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WHYKPLI DPP^Y EQWZip * No. 87. Vol. VIII. MARCH, 1900. Price One Penny. THE FABRIC OF THE CHURCH AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. (continued.) The Pillars are a very important part of the Church Fabric and have their use and lessons. They are the supports of the Church and rest upon a solid foundation. Often there are several shafts although joined together in one That is the true source of all strength, for many to be joined together in one, on the One Foundation Christ Jesus. St. Paul calls St. James, St. Peter and St. John the Pillars of the Church at Jerusalem, and as this was said of living men. we too may hope to become pillars of the Church, if like the material pillars, we are upright and unbending in our Christian profession and conduct. " Him that overcorneth will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God." Rev. iii.-12. The Windows. The different portions of a Church are often ,a help in fixing the correct date at which the Church was built, and perhaps no portions are more interesting in this respect than the windows. There are a few simple rules by which we may generally know from the window at what period the Church was built. The two great distinctions are (1,) the Circular Headed Arch and (2) the Pointed Arch. The former is to be found in Churches built before the year A.D. 1150, and the latter in those built afterwards. The earliest Circular- headed windows are the Roman, built of bricks of different size and colour ; next the Saxon built of stone and quite plain, then the Norman also built of Stone, bat more richly carved. The Romans occupied this country from B.C. 50 to A.D. 450. The Saxons from A.D.450 to 1066, when the Normans came, who were very skilful Architects, and within a Century, they ■not only set up strong Castles all ever the Country, but built stately Monasteries, commenced the re-building of every one of the Cathedrals, and built or re-built a great number of the Parish Churches. Most of the windows up to 1150, were small and sometimes not glazed, glass being so dear in those days. After the year J150 we have the pointed arch. People differ as to the origin of the change. Some think it was sug¬ gested by the position of the ringers of the hands when placed together in prayer ; others by the pointed arch formed by the branches, in an avenue of trees, but it is most probable that one style of Architecture, gradually, introduced another. If a number of semi-circular archesr intersect each other, the pointed arch dis-covers itself and the circular arch gradually gave way to the pointed arch. Of pointed arch windows the 1st was the Earfy English, date 13th Century with plain lancet windows, the only ornament being a round flower at the top called the hall flower. 2nd, the Decorated _ style, 14th Century, larger and more ornamental. 3rd The Perpendicular, 15th Century, known by upright perpendicular lines from the bottom to nearly the top of the window. A good specimen of this style yf architecture is seen in the East and South Windows of Llanidloes Church, and the grand old Priory Church of St. John at Brecon and elsewhere. In the 16th and 17th Centuries, the Arches became depressed and is known as the Debased style, with little or no ornamentations : examples of this style may l>e seen in the North Aisle of Llanidloes Church. The 18th Century madenoprogi-essin Church Architecture and Churches built since are chiefly copies of preceding styles. In the West End of some Churches, Circular Windows are found called Rose windows, or Marigold windows from their fancied resemblance to those flbwers. Every window of a Church should remind us of some Christian Truth. The light which they admit should remind us of Him who is the Light of the World, the Sun of Righteousness that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. In the Chancel of some Churches there is a small narrow window lower than the rest, sometimes called a Mary Window, said to represent the wound in our Saviour's side. There is such a Window in the Church of my old parish of St, Clears. LLANIDLOES. What is the origin of Pancake Bell ? It seems to be one of those customs of which the source is lost in the mists of antiquity. Is it common in the surround¬ ing parishes, we wonder? Although it no longer serves any very real purpose, we should be very sorry to see the old tradition interrupted, and such as are interested in such matters should thank Mr. John Davies who never forgets to keep up the old custom, without reward or perhaps even thanks. After all it does serve its purpose if it reminds even one forgetful person of the approach of Lent, and inspires the question what am I going to do this year to prepare myself for Holy Week and Easter. We hope to have special preachers on Thursday evenings during Lent, though so far we have only arranged for the first week ; Thursday, March 8th, when the Rector of Penstrowed has promised to pay us a visit. If there are any members of the congregation who would be willing to give bed and board to one of the preachers, the Vicar would be glad to hear from them. Taking the whole year through, a good deal of such entertaining falls to his lot, and though he is always glad to meet his clerical brethren, the expense mounts up in no trifling way. We intend to publish a list of the churchwardens of this parish sines the beginning of last century. The