

 not live to see his great work completed) and the eastern one on 

 the north are completely occupied by the screens, up to the apex, 

 whilst the one on the west of the south chapel and the one to the 

 organ arch are finished by a horizontal cornice : neither has any 

 widening of the top, by vaulting or otherwise. The present top 

 piece of the organ screen is evidently (as the rebate and upper 

 moulding show) the lower part of the cornice which terminated it, 

 and it was only carried higher by the depth of the cornice — this 

 probably indicates the level of the loft for the organ referred to in 

 the churchwardens' book in 1556. 



The entries relating to the organ are given in the Appendix. 



They commence with the blower's salary of Sd. for the year 

 1556-7, and this is continued (varying in amount, but generally 2*. 

 a year) until 1591, when it ceases. In 1575 the organ was taken 

 down and, presumably, re-erected, for an entry occurs in 1578 for 

 repairing it. After 1591 no mention is made of the organ until 

 1636, when, in an inventory of Church goods in the hands of the 

 churchwardens, we find : — 



" In the lofte over the North He one payre of old decayed Organes w t!l xxxvi 

 Organe Pypes of the greater sorte in them besides the three Pypes hereafter 

 chardged, besides a quantitye of small pypes w ch wer not nnmbred and were in 

 the pype case " ; 



and : — 



" in the Treasnrye Lofte over the North Porche theise goods Three great Pypes 

 of the Organes." 



In 1782 there is an entry of a "Pitohpype for the Singers." 

 Presumably therefore, from nearly the cud of the sixteenth century 

 onwards there was no organ in use until a new one was sel up in 



