WILLINGTON CHURCH, BY CONSTANCE ISHERWOOD. T HERE are many places of real antiquarian interest around Bedford, and one of these, the village of Willington, on the banks of the river Ouse, is well worth a visit. The ancient church, the manor house, the home of the Gostwick family, and the lovely old dove house and stables, possess an interest all their own, on account of their beauty and antiquity. The stonework of the exterior of the Church of St. Lawrence clearly shows which is the oldest part, and the embattled tower with its massive buttresses and angle turret are undoubtedly early Perpendicular. An embrasured parapet adds to the dignity of the fine old church, which is seen at its best when viewed from the eastern end, owing to the unusual breadth of the chancel to which was added the private chapel of the Gostwick family. The porch, with the exception of the battlements, is quite as old as the tower, and possesses several quaint and interesting features. The square-headed windows, with three lights open to the sky, form one of them, while the arched doorway with its interlaced chevrons carved in the stonework, its arched mouldings terminating in a Tudor rose and a Catherine wheel, and the niche above (evidently intended originally for the Patron Saint), is unique. The interior of the porch deserves careful attention, as the ancient woodwork of the roof is curiously carved with fluted ribs and a Tudor rose in the centre. The spaces over the inner and outer doorways are ornamented with some delicately carved oak of great age and much worn, with the design of a rose in the centre, extending its petals the entire length of the panel. On either side of the porch is a stone seat, on which many a village worthy must have rested during past centuries. The view from the porch is a pretty one, with the old park of the Gostwicks though but a remnant of the timber that formed its glory in past days now remains. The fine avenue that led to the Manor House from the high road, though almost obliterated, is still traceable. On entering the church one notices the quaint old iron hinges, latch and key-hole scutcheon that have fortunately been preserved. Resting against the western wall of the tower is a coped stone coffin lid, that probably covered the mortal remains of the founder of the earlier church that existed on the site of the present building. The lid is supported by a clustered shaft and part of one of the capitals of the thirteenth-century church. Here is also a fine collection of ancient bell-clappers, very massive and weighty. The tower, which was closed for many years, was opened during the vicariate of the present Vicar, who himself presented the sixth bell, bearing this inscription-" Ad majorem Dei Gloriam, D.D. Augustus Orlebar, Vicarius, 1885." The nave is Perpendicular, and is separated from the north aisle by an arcade of three arches, springing from clustered columns with moulded octagonal capitals. The windows are also Perpendicular, filled for the most part with tinted glass, powdered with wheat ears, grapes, the sacred monogram and fleur-de-lys. The chancel, which is separated from the nave by a pointed arch springing from octagonal pilasters, contains many features of real interest. The brightly tinted tiles that add a note of vivid colour to the whole, are copies of the thirteenth-century tiles that existed here in days gone by, a few of which are still to be seen round the base of the altar tomb of Sir John Gostwick, each having the design of two roses tinted a rich orange. The elaborate carving of the choir stalls, pulpit and reading desk, was designed by the famous architect, Sir William Cubitt, under whose direction this church was restored in 1875 at a cost of £3,000. The choir stalls are ornamented with quatrefoils and cusps, with finials in the shape of large Tudor roses, and the pulpit is much decorated with "Tabernacle-work" and crockets. Just above the reading-desk is a little stone bracket, intended to support the hour-glass with which the preacher used to time his lengthy discourses, that sometimes, and not infrequently, lasted for two hours and a half! The hour-glass has gone, but the top of the stand, of bent ironwork, terminating in a fleur-de-lys, and dating from the time of Oliver Cromwell, still remains. The lectern bears a precious burden, the first edition of the Authorized Version of the Holy Scriptures, with the date 1611. This valuable book, which had become dilapidated in the course of time, has recently been carefully repaired. The two quaint windows on the south side of the chancel, with their tiny transoms, are both Perpendicular, and similar in character to the east window, which is very beautiful. This contains a fine representation of the Resurrection, which was inserted during the vicariate of the present Vicar. The shafts in the jambs are the remains of an earlier window, and these are clustered, with fluted capitals. The huge corbels that support the shafts are grotesque and very curious. One of them resembles a large face, with an immense mouth, from which proceed two tailed creatures. It is thought that this is |