PART THE THIRD. OF THE CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS. THIS noble edifice, dedicated to All-Saints, was anciently styled the 'Minster of the Moors.' It was a vicarage, and the perpetual advowson was in the gift of the lord Chancellor. It is situated a little eastward of the castle of Pontefract, and formerly the better part of the town was near it; but since the progression of rolling ages, and the church's much to be lamented decay, new habitations have been erected upon the hill, near the building called St. Giles', or the new church, which is without either monuments or church yard, and is indeed a very inferior building, if compared even to the roofless shell of All Saints. The style of its architecture was of the Gothic order, and it was built in a Catholical way, resembling a cross; and although no record has yet been found, to elucidate clearly the name of its founder, yet it is probable, that it has not stood longer than from the days of Henry I.; as the Domesday Book Survey notices only a church in Tanshelf, and not one in Pontefract.* Robert de Lascy, generally styled Robert de Pontefract, who was a great benefactor to it, is reported to be its noble founder. He granted it to the prior and monks of St. John the Evangelist of Pontefract; and thus it became appropriated to this monastery. Its extent from east to west is fifty-three yards, and from north to south, twenty-seven yards; and it is enclosed by a stone wall, which bounds the burial ground in the figure or form of a coffin. 'It hath a double chancel, but no outward door; a cross ile west of this, dividing the body from the chancel, which projects several yards beyond the body, which hath three iles.' The roof of these side iles were much lower than that of the nave, and formed a kind of penthouse, similar to our old parish churches. On the corbels, from which spring the arches of the window, are carved the heads of Domesday Book, 135. Miller's History of Doncaster.-Mon. Ang. 649.-Te rre's MSS. 35. warriors, abbotts, lions, and other devices. From the arches of the columns which formed the iles, a wall extended upwards, and contained a range of windows, for the purpose of giving light to the nave; round which ran a parapet wall, so that any person might walk in safety along the roof. In the cross ile, at the south and north ends, were two large doors over-against one another, in the middle of which rose a noble gallant square, (formerly the belfry,) erected several yards above the roof of the church, where now hangeth only a gallant sweet bell.'* Round the top of this bell are cast a number of arms, &c. and the following inscriptions in old English characters :— Hæc est tub. dei. I. N. E. nomen ei. Hæc Campana Beata Sacra Trinitati Fiat Anod Doc M 8f D 8. LXXXX ♬1 VIII i N h C In this square once hung twelve bells. Each corner was enriched with the sculptured figures of the four Evangelists, and from its centre rose a curious and magnificent lantern' whose finances of the several angles were adorned with images of the Apostles.' During the siege of the fortress of Pontefract, the interior and roof were much damaged, as well as the lantern, which suffered so great injury from Cromwell's cannon, that it was blown down by a raging tempest some short time afterwards.' The parliament of 1649, allotted 10007. out of the monies arising from the sale of the materials of the castle, towards the repairing of it, and accordingly the north transept was re-edified; and in the place of the lantern was built an octagon, adorned at each side with ornamental spires, but was much inferior to the lantern.'‡ In the north west corner of the square tower, still standing, is a singular and rare case inclosing two pairs of stairs, both of which wind round the same centre, and terminate in the same circumference, having their different entrances below, and their several landings above. On the north and south sides, towards the western end of the church, are two other large doors, opposing each other: so that for number of doors in the nave, and none in the chancel: for that noble part of the tower, which still remains: for the long-extended cross ile, and unusual double staircase, and in the richness of its decorations and ornaments, it surpassed most of the parish churches of its day. * Mr. Fothergill's Letter to the author of the Magna Britannia, dated 30th Decr. (a) A cross moline charged with hearts-(b) a rose-c a cross moline with hearts(d) a melon surmounted by a crown-(e) arms, arg. a Fitchee, a Chevron, surmounted by an annulet surtout, charged with a crown surmounting R on the dexter chief, and a bell on the sinister chief-(f) a rose surmounted by a crown-(g) a lion passant-(h) a crown mounting an embattled gate with chains hanging from each side-(i) arms, arg. a Fourchee, charged with coronets—(k) a cross moline, charged with hearts (1) the seal of Pontefract (a castle) surmounted by a royal crown. 1710. †This is the trumpet of God, Jesus of Nazareth is its name. be sacred to the Trinity-Anno Domini, 1598, May this blessed bell Mag. Brit. vi. 396. The eastern and western ends were adorned by beautifully illuminated windows of the Gothic style of architecture, of very large dimensions, and formed of extremely slender mullions. The cross ile and chancel seem to have been only appropriated for divine service, and the whole western end, with its beautifully pointed arches, formed a noble entrance to it, resembling in some measure the cathedrals of the present day.