The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-08-17

IL W surrender, alter 1T had long with
stood the attempts of Sir William Waller
Over against it, to the northwest,
Winchester
lifts itself like battlement against the
sky, with its vast length of cathedral, the
fine tower of it's college, and the mass OF
that portion of Charles lis intended pal
ace, now converted into barrack. Though
once the capital and stronghold of south
western England, Winchester now derives
its chief Importance from the ancient and
splendid ecclesiastical establishments OF
which 1T is the seat. The Bishop of Win:
chester holds permanently the next place
after those of London and Durham, above
whom none others on the episcopal bench
rank save the two Archbishops. A visit,
therefore, to
The Cathedral
is the first attraction. We cannot but
confess our disappointment at first sight.
With the exception of the west front, with
its buttresses and pinnacled turrets, and
the canopied statue of Wykekam, the ex-
terror of the cathedral has little to recon-
mend it. The extreme plainness, the long,
unbroken continuity of the roof, and its
short and squat tower, give it altogether
homely and heavy air. The low stu
alton serves also to dull the impression
and render difficult distinction of the
immense cathedral mass from the undec-
Grated buildings with which it is sur
rounded. Without entering into the con-
troversy which has ragged about the anti
qulty of the several portions of the great
building, an architectural novice can vet
readily detect that the cathedral as it now
stands is a nearly complete record of all
the successive stages of architecture from
its rise in the island up to the sixteenth
century. We can credit without difficulty
the historical legend that King Lucius,
becoming a convert to Christianity, erected
here, a. ID. l64, the first Christian church
on the site of the chief pagan temple. In
the dry old stones we think we can read
the struggles of the first Roman settlers,
the fierce resistance of the Saxons, demo
lition by the Danes and reparation by the
great Alfred. What tragic histories were
enacted around about that majestic CEN
tral tower! How oft did the waves of
successive conquests break against its
base' threatening to topple it down, or
ever 1T stood defiantly firm Not its ded-
ication to the Trinity, nor to the apostles
Peter and Paul, saved 1t, but the honest
mason who plumbed it well and true.
Portions of the transept and nave, too,
are not a day younger than thousand
years, and the Norman architecture
sketches its rise and fall in the whole
exterior. The building is, as usual, in
the form of cross, and is one of the
largest of English cathedrals, its length
being 545 feet. But while the exterior
disappoints expectation, the interior is
such as to amply make up for this def
cheney of outward display. The vast length
of the vista formed by the nave and choir,
with the splendid ceiling overhead the
lines of columns and arches on each hand.
and the large and beautiful window that
casts its light down from behind the choir
at the termination of the view-all con-
tribute to produce upon the spectator as
ne enters from the great Western door,
an overpowering impression of solemnity
and magnifcence. Richness of ornamen-
tation discovers itself in every object. if
examined in detail With the profusion
OF modern monuments are intermingled
ancient chantries and tombs exhibiting
some OF the finest effects of Gothic sculp1
ture in the world. The chantries of Will
liam of Wykeham, of Bishop Fox, of Car
dinal Beaufort and of Bishop WaynHete
are particularly superb structures. Be-
hind the altar, also, is stone screen of
wonderful elaboration and beauty. The
altar is ornamented by Vests picture of
the Raising of Lazarus from the Dead
one of the most successful works of that
master. Many relics of antiquity are
likewise here preserved, and pointed out
to visitors, if they be so wise as to "tip .
the usher.
But we cannot longer linger amid the
venerable grandeur Of Winchester cathe-
dral, and after short visit to the College
chapel and its famous Jesse window"
to the school-room, on whose walls, in old
Latin phrase, the scholars are admonished
thrice thus, Either learn or depart, or
in the third place be Aogged z" and final
ly to the strange City Gross, erected in
the reign of Henry VI Ian elegant work
Of art, but we fear of little use as a check
upon the avarice OF the market folk for
which it was originally ereeted)-we take
train and leave the old capital of England
for the new, which has so far eclipsed the
former in size and grandeur.
L. M. @.