Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/188

 130 REMARKS OX THE CHURCH OF of Congregation. To this use both, and especially the upper chamber, were applied, until the completion of the present House of Convocation in the year 1640. The upper apart- ment ^yas, about a century afterwards, converted into a Lecture-room for the Vinerian Professor. The lower one was from that time disused and neglected ; and notwith- standing its attractions as one of the most perfect and most interesting specimens of mediseval architecture in the Uni- versity, it has long since served no more honourable purpose than that of an engine-house, and a receptacle for lumber. In dismissing this part of the subject it may be proper to observe, that the members of Congregation were far too numerous to be accommodated within the narrow limits of this building. The ordinary meetings of Regents and non- Reo-ents, which we now term Convocation, were held in the chancel of the Church ; and at a Pubhc Act, or " Generalis Inceptio," (whence the term "commencement," employed by the sister University.) the assembly was distributed, according to ancient custom, over six portions of the build- ing ; the non-Regents in the chancel ; the Theologists in the Cono-reo-ation House : the Decretists in St. Anne's Chapel ; the Physicians in St. Catherine's ; the Jurists in St. Thomas's ; and the Proctors with the Regents in the Chapel of St. Mary.^ The rebuilding of the Church was completed in 1492; the chancel having been erected some 3'ears earlier by (or at least at the cost of) Walter Lyhert, or Hart, Provost of Oriel, and afterwards Bishop of Norwich, who died in 1472. Of the architect of the nave and aisles I know not that we may speak with certainty. The President of Trinity believes that Sir Reo;inald Brav, who was High Steward of the University from 1494 to 1509, was the author of this work. It may have been so, but the only evidence advanced for it is, that he is known to have given forty marks towards the rebuilding of the Church, and that his arms with all his quarterings, impaled with those of his wife, once ornamented one of its windows. Something may also be ascribed to the well-known reputation of Sir Reginald Bray for skiU in architecture ; and whether the erection of the present Church be rightly referred to him or not, we may at least say that the credit of the work would detract nothing from the fame
 * Memorials, 3.