* ; About year 1707, when St. Giles' church was destitute of a bell, the parishioners were desirous of removing the one from All Saints but the vicar, who appears to have been partial to the venerable pile, though crumbling into ruins, summoned the parishioners to determine on the subject, and the inhabitants of Knottingley, (who at this time belonged to the parish,) flocked in great numbers, and the meeting unanimously decided that the bell should remain. What became of the other eleven bells which were taken away previously to this period, is uncertain. There was a tradition, that colonel Bright, an officer who distinguished himself by his bravery in Lambert's army, during the civil broils of Charles, and who was deputed to treat concerning the surrender of the castle of Pontefract, obtained them for his own parish at Badsworth; but on inspection it appears, that only one could have belonged to this church, unless they have been re-cast, as all bear dates posterior to the restoration, except one, dated 1582. After the restoration, a brief was granted, and a subscription raised amongst the parishioners amounting to 15007. for the further repairs of the church. Unfortunately, however, for the parishioners, Dr. N. Johnson, a man whose name as an antiquarian deserves respect, but whose conduct in this affair merits general reproach, had the money entrusted to him,† and he' partly converted it to the use of other secular buildings, and partly made off in a sacrilegious manner, that he might not be rendered accountable for his unjust stewardship.' Since that period the parishioners have been unable to contribute further towards its preservation; and it has consequently become the merciless prey to the ravages of time. An intelligent Roman Catholic gentlemen, on viewing the remains of this venerable fabric, immediately pointed out the south east part, as having been, what is styled in churches abroad, the crypt. This part evidently appears to have been lower than the chancel and the Johnson's MSS. The contract deed of the repairs between the workmen on one part and Dr. N. Johnson on the other, is in the possession of the Rev. Dr. Boothroyd.--Boothroyd's Pontefract. The crypt was a kind of a church underground, where important ceremonies were performed, and was devised to render the passion of our Saviour more striking and impressive. cross iles, and was seperated from the chancel and high altar by a range of columns. In this part also was a small altar with fine sculptured figures over it in a devotional attitude; and although nothing now remains but a mutilated specimen, yet it does so great honour to the sculptor, as to excite regret that the misguided zeal of the reformers should have destroyed one of the best proofs of the state of the fine arts. Annexed to the church of All Saints, were five chantries, viz. viz: 1.-The chantry of St. Thomas the Apostle, in the parish church of All Saints, founded by Robert Rishworth, of the annual value of 4l. 14s. 8d. 2.—The chantry of Corpus Christi, of the annual value of 31. 7s. 8d. 3.-The chantry of our Lady, in the same church, of the annual value of 6l. ls. 6d. 4.—The chantry of St. Roke, in the same church of the annual value of 61. 16s. 3d. 5.-The chantry of our Lady, in the chapel of St. Giles, of the value of 71. 6s. 8d. In our researches relative to the creation and endowment of the vicarage, very little information has yet been found. In Torre's manuscripts, (p. 35,) it is thus noted: Pontefract church of All Hallows or All Saints, in the Archdeaconry of York, and the WestRiding. On the 20th of November, A.D. 1361, in the reign of king Edward the Third: John archbishop of York ordained that the prior and convent of Pontefract and successors, should for ever entirely receive ALL and singular the fruits, rents, profits, tythes, oblations, and emoluments of this church of All Saints; and pay to M. Adam de Scargill, thirty marks per annum, quarterly, in the same church, in the name of the whole and entire portion of his vicarage. AND shall bear all burdens, ordinary and extraordinary, incumbent on the same, excepting synodals only, which the vicar shall pay for the time being.' At the time it was so appropriated to the priory, it is very probable that it was endowed, but perhaps the instrument of ordination might be destroyed during the reformation; and all other notes of information which can be collected furnish, but a very imperfect and unsatisfactory account of it. The augmentation office at York, hath been searched, as well as other surveys and documents, and all without success. Whether the monks of the priory became negligent in their duties, or whether it might be deemed more proper to have one of the secular clergy to discharge the spiritual functions, is uncertain; but we find that on the 15th August, AD, 1452, in the reign of Henry VI. a new ordination of the vicarage was made by the archbishop. 'That John White, then vicar, and his successors, should have for their habitation, one house, situate nigh the said church, called vul |