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

70 ORIGINAL annaass.
beautiful and interesting details, has, for the first time for many
centuries, been laid open to public view: but while the eye of
taste has been gratified with this beautiful exhibition, the feelings
have been pained to observe that it is but beauty in decay, thus
more forcibly a peeling to the parish authorities to make the
effort to which t ey have alluded.
The vicar, churchwardens, and vestry, thus called on, gave
their best consideration to the subject, and the result was, their
determination to obtain from some gentleman of the highest
reputation for science and practical knowledge in such subjects,
a detailed survey and report on the state and condition of their
church, directed to the following heads :—
First,--The solid and substantial repair of the fabric, in all
the more important parts of its walls, pillars, arches, buttresses,
and roofs.
Secondly—The restoration of its ornamental parts both ex
ternal and internal, or of such portions thereof as with reference
to the next head, it might be deemed proper to retain.
Thirdly,-—Snch alterations (principally internal) as might
seem necessary for restoring the fabric to its ancient and pristine
beauty.
In the selection of the gentleman in question, their attention
was naturally drawn to Mr. BRITTON, who had thirty years ago,
considered their church as worthy of his deep study and of the
able efforts of his mind, in a separate publication of considerable
extent, equally celebrated for its literary character and its accu
rate and beautiful illustrations; and it is no small gratification to
them to find this gentleman, after the lapse of so long a period,
still able and anxious to devote his best efforts towards the
accomplishment of the objects they had in view, bringing to the
task the more matured knowledge which had been since afforded
him, during the thirty years in question, from his investiga
tion and ably written accounts of many of our cathedrals and
other churches, and from his extensive reading and study, by
which he was enabled to prepare and give repeated lectures
on the architectural antiquities of Europe, and in the completion
of these works and lectures, has been impelled or induced criti
cally to examine most of the ecclesiastical edifices of our own
country. And it was, they repeat, with heartfelt gratification,
that the parish authorities found Mr BRITTON, with all his
matured knowledge and increased reputation, willing to resume
the subject of Redclifl'e church, and to apply his talents and
knowledge towards its restoration.
The result of this communication with Mr. Barr'ron, was his