. Cathedrals, abbeys and churches of England and Wales, descriptive, historical, pictorial . dchurch erected by Wilfrid. We have, however,the autliority of the late Sir Gilbert Scott and ofBishop Stubbs for the view that the minster occu-pies the site of the Abbey Church of St. Wilfrid,and, anyhow, this crypt bears such a resemblanceto that beneath the Priory Church of Hexham,also founded by Wilfrid, as to leave little doubtas to its origin. This is one of the most interesting relicsof pre-Norman times. It is entered from thefloor of the nave; and after descending several steps, and traversing
. Cathedrals, abbeys and churches of England and Wales, descriptive, historical, pictorial . dchurch erected by Wilfrid. We have, however,the autliority of the late Sir Gilbert Scott and ofBishop Stubbs for the view that the minster occu-pies the site of the Abbey Church of St. Wilfrid,and, anyhow, this crypt bears such a resemblanceto that beneath the Priory Church of Hexham,also founded by Wilfrid, as to leave little doubtas to its origin. This is one of the most interesting relicsof pre-Norman times. It is entered from thefloor of the nave; and after descending several steps, and traversing a dark passage forty-five feet long, the visitor reaches acylindrically vaulted cell, seven feet nine inches wide by eleven feet thi-ee incheslong, in which are niches of the rudest description. The needle has beenformed by perforating the wall on the north side, so as to comnumicate witha passage behind. Many are the opinions hazarded as to its use in early days:one of them that it was a medium for the confessional. To thread the needle at Ripon is not so diflicult as it looks, and not. 8T. WILFUIDs needle. 132 CA THEDRA L CII UliCHES. [Rirow a few are tlie folk nowadays who are dragged through by the vergers as a8j)ecies of charm. A word or two about St. Wilfrid. A great man was he, with all his faults; he may be regarded as the star of the Anglo-Saxon Church. It is not
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectchurcharchitecture
