Plates 3.4-3.5: Chancel and Stalls in Three Kentish Churches (Original Explanatory Account)

There are two very fine specimens of the like kind in the cathedral church of Rochester (see plate V.), and the parochial church of Luton, and one of a plainer kind in Tiltey church, Essex (see plate V.); besides many others, too numerous to be here recited. But none that I recollect so highly finished in the back ground and cieling: the principal ornamenting of the others are bestowed on their fronts, pediments, and spandrils.

The Chatham stalls were made of a soft stone of a bluish or greyish hue, and consisted of three Gothic arches, supported by slender columns, the capitals and bases of which were exceedingly neat. Each end was supported by two, and the centers by three columns. Each arch was divided into two similar ones, the inside of each forming a trefoil, and over them a quatrefoil within a circle. The first and second quatrefoils were pierced through, the third filled up, and adorned with an ornamented cross.

The trefoils were variously enriched:

The first with roses, buds, and leaves; a double rose in the center, a single one at each angle.

The second had a vine-branch with fruit springing from the sinister side, and terminating in a scroll at each angle.

The third, a branch of ornamental foliage springing from the dexter side, and terminating as before.

The fourth, the same reversed, to answer the third.

The second pannel was divided into thirty-four squares, and at the bottom five half-squares, each square being filled with bay or laurel leaves and berries in the form of flowers. The first and second rows of these flowers were parted by a row of roses; the first, second, and third rose different from the other six, having three rows of leaves, the others only two.

The third pannel was nearly the same, with this difference only, that the lower squares were all entire, and the roses all alike. These stalls had been richly painted and gilded, as appeared by the remains on the center capital of the first arch, which supported the two smaller ones, the upper moulding being gilt, the body of the capital painted blue, and the foliage red, the colours full and bright. There were no remains of the canopies nor front; but, from six cavities in the arch above, I conclude it was decorated with finials, and must have been very elegant when perfect.

I saw in several parts of the chancel pieces of the same sort of stone of which the seats were made, and about four feet from them a piece of stone with the same foliage, as at the end of the highest seat, which I suppose to be the remains of the niche where the piscina stood.

The use of these stalls has been with the greatest probability assigned, by an anonymous writer in the Gent. Mag. for Sept. 1786, p. 752, and Aug. 1787, p. 664. He is of [the] opinion, that they were for the priest to retire to, with the deacon and subdeacon, and to sit between them during certain parts of the high mass. The words of the Rubric Missal printed 1658 are, “Quo facto sacerdos et sui ministri recipiant se in sedibus paratis, et expectent usque ad Gloria in excelsis.” [Having completed this, the priest and his ministers may withdraw to their seats and wait until the Gloria.] Also in the rubric of instructions for Saturday before Easter: “Finitis orationibus exuat sacerdos casulam, et in sede sua juxta altare se reponat, cum diacono et subdiacono.” [The prayers being finished, the priest may remove his chasuble and rest in his seat next to the altar, together with the deacon and sub-deacon.] The two last quotations will be examined by another rubric: “In missa solemni celebrans, medius inter diaconum et subdiaconum sedere potest a cornu epistolae cum cantantur Kyrie eleison, Gloria in excelsis, et Credo." [see end of document for translation] Notwithstanding the last differs rather from the other two as to the time of sitting, they all sufficiently agree as to the application of these seats, which are made more or less sumptuous and elegant according to the wealth of the patrons of the respective churches wherein they are found. In inferior churches more ordinary seats supplied their place.

Plate IV. N^o 1. Shews the chancel, as it was taking down, with the seats.

N^o 2. The stalls, drawn to a larger scale.

N^o 3. The figures and animals described in the first pannel drawn at large.

Plate V. N^o 1. The stalls in Tiltey church, Essex; probably the church of the Cistertian abbey founded in that place about 1152.

J. SCHNEBBELIE.

O altitudo     cõprehen-
[divina]     sibilia sũt
sapiencie &     judicia ej^s
sciencie Dei     & investiga-
quam in-     biles vie ej^s

[“O the divine depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33. King James Version.]

In the first place I mean to controvert the prevailing opinion, which seems to have determined these Stone Seats as erected for the sole purpose of confessionaries or confessionals. This is very improbable, if we duly consider the humid and chilling nature of stone materials when used for a seat, that must render it greatly inconvenient, and still more prejudicial to health, especially with regard to the priest and confessor, who by the rules of his office was obliged to sit therein, perhaps for many hours together. It is impossible, however, to adopt this idea, without supposing the priests of former days a much hardier race of men than our present clergy, who would shrink at the necessity of being immured. Pulpits are still to be seen formed either of marble or stone; but stone confessionals remain unknown; at least they have hitherto escaped my strictest examination. I am more inclined to believe they were in general made of wood, and placed against the walls of the north and south ailes of the church; or if there were no ailes, then in the body of the church, on the right and left hand; but never in the chancel, and not frequently in the side chapels: for so the canons and ecclesiastical constitutions enjoin; and forbid their being placed in retired or obscure corners. On the contrary, they require that they should be fixed in the most public part of the church. Now the chancel was certainly rather a retired part, always concealed in some degree by the rood-loft, the supporting under-partition or skreen, and chancel door; to which antiently belonged a veil, hung up before it in Lent and some other particular times. The chapels were in the same manner frequently separated by railing, or some Gothic skreen in fret-work.

