Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/45

Rh cessor, Henry de Gower, revived his project, but instead of Llangador, Abergwylli Church was made Collegiate, and remained so until 1531. It was originally dedicated to St. Maurice and his companions, and to the blessed St. Thomas, the Martyr of Christ, "and consisted of twenty-one canons, to serve God day and night, worthily and devoutly, in the same manner as was done at St. David's, like which place they were to be in all respects, except their amices, which at St, David's were purple, in honour of St. Maurice, who was beheaded, but theirs were to be of goat or lamb skin, for the sake of economy." Five clerks of inferior degree were ordained, "two to carry censers, two to carry each a candle, and the fifth a cross in processions, and to have fifty shillings equally divided amongst them yearly." We hear nothing more until some years after this, when a bishop of St. David's, becoming possessed of the land, goods, and chattels of the House of Abergwylli, was empowered to appoint a schoolmaster and lecturer at a salary of 52l. per annum. This foundation however (it appears from Johnes's account, who was Deputy-Registrar of the Archdeaconry of Brecon), was translated from Abergwylli to Brecon by Bishop Lucy, by charter, 32 Henry VIII., in 1531. It appears to have been subject to many reverses, for, soon after, its possessors were engaged in a suit in Chancery, respecting their rights of possession, in which many witnesses were examined, whose depositions Johnes laments are not extant, as they might have thrown light on the circumstances relating to the foundation of this establishment, which is lost in obscurity. The prebendaries, after much expense, remained in quiet possession of their revenues, the Bishop occasionally residing, until the time of Charles I., when the Puritans seized the plate, ornaments, vestments, and the church, of which the chancel alone remains. Two of the piers belonging to the nave, may be seen against the west end of the small Sacristy Chapel, and the enclosure, there is no doubt, includes the space occupied by the nave destroyed by the Puritans when they robbed the place. In 1660, Bishop Lucy appears to have solicited the aid of all good Christians, in money, for the repairs of the church. In 1706, Bishop Bull was in residence, and he is buried near the altar.

The interior of the chancel or chapel, displays a most beautiful and imposing effect. On entering the west door (the only one), the interior is 66 feet in length, and 26 feet