Evening star., 1908-01-12
Qre8ervin9 0lo Churches.
Historic Structures in England Are Crumbng.
Vast Sums Are Being Spent in Ef-
forts to Save Them

tirely This clanccl was built in the reign
of Richard IL. and was formerly the chan
1 try of the Austin friars. IL was here that
Henry. the Earl of Richmond on his way
TO the battle of BosWorth Field eight
miles distant. stopped 10 receive the Holy
sacrament and To crave the blessing of
the Holy Church on his enterprise. which
resulted IN the overthrow of Crookback
/ Richard. At the dissolution Of the mon
asterles the chancel WAS used for the
/ purpose of a grammar school. while the
/ old friary church was divided of and
I henceforth used as a parish church by
4 the inhabitants. Through the energy Of
the late vicar. the chancel was acquired.
and after restoration was once again used
4 for religious purposes. and now the pres
ent incumbent appeals for funds to pre-
serve so historic building from falling
/ into decay.
/ The authorities are evidently deter
| mined to leave no stone unturned TO In
/ sure the safety of that glorious fabric
| Winchester Cathedral, though the mag
nitude of the task may well he described
| as appalling. That any damage should he
| allowed to befaif this. the royal church
of the nations childhood" would BE- a
scandal Of the first order. As usual King
| Edward has led the way and his hand
some contribution to the building fund
| may we'll have the effect of making other
| people give largely OF their substance 10
] the work of preserving this grand and
most historical ediiice An appeal has
/ been made for S.JJ.Ov0
! For the renovation of the beautiful Cis-
| tercian Church of Abbey Dore. Hereford
shire. the presbytery of which is the only
one used for divine service In the country,
| $1,000 is asked. Two years ago extensive
! repairs were carried out at cost of SlQ-
OUp, but the great .transept roof had to
be left untouched through lack of funds
| and Ii IS now in a deplorable and danger
Gus condition.
An important scheme for enlargins and
beautifying st. Mary's Church, the pro-
Cathedral of Nottingham. has been in
| augurated. The nave, Is TO be continued
| along the south side of the chaucel and
| a new organ placed therein. while the
aisle is to be carried to the same height
as the present chancel. which will give
| it ve.- dignjfied appearance. and afford
space for mere windows to light the chan
eel. The existing stained glass windows
| will be transferred and space provided for
clear vestry. The cost of the scheme is
| estimated at $4,000. When the church
was last restored by Canon Morse the ex-
penditure amounted to S3O.O00
| Lord Barnard. president of the Shrop-
| shire Archaeological Society. Is appealing
| to the public for S. 500 to rehang the belts
and repair the west tower Of Shrewsbury
Abbey Church, which is In a deplorable
condition The church Is remnant of
! the great Benedictine Abbey founded by
| the kinsman Of the Conqueror. Roger de
Montgomery. who is buried there, and
part of the existing fabric goes back to
Norman times. Some years ago the chan
/ Gel. transepts and clerestory were rebuilt
! and the roof repaired at cost of about
/ $4,000.
| Across the fiat level fen land of South
| Lincolnshire, the land of distances. the
traveller may see. miles away from the
i old-world place of Croyland. the massive
| old tower of the abbey looming up and
dominating the whole stretch of country.
Long years ago this district was one
huge morass of swamps and dank vege-
| tation, inha affiliated by countless hosts Of
l yr--1 fnr oil cnrf, ns,1 .lcA I4<x
endary tales are to be believed. the abode
| of evil spirits and imps.
Yet the fame of this weird part OF
England was spread far and wide. for
away back in these dark. mysterious
| fens stood the noble house of God dedi-
Gated to the memory Of the good st.
Guthlac. Croyland Abbey-courteous
Croyland as it was called-was well
known throughout he length and
breadth of the kingdom, for there refu-
gees in those stormy times could find
perfect security. travellers lavish hospi-
tality. students learning. and everybody
devotion and piety.
young nobleman named Guthlac re-
nounced the pleasures of the world and
went down in a roughly. constructed fish
ing boat-threading his way through
and gliding peacefully through clear.
deep waters. at length landing on the
Island of Croyland. on st. Barthofomew's
day, August "a, 500 Guthlac's sanity
attracted the attention of the outside
world. Visitors came and went. ana
among others the illustrious Ethelbald,
heir presumptive to the English throne.
and afterward king. through whose
lmunificence the first abbey was erected
This was burnt by the Danes in $40.
the abbot slain on the altar steps: re-
built in 9i7, burnt down again. restored:
and yet again destroyed by fire In l1t3.
At Croyland Abbey Hereward the Wake
took refuge in perilous times. causing the
good monks much trepidation by his dar-
ing and high spirits: and here at last in
the abbey church Hereward loved SO well
his bones were laid to rest by the side OF
his beloved wife. From Croyland the
great University of Cambridge took its
rise Abbot Joffrid sending monks to stars
a school Of learning in that place
At the dissolution of monasteries, plum
dered and robbed. the monks turned away.
Besieged in 1643 by Oliver Cromwell in
person, and then by fire, earthquake,
storms and tempests. the work of time,
..the great destroyer, does the rest. The
north aisle. now used as the parish church.
the west front. still rich in sculptured
saints and angels. and the magnificent old
tower. built by William of Warrington
in 1427, still loom up massive and grand
across the Fens.