Evening star., 1908-01-12
Special Cablecram to The Star.

Special Cablesram to The Star.
LONDON. January IL.
TT IS fast becoming a Herculean task TO
preserve the splendid church struc-
lures that dot old England. Time has
been good 10 them considering their age.
but the hour of decrepitude has come at
last. The tottering towers and the lean
ing walls with the rotting beams all tell
the story of the inexorable work of time.
Their passing. however. is not 10 be
allowed without struggle. Those who
have watched them for years feel that
the aid of the architect and the builder
may yet save them for several genera
tions. 1t will take money to do it. but
the generots public is depended upon to
have sufficient reverence for these pa
triarchS of religion to be willing to save
them. Appeals are coming from all parts
of the United Kingdom for this or that
venerable relic of the early days of the
church. the days when churches were
fortresses and the priest as much of d
warrior as he was man of God.
1t is a long list now that seeks the aims
OF the people to save them from a crum-
bling death, from being left to the mercy
of the winds and the weather. and finally
In the last extremity, to furnish fuel for
section in particular Selby. Croyland.
Shrewsbury and Glastonbury abbeys. all
widely separated, are demanding recog-
milton. Peterborough and Westminster
cathedrals are In need Of funds for their
restoration and preservation. st. Mary g
Church and the Cistercian Church of Alb
bey Dore call for their share in the gen
eral scheme of rebuilding.
The amount subscribed toward the res
toration Of sacred buildings during the
i-- 11,
markable. It is announced that the total
funds provided for the restoration of Sell
by Abbey now amounts to s1S5.OOO. The
Gloucester restoration fund already totals
more than half the required amount, over
$40, 900 having been subscribed up to the
present. Then there Is the fund for the
purchase of Glastonbury Abbey, to which
the subscriptions and promises exceed
sos, 900.
In nearly every case age has brought
about this present necessity for action.
In the case of Selby Abbey, however. it
was the fire of year ago that laid low
this famous structure and left it only a
hollow mockery of its once stately beau
ty. So generous has been the response
for money for the repair of the abbey
that the major portion of the building
is now open again. the work thus far hav-
ing cost about $225. 900. though with the
reopening of the famous nave the work
Is only half done. The restoration has
been splendid. An old drawing was found
that gave the architects the details and
the faults of the old church were easily
remeded as the work progressed. The
poor foundation. for the tower has been
strengthened and the plan now is to carry
it to the height originally intended. The
old builders. headed by Benedict of
Auxerre. in laying the foundations of
their beautiful monastery. did not trouble
to, dig down to the clay bed for their
foundation. but stopped at seam of
sand lying only two or three feet above
the clay.
On this unstable base they laid huge
tree trunks exactly as the builders at
Winchester did, and the result has been
the same in both instances. In 1880 the
upper portion of Selby tower fell. carry
ing away with 1t the whole of the south
transept
The bases of the columns in the choir
suffered most by the blazing timbers of
the fallen roof. but they have been re-
faced with stone taken from the Monk
Fryston quarry, where the original build
ers obtained their stone. and the carving
will be carried out during the winter.
The famous jesse window. which filled
the east end, suffered in a curious man
ner in the fire. The firemen, in their en-
but the inside had previously become
heated, SO that when the cold water
struck 1t it contracted. The result was
that, though. to the eye, the glass ap-
peared unharmed. IL was SnlVered nOrl-
zontally. and much of it will have to be
replaced. The rebuilding of the tower
will cost about $4,000 but the money for
this is all in hand The main oak choir
screen will cost about $1,000
At Peterborough Cathedral the great
work for securing the safety of the fabric
is only just completed. and yet the work
was commenced as far back as 1883.
During those twenty-four years as much
as $685. O70 has been expended. and this
not upon the embellishing and beautify-
ing of the fabric, but upon absolutely
necessary repairs. while another 100000
has been spent upon special gifts for the
interior But English people-and many
beyond the ranks Of the Church OF Eng
land-have learned to regard the vast and
magnificent cathedrals of this country as
a goodly heritage which brings its attend
ant responsibilities to care for and pre-
serve what their ancestors have created.
Besides the restoration and repairs OF
the cathedrals. constant attention has to
be given to ordinary parish churches,
which In many cases, though d1minutive
In size by comparison, command the at
tention and interest Of the historian and
antiuuary as much as the cathedrals. For
instance attention is just now being
drawn to the chancel Of the parish church
OF Atherstone, which Is causing great
anxiety to those who are its custodians.
as 1t is in danger Of collapsing en-