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against the acting Trustees of the Estate: upon which the vicechancellor, in March 1844, decreed among other things-that the appointment of master ought to be in accordance with the testator's will; and that the Trustees for Charities, chosen yearly from the corporation under the Municipal Act, sec. 73, are to exercise the trusts given under the will to the corporation of Evesham; while the Trustees of the Estate-appointed in lieu of the Drapers' Company-are also entitled to execute the trusts given under the will to that company. At the same time it was further ordered "that it be referred to the Master to approve of a proper scheme for the administration of the charity, and the employment of the surplus revenues." But at present this scheme is not completed.

THE CHURCH-though generally considered to be dedicated to St. Peter, is, according to the king's books, dedicated to the Holy Trinity. It stands on the high ground adjoining the upper part of the principal street; having between that and the burial-ground what was formerly an open space and, doubtless, then the villagegreen, where the ancient wake or festival in honor of the saint to whom the church was dedicated was originally held; where likewise stood the tapering maypole, to festoon which the inhabitants sallied forth at early May-morn, and here returned—

"Deckt all with dainties of her season's pryde."

But our public enjoyment of May-time and the approach of spring, in modern life forsakes us as we leave the unrestrained hilarity of boyish days, and so this green, like many others, has been encroached upon, and is now most utilitarianly occupied by a hostelry and yard. The church, as originally seen across the greensward would form an interesting addition to the street view; at present we must be content with catching only glimpses of it from that situation. Some writers have concluded, that it was here that Leofric, earl of Mercia, and his Countess erected a church in the reign of Canute, which they caused to be dedicated to the Trinity. 451 But this supposition is opposed to the very document upon which it professedly rests, for that expressly declares the church so dedicated to have been built by them at Hampton.452 These are the

451 Tindal's Evesham, p. 239, also Nash's Worcestershire, art. Bengeworth.

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same personages who figure so conspicuously in the early history of Coventry. Leofric was duke or governor of Mercia, being a fourth of the kingdom, in the reign of Canute II. His possessions in the midland counties were consequently vast; and in the downhill of life himself and consort seem to have propitiated the church by large endowments and foundations.453

No part of the church at Bengeworth appears to be of earlier construction than the thirteenth century, unless we may except the font; during that period, then, we may consider it to have been erected by the abbots of Evesham, soon after their purchase of the manor in gross. And although its situation cannot be the site of that cemetery in Bengeworth which abbot D'Andeville is said to have constructed after his demolition of the castle here—yet there is little doubt but that the ruins of that demolished fortress furnished much of the material employed in the present church. The structure, which is of somewhat irregular form, includes a nave, a chancel with lateral aisles, and a transept-like chapel projecting from the north. At the west stand its tower and spire, both of the plainest form, but distinguished by the peculiar arrangement of four unadorned pinnacles at its base, as well as by the vestiges of four others which have in time past occupied the angles of the parapet. This approach toward a like peculiarity in St. Lawrence's church, as well as the string-course beneath the parapet, confirm our supposition that the same century beheld the completion of both these structures. The porch is included within the area of the tower, and finishes with a groined vault. Its inner arch deserves attention, as being at present the only specimen of the semi-circular or Norman style occurring in either of the churches in the town; though we are by no means disposed to refer this, perhaps accidental or convenient, form to the early period when that style was predominant. A small recess occurs here, near the inner door, originally a receptacle for the holy-water with which the ancient worshippers affused themselves upon entering the church. The nave is at pre

452 Ego Leofricus comes manifesto in brevi isto, quod terram quæ vocatur Heamtune, ad monasterium de Evesham dedi : et misi in illam ecclesiam quam ego et conjux mea Godgyve ibidem in honore sanctæ et individuæ Trinitatis pro animabus nostris devotè ædificavimus."-Cottonian MS. Vesp. B xxiv. previously cited on p. 34. 453 See Dugdale's Warwickshire, pp. 86-7 for an array of these pious deeds.

sent destitute of aisles; but the chancel retains these accompaniments, at north and south. They are separated from the centre, on either side, by two obtusely pointed arches of the thirteenth century, resting on plain and slender columns of octagonal form. Small clere-story windows are inserted above; and open quatrefoils are wrought within the girders of the oak-framed roof.

Traces of four several altars are at present visible within this church. The first is in the chancel, where, in a spacious niche within the southern wall the piscina and credence-table employed in the ancient service, both remain. The former of these received the rinsings of the sacred vessels, and the latter sustained the ampullæ or cruets that severally contained the water and the wine, which the Romish church-commemorating "the water and the blood" that issued from the Redeemer's side-deems requisite to be mingled, prior to their consecration, in the eucharistic chalice. These appurtenances, together with the dais or elevated portion of the floor, were here appropriated to the high-altar of the church, at which the office of the greater mass was performed. A similar recess to that already noticed, points out the situation of a second altar, appropriated to private masses, in honor of particular saints, or for the repose of departed souls. This is near to the further window of the northern aisle; and there, upon a platform ascended by a step, a portion of this altar still remains. This vestige is the more remarkable, because when some years since search was made through the kingdom for an original altar, to serve as a model for erecting one in the chapel of the Tower, nothing earlier than the Reformation could be found. This relic is of stone, finished by a simple cornice, and stands within the angle formed by the east and southern walls. Its height is four feet, and its length three, by eighteen inches wide. Had this width continued throughout, it would not then have admitted the arrangements required in the service of the mass. But this we conclude was obviated by a projection in the centre; leaving the present, with a destroyed but corresponding section, as wings on either side: a form, we believe, not unusual in such erections. Thus :

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