DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6914#0128
96
architectural antiquities.
Differences of opinion have arisen relative to the materials of which those structures
were composed. It has been already remarked that the ancient inhabitants of this
island built houses, or huts, of wicker-work; and, according to some writers, the
first church raised in this country was similarly constructed. Cressy, relying on
the testimony of the Monk of St. Augustin's, states, that Joseph of Arimathea, and
his companions, on their arrival to preach the Gospel, found in the island of Avalon,
a church, or chapel, already raised—"not built by the skill of man, but prepared
by God, and fitted for human salvation."36 Whilst we reject the miraculous origin
thus attributed by the catholic historian to the Church of Glastonbury, we may,
with Fuller and some other writers, admit the high antiquity of a wicker-work
edifice at that place. Fuller says, " It was in length sixty foot, and twenty-six in
breadth, made of rods wattled or interwoven."" Spelman38 and Sammes39 have given
views of it; the former of which is copied in Staveley's " History of Churches.'M0
This mode of building is commonly said to have prevailed among the Britons for
a long time. That it was used for inhabitations as well as churches, may be
concluded from the fact, that Howel Dha, King of Wales, had a palace made of
hurdle-work, called the White House, because the rods, of which it was formed,
were peeled. Dr. Sayers thinks, that this method of construction was employed
in most of the churches erected by the Britons before the Saxon conquest.41
Although there is no conclusive evidence that the Saxons built wicker-work
churches, there is abundant proof that many of their early sacred buildings were
composed of wood. The common use of timber in building is indicated by the
Saxon verb, getymbrian, to build, obviously formed from the name of the material.
According to the Saxon Chronicle King Edwin, in the year 626, ordered a church
to be built of timber, at York, for his own baptism ; and afterwards directed it to be
rebuilt with stone.™ As rendered by Ingram in the " Saxon Chronicle," a.d. 669,
it is said, " This year King Egbert gave to Bass, a mass-priest, Reculver, to build
a minster upon ;" or as expressed in the original, « Raculr. mynrtep on to tymbpianne.*
A church of timber was also built, about 635, at Lindisfarne, or Holy Island,
by Bishop Finan, and was composed of oak planks, thatched with reeds, accord-
ing to the custom of the Scots.4' William of Malmesbury mentions a church, or
36 " Church History of Britanny." 37 " Church History of Britain," p. 7.
35 " Concilia," torn. i. fol. 2. 59 " Britannia," p. 213.
40 Second edition, 8vo. 1773, p. 42. *' " Disquisitions," p. 181.
41 " Bedaj Hist. Eccles." lib. ii. cap. 14. 43 Ibid. lib. iii. c. 25.
architectural antiquities.
Differences of opinion have arisen relative to the materials of which those structures
were composed. It has been already remarked that the ancient inhabitants of this
island built houses, or huts, of wicker-work; and, according to some writers, the
first church raised in this country was similarly constructed. Cressy, relying on
the testimony of the Monk of St. Augustin's, states, that Joseph of Arimathea, and
his companions, on their arrival to preach the Gospel, found in the island of Avalon,
a church, or chapel, already raised—"not built by the skill of man, but prepared
by God, and fitted for human salvation."36 Whilst we reject the miraculous origin
thus attributed by the catholic historian to the Church of Glastonbury, we may,
with Fuller and some other writers, admit the high antiquity of a wicker-work
edifice at that place. Fuller says, " It was in length sixty foot, and twenty-six in
breadth, made of rods wattled or interwoven."" Spelman38 and Sammes39 have given
views of it; the former of which is copied in Staveley's " History of Churches.'M0
This mode of building is commonly said to have prevailed among the Britons for
a long time. That it was used for inhabitations as well as churches, may be
concluded from the fact, that Howel Dha, King of Wales, had a palace made of
hurdle-work, called the White House, because the rods, of which it was formed,
were peeled. Dr. Sayers thinks, that this method of construction was employed
in most of the churches erected by the Britons before the Saxon conquest.41
Although there is no conclusive evidence that the Saxons built wicker-work
churches, there is abundant proof that many of their early sacred buildings were
composed of wood. The common use of timber in building is indicated by the
Saxon verb, getymbrian, to build, obviously formed from the name of the material.
According to the Saxon Chronicle King Edwin, in the year 626, ordered a church
to be built of timber, at York, for his own baptism ; and afterwards directed it to be
rebuilt with stone.™ As rendered by Ingram in the " Saxon Chronicle," a.d. 669,
it is said, " This year King Egbert gave to Bass, a mass-priest, Reculver, to build
a minster upon ;" or as expressed in the original, « Raculr. mynrtep on to tymbpianne.*
A church of timber was also built, about 635, at Lindisfarne, or Holy Island,
by Bishop Finan, and was composed of oak planks, thatched with reeds, accord-
ing to the custom of the Scots.4' William of Malmesbury mentions a church, or
36 " Church History of Britanny." 37 " Church History of Britain," p. 7.
35 " Concilia," torn. i. fol. 2. 59 " Britannia," p. 213.
40 Second edition, 8vo. 1773, p. 42. *' " Disquisitions," p. 181.
41 " Bedaj Hist. Eccles." lib. ii. cap. 14. 43 Ibid. lib. iii. c. 25.