274 



§rabfor^on^6on. 



1||§ UCH INTEREST has been of late excited with regard to 

 this ancient Church, which is most probably of the date of 

 the latter part of the tenth century, and is, as far as is known, the 

 only complete one, of its age and character, still remaining in England. 



During the annual meeting, held a few weeks ago, this Church 

 was visited by the Society, and much gratification was expressed at 

 the progress that had been made towards its preservation. The 

 earth, which had accumulated in the course of years to a height in 

 some parts of six feet above the ground-line of the building, had 

 been removed, and the original proportions of the Church, in them- 

 selves a remarkable feature, were distinctly seen. 



In Vol. v. of the proceedings of this Society will be found a short 

 account of this ancient Church. It was illustrated by drawings 

 and elevations made for the purpose, in the year 1848, by the Rev. 

 W. C. Lukis, then one of our Secretaries. The intervening period 

 of fourteen years has disclosed much that throws light on this 

 precious relic of Saxon times. Within the last few months, more- 

 over, the Chancel, long ago separated from the Nave, and used as 

 a gardener's cottage, together with the ground immediately sur- 

 rounding the whole building, has been purchased, and a Committee 

 of Trustees appointed, amongst whom are Earl Nelson, and Sir 

 John Awdry, (two former Presidents of the Wilts Archaeological 

 Society,) and Sir Charles Hobhouse, Bart., now Lord of the Manor 

 of Bradford, for the purpose of raising funds for obtaining the whole 

 Church, and adopting measures for its preservation and restoration. 



The Council of this Society entered warmly into the plan when 

 brought before them by the other two Trustees, and original pro- 

 moters of the effort, the Rev. E. L. Barnwell, and the Rev. 



