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XXX. Further Remarks on Stone Seats in the Chancels of Churches, Cathedral, Collegiate, and Parochial. By the Rev. Samuel Denne, F.A.S.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2012

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Extract

Some observations by the late Mr. Wells on the stalls exhibited in Vetusta Monumenta, not coinciding with the remarks that accompanied the drawing of the stalls in Maidstone church presented by me to the Society; I have judged it expedient to revise my letter to Mr. Gough, with the view of retracting my surmises, had I found them entirely groundless: but after deliberately examining the two papers, and I trust without a bias of prejudice to my own, I must confess I do not see reason to alter my sentiments. Before I consider the observations of this ingenious gentleman, I cannot forbear expressing a regret that our body should be deprived of a member, not long enrolled in our list, whose zealous ardour for researches into subjects of antiquity, assiduously pursued from an early part of life, so properly qualified him to answer the purposes of our institution.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1789

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References

page 298 note [a] Vol. III. Pl. IV. V. pp. 4, 5, 6.

page 298 note [b] See the preceding paper.

page 299 note [c] See Johnson's Collection of Ecclesiastical Laws under the respective years.

page 299 note [d] Vol. II. p. 78.

page 300 note [e] In the churches of Badby, Tiffield, and Wotton, in Northamptonshire, there are two stalls (Bridges, Hist. I. pp. 21. 271. 393.) as there are in the churches of Rokesley, Stroud, and Milton by Sittingbourne, in Kent.

page 301 note [f] “In missa item solemni celebrans medius inter diaconum et subdiaconum sedere potest a cornu epistolæ juxta altare, cum cantetur kyrie eleeson, et gloria in excelsis.” Mistale Romanum ex decreto Concil. Trident.

page 302 note [g] “Demum renovando decreta alias facta, mandat sacra congregatio in omnibus et per omnia servari rubricas missalis Romani, non obstante quocunque prætextu, et contraria consuetudine quam abusum esse declarat.” Ibid. Præfat.

page 303 note [h] The only item that occurs relative to the arts is a payment to Walter the painter, for a step to the new chair in which the stone of Scotland was placed near the altar, before the shrine of St. Edward, in Westminster Abbey; and to the carpenters and painters painting the said step, and for gold and colours to paint it with, and making a case to cover the said chair Il. 9s. 7d. This famous stone was brought out of Scotland but three years before (1296); and Walsingham tells us, the use Edward put it to, was to serve as a chair for the celebrating priests at Westminster. Mr. Topham's Observations on the Wardrobe Account of 28 Edw. I. p. xli.

page 304 note [i] “Si celebraturus sit coram summo pontifice, fistit se ante infimum gradum altaris a cornu Evangelii ante ipsum pontisicem, ubi genuflexus expectat: accepta benedictione erigit se, et stans aliquantum versus ad altare incipit missam. Si autem sit coram cardinale, legato sedis apostolicæ, aut patriarcha, archiepiscopo, et episcopo, in eorum residentiis, vel loco jurisdictionis, stans ante insimum gradum a cornu evangelii, ut supra expectat: dato signo, facit profundam reverentiam prælato, et versus ad altare incipit missam.—Si autem solemniter celebrat coram summo pontifice, aut alio ex prælatis prædictis in ecclesia eorum jurisdictionis, stans a sinistris prælati, facit cum eo confessionem, et alia servat, ut in cæremoniali ordinatur missæ,” Missale Romanum. De Principio Confessione facienda, III. 2, 3. There is no vestige of a stall in the presbytery of Canterbury cathedral; perhaps it might not be found necessary, because what is called the archbishop's patriarchal or metropolitical chair was placed a few steps above the altar on the north side. Gosling's Walk, 261, 272, 279. In the church of Wapenham in Northamptonshire, behind the altar are two seats of stone like stalls. Bridges Hist. I. p. 212.

page 305 note [k] Gent. Mag. Vol. LVI. 751. Vol. LVII. 663.

page 306 note [l] History and Antiquities of Durham, Vol. II, 244.

page 307 note [m] This was not, however, an invariable rule. For archbishop Sudbury did not hold his visitations in the principal parishes of the decanal districts, in the following instances. The clergy of Lyminge deanry were cited to Smeethe; those of Sandwich to Northburne; those of Bridge to Wye; those of Westbeere to Chislet. Wilkins' Concil. III. p. 111.

page 307 note [n] Johnson's Eccles. Constitut. A.MCC.XXII. Langton's Constitut. 22, 23. A.D.M.CC.XXVIII. Legat. Constit. of Otto 20.—A.D.MCCLXVIII. Legat. Constit. Othobon. 18.

page 308 note [o] A. 1457. Jun. 21. Apud Roffam facta fuit convocatio cleri civitat' et dioces' Reffen' et exposit' clero per mag. Tho. Candour commissar' d'ni de visitatione epa'li hoc anno et de procurationibus solvendis ratione visitationis, concessere vi d. de liƀ solvend' die visitat' factæ, secundum taxationes beneficior' taxat' secundu' commun' valore' eorund'; et q'd licebit d'no non solventes per omnes censuras ecclesiasticas compellare. Act. Cur. Consist. Roffen.

page 308 note [p] Act. Cur. Consist. et Archidiacon. Roffen. passim.

page 310 note [q] Funeral Monuments, p. 314.

page 310 note [r] Memorials of the Cathedral church of Rochester, printed with Custumale Roffense, p. 202.

page 310 note [s] Ibid.

page 311 note [t] Reg. Epis. J. de Shepey, fol. 257. b. Registrum Roffense, p. 209.

page 312 note [u] Ibid. p. 310, &c.

page 312 note [x] Funeral Monuments, p. 600.

page 312 note [y] There were only six monks in it at the dissolution, though valued by Dugdale at £.167. 2. 6. and by Speed at £.177. 9. 4.

page 312 note [z] In the south wall of the chancel of St. Mary's church at Oxford are three beautiful stalls on the same level as at Rochester and elsewhere, about three feet from the floor in a square frame with a fascia of oak leaves and a flowered cornice. R. G.

page 312 note [a] Monumenta Vetusla, Vol. III. Pl. XXXIV.

page 313 note [b] Gentleman's Magazine, LVII. 755.

page 313 note [c] Sepulchral Monuments, p. 60.

page 314 note [d] Funeral Monuments, p. 451.

page 315 note [e] Ibid. p. 452.

page 315 note [f] According to Sir Joseph, dictating; but Weever's account is, that Peter is speaking to Sebert; and the lips are closed.

page 316 note [g] See before, p. 305.

page 317 note [h] Sir Joseph terms it Sebert's shrine; but as it is apprehended, not with accuracy; shrines being for the reliques of saints, to which honour king Sebert never attained. Old Master Weever more properly styles it a tomb.

page 318 note [i] And yet, according to Erasmus's description, what was commonly called the altar of the martyrdom of St. Thomas in Canterbury cathedral “was built of wood,” and was small and remarkable on no other respect, but as it was a monument of antiquity upbraiding the luxury of the times.

Somner's Antiquities, p. 92.

page 319 note [k] If the tomb of Sebert is beneath the supposed seats, there is no ground or my suggestion that the hand of the figure, probably designed for that king, is pointing towards the repository of his bones.

page 320 note [l] The rite of consecration must have been performed before mass could have been said by a priest at the altar of a chantry chapel. And in general the stipendiary allowance for chantries was to the priest alone.