A Handbook to St Mary Redcliffe Church, J. Chilcott 1848

30 51‘. MARY anncmrrn CHURCH.
reader to Messrs. Southey and Cottle’s edition of ‘ The
Works of T. Chatterton.’
Passing into the north aisle, or St. Stephen’s chapel,
we observe the restoration of the east and adjoining
window has been completed; and that in a style of execu
tion fully equal to the former window, though the pro
duction of the most brilliant architectural era the annals
of our country can advance. We lack not the ability to
produce works equal to the proudest achievements of the
past, but we want the means, the spirit, the devotion,
the self-sacrificial zeal of an age when man’s labour was
not spared, and his treasures were poured forth in raising
magnificent fabrics in honour of the God he worshipped
and adored.
At the eastern end of the north aisle is a very handsome
monument, consisting of an altar-tomb, surmounted by a richly
ornamented canopy. Recumbent on the former are efiigies of
the deceased and his wife, with their heads resting on cushions,
and having two figures of angels supporting the pillow. The
plinth of the tomb, as well as the back and sides, is covered with
panelling and tracery. Immediately over the tomb are five
crocketed canopies, with pinnacles, &c., and the whole is sur
mounted with a richly-sculptured frieze and parapet. From
the imperfect inscription which still remains, it appears that this
monument is dedicated to the memory of THOMAS MEDE, who
was sheriff in 1452, and subsequently three times mayor of
Bristol. He had a country seat at Nayland, then called
Mede's Place, in the parish of Wraxall, and county of Somerset.
Attached to the former monument, and of the same style and
character, is another to the memory of PHILIP Mann, the
brother of Tnomas MEDE, whose monument has just been
described. There is no efiigy, but on a very singular brass, fixed