Confessionals were therefore fixed in and about the middle of the church; and, being made of wood, were either condemned to the flames, or removed at the period of the Reformation. This remark in a great measure will account for there being scarcely any remains of them to be seen at this day. Besides, these seats, if not absolutely burnt, were most certainly taken down; and what parts were thought fit for the purpose might be employed, with permission, towards making those other kind of seats which we now call pews.

Whence is it that so many supposititious confessionaries arise? It may be pronounced, merely from the ignorance as well as selfishness of those ill-instructed Indexes who are appointed to shew the monuments and ancient curious remains that are sought for in our venerable cathedrals and other remarkable churches. As they cannot explain the use of Stone Seats, they are sure to fix the idea of a confessionary to any thing which borders on that appearance; insomuch, that any peep-hole through a

In the principal church at Warwick you are amused with the like tale of a confessionary, where they shew you, as a great curiosity, a certain place so called in the Lady chapel. But, so far from being what is pretended, it is nothing more than a private oratory, or tribune, for the use in former time of the noble family of the Earls of Warwick , whose private and particular chapel this was, and where many of them lie interred, under very grand and costly monuments. A few steps lead up to this oratory, decorated with a Gothic skreen on the chapel side, for privacy; but closed on the other next to the church. At the end of this oratory there is a small aperture, directing the sight towards the high altar or communion-table in the chancel. This, I presume, was contrived for some person or persons of rank, who perhaps, in the true spirit of the Publican, were not desirous of being seen or heard by men, and yet would both hear and see the divine service.

What has been said will, I hope, sufficiently prove, that the Stone Seats here treated of have not, nor ever were, confessionaries. It remains now for me to shew what they were really intended for.

In the first place it is necessary to observe, that such seats are always to be found in the chancel, choir, or some distinguished chapel, where only the sacramental rites could be performed with great solemnity; and they are invariably placed in the south wall. Whence it is clear that these Stone Seats were originally designed for the three officiating priests at solemn mass or vespers; and these priests were of three different dignities, to wit, the celebrant, deacon, and subdeacon, who sate there in at certain intervals of the public worship, or during the performance of some musical anthem; consequently I think they might be called the stalls. Moreover, their use must be obvious to any one who has been present at the church ceremonies in catholic countries; where to this day moveable chairs are employed with more conveniency for the same intention.

The number of these Stone Seats varied according to the dignity of the place. In small rectories one, in others two; some have three: in large cathedrals and metropoliticals four, even five. In the last case, Porte Mitre and Porte Crosier had their places.

Arches in the north wall of the chancel indicate rather the sepulchre of a founder or principal benefactor to the church. If really Stone Seats, their design was for some supreme Lord, or civil magistrate; for the south or right hand was constantly allotted to the ecclesiastical, and the left to the lay or civil authority. According to this established custom, I believe, the bishop's throne is still continued on the right hand of the choir.

I could give numberless examples of these Stone Seats, which I have noted at my visitations of churches; and the result of my observations is, that in this kingdom they were more common than abroad, and that more pains and costly embellishments were bestowed upon them, than can be shewn in any foreign country. Many that came under my inspection were truly admirable, both as to proportion and ornament. Some are upon a level. Others again rise one above another; the uppermost for the highest dignitary, but the whole united in one design: which remark serves further

The perforations alluded to at Hastings were only an improved variation from the generality of stone cathedrae, and philosophically as well as conveniently imagined for the double purpose of a freer circulation of air, and an occasional interlocution without exposing the persons sitting therein to the indecency of leaning forwards. The same sort of contrivance I noticed some years ago in the cloisters of some of our ancient monasteries; I think it is at Worcester, where the same formed apertures are made through all the pillars.

P. S. March 30. On Friday last I visited the choir and chapels of Westminster abbey, accompanied by Mr. Schnebbelie; and in the chapel of Edward the Confessor I pointed out to him five stone seats at the West end, directly opposite the place where formerly stood the altar fixed to the shrine2. The middle seat is somewhat wider than the collaterals, intended, as above observed, for the celebrant, or highest officiating priest. An examination of those seats will serve to confirm what I have advanced respecting stone seats in churches. The seats of the chapel now spoken of are placed facing the altar of the shrine; perhaps out of a greater veneration to the relicks of St. Edward; or because they could not be contrived on the South side, as is customary, on account of the regal monuments which are erected there. A drawing from these seats would not be unworthy of the attention of the Society.

DAVID WELLS.