Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/513

 1869.] The Minsters of England. 419 THE MINSTERS OF ENGLAND T1ST the history of Christendom, there -L is no epoch more interesting, than that which marks the early days, of anti- pagan struggle ; and the monuments, ■which are yet left to the Nineteenth century, of those times when the great and the good Augustine struggled for the Truth, are surely well worthy of preservation in substance and in memory Britain is not backward in the effort to retain those monuments of the past, to adorn the present; and well may she be proud of the eminence of her ecclesias- tical history, as well as the beautiful examples its architectural testimonials present to the world. The fervor of piety and religious zeal, which pervaded every class of the primi- tive Christians, was the great lever that upraised the ponderous works of wor- ship to the Most High, which, even now, claim the refined admiration of a highly cultivated age. History tells us, that every succeeding era, and almost every succeeding prelate and abbot, seemed to regard it as necessary, or politic, to make some addition, or attach some new adornment to his church. Thus, in the midst of gloomy ignorance, the cultiva- tion of the beautiful, elegant and digni- fied in art, is to be found standing alone in the form of the Architectural wonders, one of the chief of which we now draw the attention of our readers to ; Canterbury Cathedral. This ancient ecclesiastical edifice is placed in a flat level part of the country ; and has therefore no picturesque ad- vantages of situation. It is seated near the northeastern extremity of the city ; and was formerly surrounded by a lofty embattled wall, said to have been raised by Lanfranc, which enclosed the whole precincts of the church. These walls extended about three-quarters of a mile ; and were provided with fortified gates. Parts of the gate-houses yet remain, to show their sizes, forms and destinations. To account in our day for the existence of these fortifications, it may be well to remind the reader, that, in the early times of this great cathedral, paganism prevailed to such an extent, as, in a great measure, to over-awe the Christian portion of the nation. Hence the ne- cessity for being guarded against sudden attacks on the great centre of the church. Externally, Canterbury Cathedral pre- sents great diversity of form, character, and appendages. At the west end are two towers of disproportionate sizes, heights, forms, ages, and features ; be- tween which is a central division, with a porch and doorwaj" at the bottom, a large window above, and a window of a singular form, almost square with rounded upper corners and small curved ears, in the pediment. The north- western tower diminishes towards the upper story. It has merely flat pilaster sort of buttresses, and is constructed with small squared stones. The southern side of the church pre- sents various and diversified features, forms, and styles. It is of great length and height ; and is divided into several dissimilar parts. Between the western and centre tower is the nave and its aisle, with lofty windows to the latter. Between these windows are bold, strong buttresses to the aisle, connected with flying-buttresses to the upper story of the nave. Each of these buttresses is divided into three tiers, or stages ; and is crowned with a pinnacle. Projecting, at right angles, from this aisle is the south wing of the western transept, which has one large window, on the west side, ranging and corresponding with those of the aisle ; also, a larger window, to the south, of eight dayes, with trans- oms and much tracery in the areh. The pediment is adorned with paneling