Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/515

 1869.] The Ministers of England. 421 apostles, sovereigns, armorial bearings, &c. The four arches of the tower are lofty, light, and elegant; and the columnar piers on which they rest manifest strength and durability. Above the arches are panels in the spandrels, a row of blank windows, communicating with a gallery in the wall ; and above this tier is a series of eight lofty win- dows, two in each face, forming a lan- thorn in the tower. From the angles and centre spring numerous ribs, form- ing a fine display of fan-tracery, with a circular opening in the centre. . This opening is about six feet in diameter ; and was formed for the purpose of ad- mitting bells, and building; materials to be raised to, or lowered from, the upper part of the tower. A "flight of several steps leads from the nave to the choir and its north aisle ; and another series communicates from the wing of the south transept to the south aisle of the choir. On the right of the latter is a descent to the crypt, whilst another approach to the same is by steps in the north tran- sept. These numerous and various flights of stairs, as well as the different levels of the nave and transepts, with a choir and crypt, constitute peculiar and very picturesque features in the edifice now under notice. In looking up these steps, from the nave, and down from them, into either transept, or up the nave, or obliquely through the retiring arches, many interesting and beautiful views are obtained. At the top of the steps is the elegant and highly-enriched royal screen or organ gallery, which may well be designated royal, not only from its splendid style of sculpture and enrichment, but on account of its kingly statues. Among the many splendid organ-screens of England there are few excelling that of Canterbury. It is a fine specimen in design, and beautiful in execution. Its western face presents an arched doorway in the centre, with a series of three niches on each side, hav- ing a pedestal, canopy and statue to every niche. The effect of this opening, with its many mouldings and ornaments, is striking and beautiful. It consists of a series of receding arches, some rising from columns, and others being continu- ations of mouldings from the floor. The inner arch is considerably reduced in height by a screen covered with tracery and niches, which rest on an arch richly adorned with sculpture. This appears to have been an afterthought, or con- trivance, merely to reduce the size of the door; and, though it maybe con- sidered an ingenious and rather pleasing design, if the filling up had been abso- lutely necessary, yet it only breaks in, and injures the beauty of the doorway. In the other features of this doorway, and particularly its spandrels, there is much to admire, and therefore worthy of imitation. In turning away from the organ- screen the spectator takes a fresh glance at the nave, with its fine western window, looks up with admiration at the lan- thorn, scrutinizes the buttress-screens between the arches, and then casts his eyes left and right, to descry the charac- teristics of the south and north transepts. The former of these has been already noticed ; and the latter may be said to resemble it in general forms and detail ; with the exception of some varieties in its monuments, open screen to the Vir- gin chapel, entrance to the ciypt, and doorway to the cloisters. This transept is the memorable scene of Becket's mar- tyrdom ; and is therefore viewed with strong emotions of very differing natures by the spectators. The architectural antiquary will have other and more pleasing sensations in examining the beauties, and even wonders of the archi- tecture around him. At the east end was an altar, now destroyed ; but some very elegant pedes- tals and tracery still remain to show the original style in which the chapel was finished. The fan-tracery of its roof is also a proof of its original character From shameful dilapidations, and the