DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6914#0132
100
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
ought not, with Mr. Bentham, to admit that they had any, from the explanation
only of those buildings containing a porticus within the body, which he has mis-
taken to be in the north or south ailes ; whereas it appears, by his own account,
aided by ancient incontestable proofs, that the Porticus was a portion of the west
end of these early built churches."
As the Christian churches, erected in Greece, Italy, and the East, after the
conversation of Constantine, resembled in form the Basilica?, which were also, in
many instances, appropriated to the purposes of public worship, there can be no
doubt that the Saxons, who derived their architectural skill as well as their re-
ligion from Rome, imitated the sacred structures of that metropolis. If we con-
clude, therefore, with Mr. Wilkins, that the churches mentioned by Bede had
neither pillars, arches, nor side-ailes, we shall, however, find that both pillars
and arches are specified in descriptions of Anglo-Saxon churches, by writers who
lived in the eighth and the immediately succeeding centuries.
The most interesting information which Bede himself affords relative to eccle-
siastical buildings, refers to the Monastery of Wermouth, in which he was edu-
cated, and where he passed the greater part of his life. This Abbey, with the
Church of St. Peter attached to it, was erected by Benedict Biscop, a noble Saxon ;
who at the age of twenty-five, retiring from the world, became an ecclesiastic, and
devoted a great part of his time to the foundation, endowment, and decoration of
this edifice, of which he became the superior. In several journeys to France and
Italy, he collected books, relics, and other treasures, and in 674, obtained a grant
of land from Egfrid, King of Northumberland, on which he began to form his
establishment. In the following year he went to France, and procured workmen
to erect a new church of stone, after ' the Roman manner.' This was prosecuted
with such diligence that the building was covered, and mass was celebrated in it,
within a year after laying the foundation. The zealous ecclesiastic again visited
France, to procure workmen to manufacture glass. They made enough to glaze
all the windows of the new church, and also instructed the natives in the art,
which was before unknown in England.60 Wilfrid, Bishop of York, had indeed
repaired and glazed the windows of St. Peter's Church, in that city f but it
f8 " Hist. Abbatum Wiremuth et Gyrw," p. 295.
61 " Eddii Stephani Vita S. Wilfridi," inter " XV. Scriptores," cap. xvi. p. 59, edit. Galei.
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
ought not, with Mr. Bentham, to admit that they had any, from the explanation
only of those buildings containing a porticus within the body, which he has mis-
taken to be in the north or south ailes ; whereas it appears, by his own account,
aided by ancient incontestable proofs, that the Porticus was a portion of the west
end of these early built churches."
As the Christian churches, erected in Greece, Italy, and the East, after the
conversation of Constantine, resembled in form the Basilica?, which were also, in
many instances, appropriated to the purposes of public worship, there can be no
doubt that the Saxons, who derived their architectural skill as well as their re-
ligion from Rome, imitated the sacred structures of that metropolis. If we con-
clude, therefore, with Mr. Wilkins, that the churches mentioned by Bede had
neither pillars, arches, nor side-ailes, we shall, however, find that both pillars
and arches are specified in descriptions of Anglo-Saxon churches, by writers who
lived in the eighth and the immediately succeeding centuries.
The most interesting information which Bede himself affords relative to eccle-
siastical buildings, refers to the Monastery of Wermouth, in which he was edu-
cated, and where he passed the greater part of his life. This Abbey, with the
Church of St. Peter attached to it, was erected by Benedict Biscop, a noble Saxon ;
who at the age of twenty-five, retiring from the world, became an ecclesiastic, and
devoted a great part of his time to the foundation, endowment, and decoration of
this edifice, of which he became the superior. In several journeys to France and
Italy, he collected books, relics, and other treasures, and in 674, obtained a grant
of land from Egfrid, King of Northumberland, on which he began to form his
establishment. In the following year he went to France, and procured workmen
to erect a new church of stone, after ' the Roman manner.' This was prosecuted
with such diligence that the building was covered, and mass was celebrated in it,
within a year after laying the foundation. The zealous ecclesiastic again visited
France, to procure workmen to manufacture glass. They made enough to glaze
all the windows of the new church, and also instructed the natives in the art,
which was before unknown in England.60 Wilfrid, Bishop of York, had indeed
repaired and glazed the windows of St. Peter's Church, in that city f but it
f8 " Hist. Abbatum Wiremuth et Gyrw," p. 295.
61 " Eddii Stephani Vita S. Wilfridi," inter " XV. Scriptores," cap. xvi. p. 59, edit. Galei.