Page:Bruton parish church restored and its historic environments (1907 V2).djvu/65

 and reverently await the commencement of the service. We are told that many of them are consistent communicants, and that all have been baptized.

The door at the west, leading from the tower, opens, and the minister, who has vested there enters and, passing down the aisle, enters the chancel at the east end of the Church. The Clerk takes his place at the desk below the pulpit, which stands down in the body of the building at the south-east corner of the Church.

And now, even over the high back pews, we can see that something is attracting general attention. The tower door opens, and the Court procession enters; His Excellency, the Governor, passes down the aisle to his pew. It is in the chancel end of the Church, on the north side of the aisle; it is elevated from the floor. A rich red canopy hangs over it, and around it in large letters of gold is the Governor's name. The Council of State, and the members of the House of Burgesses, and the Surveyor-General take pews officially assigned. The service begins. The minister reads, and the Clerk, and the people who have Prayer Books, respond. The Beadle keeps his eye upon the College youth in particular, and upon the whole congregation in general. There is no disturbance. We hear what sounds like an imprecation from a near-by pew when the prayer is said for George the Third and the Royal Family, but it is discreetly suppressed, and no note is taken of it.

The service ended, the minister leaves the chancel and, passing down the aisle with the Governor's pew on his right, ascends the high steps leading up into the pulpit at the south-east corner, takes his text, and begins his sermon. Those who have brought braziers with which to warm their pews, listen with comfort, if not always with patience. Others grow cold and restless, and determine that they would not come to Church if the law had not made it an offence for fine and imprisonment to stay away.

The benediction said, groups gather in the Church (in a very unchurchly way) and exchange greetings, collect the news, discuss the sermon, and exchange opinions, and go to their homes,—homes noted for hospitality and good-cheer, but pervaded, nevertheless, by a respect for religion and, in many instances, by a beautiful spirit of earnest Christian devotion.