21

Soothill, who founded a Chantry here. Pilkington and Balderston quarterly. Quarterly 1st and 4th Argent, on a chevron engrailed Gules, three crosses patees of the first, for Peck. 2nd and 3rd, Argent, a cross flory Or, on a chief Azure, three sinister buckles of the second, for Hasselden. Per Pale, Peck; and Argent, six annulets, Sable, 3, 2, 1, for Cromwelbottom. Pilkington’s Crest, on a wreath Argent and Gules, a mower per pale Argent and Sable, the scythe Argent, the handle Gules, underneath was written,
Fil. et her. Dom. Johannis Pilkington - - - -

Quarterly, 1st and 4th, barry of six Argent and Azure, in chief three mascles Gules, for Fleming; 2nd and 3rd, barry of six, Ermine and Gules, three crescents Sable, for Waterton. Azure, three mascles Or, a chief indented Gules, forChaloner of Midgely or Stanley Hall. The same impaling Scargill, Ermine, a saltire Gules. The same impaling Nowell, Argent, three covered cups Sable. Nowell impaling Dynely, Argent, a fess Sable, in chief three mullets of five points of the second. Argent, on a fess Gules, between three crosses patees of the second, a lion passant gardant Or ; underneath it a knight kneeling with this inscription,

Orate pro bono statu Richardi Staynton - - - -

Woodrove ; Argent, a chevron between three crosses formees fitchy Gules; impaling Wortley; Argent, on a bend Gules, 3 bezants Or, between 6 martlets of the

22

second. Woodrove impaling Nevile ; Argent, a saltire Gules. Woodrove’s Crest, on a helmet a pelican proper. Beauchamp; Gules, a fess between 6 crosses crosslets Or. Or, 3 chevronels Gules. Fitzwilliam; Lozengy Pearl and Ruby. Burgh; Argent on a fess dancette Sable, 3 bezants Or. East Angles; Azure, 3 ducal crowns Or. Mirfield; Vert, 2 lions passant gardant Argent. Vavasour; Or, a fess dancette Sable. Swillington; Argent, a chevron Azure. Stephen; Argent, a bend Sable.

The chancel is wainscotted to the bottom of the windows, and on the north-side there is a raised platform with seats for the Archdeacon and his officers, when the visitations are held. This part of the church had been much neglected by the lay-impropriators previous to the year 1813, but at that time, in consequence of a suit commenced against them by the Churchwardens, they were compelled to put the whole into complete repair. The roof, which is flat and divided into square compartments with grotesque ornaments at the intersections, has been also recently painted oak-colour, and the ornaments gilt.

The screen dividing the chancel from the nave is of oak carved with flowers, &c. in bold relief; the gates formerly attached to this screen, but which were removed to make room for the pulpit, are carved in the same style. They are now deposited in the small chamber over the south porch.

23

There are no remains of the Rood-loft, but in the year 1756, on pulling down an old house in Northgate, several images of saints, &c. were discovered, some of which the compiler of this Sketch has little doubt, had been removed from the Rood-loft of the Church, probably by one of the officiating priests at the time of the dissolution. The proximity of the house, wherein they were found, to the Church, leads him to assign it as the residence of some of the Chantry Priests, and thereby strengthens his conjecture as to the figures concealed in it.

The Communion Table is raised by two steps from the level of the pavement; one of these steps extends the whole breadth of the Church, the other is circular and bounded by the altar rails. Over the table is a large picture by Williams,-the subject the Ascension, but the bad taste of the Artist has thrown the lights, which are very broad, on such parts of the picture and the figures in it, as to produce the most ludicrous effect, instead of those ideas, which the solemnity of the scene he has chosen to depict, ought to inspire. The whole is wretchedly designed and as wretchedly executed; indeed it is to be hoped that the inhabitants will, at no distant period, replace it by some other painting more worthy of the venerable pile which this disfigures.

24

LIST OF THE COMMUNION PLATE.

25

The East Window and two or three of the other windows in the chancel contain some fragments of painted glass, but only so much as to excite regret for that barbarity, which levelled its fury against the most beautiful specimens of ancient art.

The stalls in the centre of the chancel have a screen of very fine tabernacle-work, separating them from the side aisles, they are themselves carved and ornamented ; and at the extremities next the alter have the following Arms,-
Savile, impaling, On a bend, a martlet between two cinquefoils; on a border engrailed, nine plates. Crest, an Owl, for Savile.

On the South-side of the Chancel is Pilkington’s Chantry, founded by Sir John Pilkington, Knt. and valued in the 37th of Henry VIII. at £6. It is now used as the burial-place of the Pilkingtons. The following is a list of the Priests of this Chantry, with their Patrons and the times of their institution.

This last incumbent enjoyed in 1553, the annuity of £1 17s. 10d. granted to him at the dissolution.