BUILDINGS 27

arid aisles, towers or spires, bells, stained-glass
windows, and furniture, many of them being particu-
larly rich in one or more of these features. The
painted windowsl are especially interesting, for
they show the standard of this branch of fifteenth-
century art and are valuable historical documents.
The rich, mellow tones of colour should be noted,
also the incidental pictures of mediaeval dress and
furniture. It is interesting to compare the fifteenth
century work with that done, for instance, by the v
William Morris firm to the designs of Burne-Jones
(1833-1898), at a time when the revived art, with
other forms of decoration, was enjoying a period of
great success. In the fifteenth century the church
was flourishing materially, at least, and money and
gifts were freety given.

The offices and services in churches were recited
and sung. Organs were used, but were not very
large and were capable of being carried about:
although working on similar principles to the
modern organ they lacked its size, power, and
varied capacity. At the Minster there were several
organs, for instance " the great organs," " the
organs in the Choir/' " the organs at the Altar
B. V, M."

The Chancel was the most sacred part of the
church, for there was the principal or high altar.
In the Chancel were the stalls or seats of the clergy
and officials. The actual seats could be turned up
when the occupants wished to stand, Statidjtig for
long periods was made less irksome in.that the
underside of each seat was made with a projecting
ledge, which gave some support. It is thoroughly

1 Besides the exceptional display of fifteenth-century glass
in the Minster, notable examples occur in St. Martin's, Coney
Street, All Saints', North Street, and Holy Trinity, Good-
ramgate.