The Interior Oe A Gothic Minster.

THE INTERIOR OE A GOTHIC MINSTER .

( Continued from page 431 . ) Organs . —This noble instrument was used at Winchester in the tenth century , and at Bury St . Edmund's in the thirteenth century , At a later period , as at St . Alban's and Crowland ( Mon . Anglic , ii . 103 ) there were large organs at the Avest end of the nave . At Durham there was

a pair over the choir door , on the south of the choir , for daily services ; and another , " the cryers , " on the north side . At Canterbury , in the twelfth century , and later at Winchester , the orgau stood in the north wing of the transept in the ritual choir ; but at York . St . Paul's ,

Westminster , Lincoln , Chester , Worcestei-, on the north side ; and at Gloucester on the south side of the choir . After the Restoration , they Avere removed to the choir screen to destroy wholly the view of the interior . The vicars and clerks in most cathedrals Avere required to be able to play

upon some instrument ; and even in 1635 , musical instruments were employed at Lincoln , at Westminster , and Exeter after the Restoration , and at Durham in the episcopate of Cosin and Lord CreAve .

We have now to chose for the position of the organ , usually set on the north side of the choir , not the top of the screen , but between a side chapel , an aisle , or the triforium . I only trust Ave shall haA e no more Avholesale destruction of a beautiful vault , as at Winchester for mechanical

apparatus . Although the lateral position does necessitate a certain amount of loss to the effect of the music , I cannot but consider this unimportant when weighed against the more than compensating adA antage of converting a cathedral into a great congregational church . May Ave see before

longthe removal of the modern screens of Westminster , Gloucester , Peterborough , Rochester , and Salisbury , although in the latter case the ancient screen yet remains to be set once more in position or used as a reredos . At Bristol , the screen was dated 1541 , and that of Durham Avas later than the Restoration .

The Transept * usually lll-defmed mllfauce and Scotland , is in England a feature of great importance in the ground plan . The early type Avas that of an aisleless oblong , with a single or double apsidal chapel to the east . We find this chapel existed in each wing at Tewkesbury , Worcester ,

Gloucester , Pershore , Christchurch , Hants , Bury St . Edmund ' s , and Noi-Avich . There were two in each wing at St . Alban's . It is not uncommon to find the wings or arms of the transept called aisles , as at Rochester , Gloucester , and Hereford ; as in Latin cola or brachium Avere usedthe former

, in a constructional , the latter iu a symbolic acceptation . This eastern chapel Avas double-storied at Canterbury , Worcester , Chichester , and Christchurch , Hants , the upper room being apparently

connected with the sacristan s department at Worcester and Christchurch , and Avith the muniments at Chichester . These chapels Avere often removed and elongated at a later period , or received a complete re-arrangement and new forms . At Canterbufcy , Chichester , and Ely , there was

a transverse aisle , as at Winchester , and St . Etienne , at Caen , built possibly for the accommodation of chapels of peculiar sanctity and privacy , as well as to afford additional room for altars and shrines . At Chichester , Chester , and Hereford , a wing of the transept was used as a parish church .

In some instances , as at Carlisle , Chester , Rochester , and Bath , the transept is without aisles ; but eastern and western aisles were provided at Ely , Winchester , Westminster , Wells , and St . Paul ' s ; and an east aisle AA as divided into chantries at DurhamPeterboroughLincolnLichfield ,

, , , Hereford , and Ripon . At Exeter , two large towers were ingeniously converted into a transept . At Sallay , the transept exceeds nave and choir . The beautiful door of Gloucester , Avith its stooping angels , it is presumed , was the ordinary entrance of the pilgrims and of penitents .

The sacristy adjoins either the transept or choir aisle : the lavatory , used by the celebrant and assistants ( Frances , c . xx . 98 ) , remains at Salisbury , Lincoln , Selby , and Papon . The furnace for baking the altar breads may be seen at Canterbury , Bristol , Lincoln , and Chester ; at Lichfield

the hooks for hanging the lamps used in service remain on the vault . The calefactory for lighting the censers is still pointed out at Winchester ; the Avatching-loft at Lichfield , and the oriel at Worcester , from which the sacristan commanded a Anew of all the lights ; St . Peter's Well at York ;

the altar of St . Blaise , at Westminster ; and the beautiful screen of Gloucester , pierced ( like one formerly existing at St . David's ) for the exhibition of relics , are interesting features connected Avith the old arrangements of the re-vestry , Avhich at Durham was used at ordinations by the suffi-ao-an .

A beautiful flight of steps , at Hexham , led to the dormitory , which communicated with the transept at Bristol , Carlisle , Westminster , Tintern , and Beaulieu . A small Avatching chamber remains at St . Alban's , and the Avatcher ' s door opened into the transept at Rochester . At Durham the

bell-ringers slept over the revestry ; and at Lincoln the searchers of the church , AVIIO walked round the Minster at night , after the doors Avere closed , and the lady bells had tolled forty times , occupied the old AA atclhng-loft of St . Hugh ' s shrine , in the choir transept . Had this admirable

precaution existed , York and Westminster Avould not have been jeopardised in the present century . At Salisbury the vergers slept near the choir ( Leland , Itin ., hi . 95 ) . In the north Aving AA as a still more interesting sight , the altar of St . Sebastian and Radegunda , to which belonged the fraternity , consisting of 200 poor folk , men and