Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/359

 ERECTION OF A GALLERY. 323 bellowes, and wind boards, are still in being, but lying in the Vestry. The organ was then placed between the Church and the Chancel. The inhabitants are now desirous to have a new organ placed on a gallery to be built towards the lower end of the Church. Such a gallery is also wanting for seates for the numerous inhabitants, as well as (in parte) for ye support of the pillars, which are already out of their places. The pulpitt, altar piece, Com- munion rayles, and other partes alsoe want repayres. There is also but one bell in the tower, and tis proposed to add five more. The Mayor and Comonalty (or one deputed by them) have gott, by voluntary subscriptions, (or soone will), sufficient for new casting this, and setting up six bells, an organ, gallery, new altar piece, rayles, and pulpitt, and some other beautifyings of the Church, without any rates, or rayseing any money on the inhabitants, but what they voluntarily subscribed to, and have payd. This Church probably was formerly a Chantry, or a Chapple-of- Ease onely, but the minister is maintayned by a voluntary gift of the towne out of their revenue yearely ; and sometymes of late they have had institutions and inductions, on presentations by the Lord Chancellors ; but the minister hath no certaine income for his support. Both the great and small tythes are impropriated. The Corporation are desirous of setting up all these matters, and to put the Organ at some little distance from where it was, for the convenience of the gallery's supporting the pillars that are already gone aside 2 foot. Whatever may have been the opinion expressed upon this statement, we find that the mayor and commonalty applied to Lancelot, then bishop of Exeter, for a faculty to erect the gallery, and that on the 27th November, 171 8, the faculty was issued. It recites that it had been alleged, on behalf of the mayor and burgesses of Lanceston, that by reason of a great number of inhabitants living within the burrough of Lanceston aforesaid, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene there could not conveniently hold and contain the persons resorting to church, to sit, kneel, and hear divine service and sermons, and that application had been made to his lordship for leave and consent to erect a y 2