By the Ven. Archdeacon Macdonald. 



147 



of Bourton, Esq., who died February 1st, 1571. 2nd. In memory 

 of Edward Ernie of Echilhampton, son of Michael Ernie of Bour- 

 ton, who died November 30th, 1656; and of Edward his grand- 

 child, January 21st, 1675. The building attached to the north-east 

 corner of the chancel, called a chantry chapel by Mr. Britton, but 

 more probably used as a sacristy, is that portion of the church which 

 bears the mark of the highest antiquity. Unlike chantry chapels, 

 it has an upper chamber, probably a priest's room, and had origin- 

 ally a bell turret, the vestiges of which consist of some steps ending 

 in the ridge of the roof. Though there can be little or no doubt 

 that this church was built in the time of Henry II., it has never- 

 theless undergone considerable alteration at a subsequent period, 

 probably early in the 14th century, when the Perpendicular style 

 came into fashion with architects. At this time the original high 

 pitched roof of the nave was replaced by a late Pointed clerestory 

 and roof ; the triplet at the west end being preserved. The walls 

 of the north and south aisles were raised, and windows of the early 

 Perpendicular substituted in these aisles for the smaller lancets, 

 specimens of which are to be seen in the sides of the transepts. 



There is in this church a singular, and I believe an unique article 

 of furniture, the design and use of which it has puzzled many per- 

 sons to discover. By some antiquaries it has been considered to be 

 a portion of a Confessional chair; but a different, and probably 

 more correct account of it is thus given by a writer in the "Eccle- 

 siologist," (vol. v. pp. 150-2.) " Of this (alleged) "Confessional 

 chair," an unscientific drawing and copy of the inscription were 

 published in the "British Magazine" for April 1835. The inscrip- 

 tion however was both incompletely and incorrectly transcribed. 

 The chair itself, or rather stall, is now moveable, and is placed 

 against the west wall of the north transept. It consists of an up- 

 right panel, with some mouldings at the top and sides: the inner 

 face of which is painted with a large hand, inscribed with sentences, 

 and with two labels below, proceeding from the mouths of a white 

 and a black cock respectively, also charged with legends. Against 

 this panel is constructed a seat, facing sideways, with a flooring, a 

 back of the ordinary height of a pew, a door, (facing the panel, but 



