Page:Highways and Byways in Lincolnshire.djvu/353

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authorities, damp church walls, and wet streaming down from gutter or stack-pipe, which is blocked with growing grass or sparrows' nests, to the great detriment of the building, that it is pleasant to record the useful activity of the Halton churchwardens, of whom one has carved, and the other put together, a fine oak screen, with the names and dates of all the known rectors, churchwardens and clerks of the parish.

Halton Church.

In the north wall of the chancel is a priest's door, which has always been in constant use. It is a beautiful bit of Perpendicular work with an exceptionally good hood-moulding and lovely carving of waved foliage in the spandrels. These north side doors are sometimes called "Devils' doors," as they were not only to let the priest in but also to let the Devil out, being left open at baptisms to let him fly out when the infant renounces the Devil and all his works, and becomes the child of grace. The idea that the north was the Devil's side had