ALHALLOWS, LONDON WALL.

THE space appropriated for the church-yard to this structure is very contracted, and in the exact shape of a wedge, the north side of which is formed by buildings standing on the city wall, and the south by a raised wall and iron railing. The east end is the broadest part, on the side of which is a very handsome house for the rector; the west point is within a few paces of the wall at the back of Bethlehem Hospital. The centre of this space is occupied by the church, built against the wall, and a narrow passage on the south side, which serves as a foot pavement for that side of the street.

The history of this church is enveloped in obscurity. The building is represented in Toms's print, 1736, to consist of two aisles, with pointed windows of two bays*, ornamented with trefoils at the east end. On the south side the windows were of the same description, but square. The tower was low, and boarded with timber along the south wall; and a projecting porch over the street, and exhibited a very poor

exterior.

*Bay windows are such as, being composed of an arch of a circle, of consequence will stand without the stress of the building.

The

rr

The church was probably built about the reign of Henry IV. In the year 1478, it was repaired, towards which my lady Stockton" bestowed the sum of twenty shillings; it received another repair in the year 1627, which amounted to the sum of 2201. and it was again beautified in 1699.→ The height of that fabric was only twenty-one feet, and the tower fifty feet.

However, in spite of all these repairs, the church became so decayed, that in 1764, it seemed past all hope of further assistance, and Messrs. Holden and Ware, eminent surveyors, were employed to state their opinion; who declared that the walls were in a state of decay, and out of the perpendicular, owing to the moisture of the soil; the foundation of a new church was therefore fixed upon; an act of parliament was procured, and the present structure erected by Mr. Joseph Taylor, from plans by Mr. Dance, at the expence of 29417.

The exterior of the church is constructed with brick, and has all the appearance of a riding house; having high walls and semi-circular windows on the sides of the building; the east end is a circular blank wall. At the west end is the only entrance for the congregation, under a handsome stone tower, surmounted by a light cupola supported by arches and pillars.

The inside is extremely simple; a plain wall, without either pillars or divisions. The object of attention, however, which decidedly arrests the beholder's notice, is the extreme richness of the east end, consisting of an arch adorned with a beautiful arrangement of stucco, directing the eye to the recess for the altar, which contains a picture of Ananias restoring St. Paul to sight. This painting is a copy from an antient master, by Nathaniel Dance, Esq. president of the Royal Academy, and by him presented to the church. We do not take upon us to criticise minutely the excellence of paintings; nor ought it particularly to be done respecting this painting; therefore the appearance of a Benedictine father, holding a burning taper in the most conspicuous part of the picture, is not mentioned in derogation to the judgment of the copyist; but certainly does no credit to the con sistency of the original. The frame is elegantly carved and VOL. III. No. 51.

D

gilt,

gilt, and a handsome curtain of green silk preserves the whole from injury. At the west end is a gallery in which is placed a small organ, erected by subscription.

Rector of eminence. WILLIAM BELOE, an elegant poet, translator of the works of Herodotus, and Aulus Gellius; and one of the librarians of the British Museum.

In this precinct was formerly the residence of an anchorite ; for in the parochial annals is recorded that the " ankers" were benefactors to the church. How changed, since the days of Henry VIII. in the year 1521, is this now populous parish! Mr. Malcolme, to whose work we are obliged for the notice of the anchorite, imagines that his dwelling might be formed under the city wall, between this church and St. Mary Axe; for from several circumstances it may be inferred that gardens and open spaces, rather than houses, faced the inner surface of the wall.

It may not be irrelevant to our subject, if we give a few hints for the information of our readers, concerning the origin and principles of this state of seclusion.

The word Anchorite is derived from the Greek A'vzxwentùs (anachoretes), which implies living in seclusion and solitude. This was originally an act of necessity, when the first christians were compelled to resort to mountains and forests to avoid the persecutions which followed them and their doctrines. Seclusion from human intercourse, however, in process of time, was resorted to from inclination; and devotees, taking for their warrant the promise in Isaiah," that the desart where nothing grew but thorns and thistles, should be converted into a most pleasant and delightful garden," and the text in the epistle to the Hebrews, ch. xi. v. 38) "Whom the world was not worthy of; they travelled in wildernesses and mountains, and dens, and caves of the earth;" despised intercourse with their fellow creatures, and lived to themselves alone.

The most famous of these were St. Anthony and Paul the Hermit, the extravagant history of whom is very fully recorded by father Ribadeneira, in his "Lives of the Saints." Novelty, aided by superstition, increased this class of

devotees

devotees so amazingly, that there were few remote corners but exhibited its cell and its anchorite. In England are noticed the Hermit of Warkworth, the Hermit of Dale Abbey, and the Anker of Alhallows, London Wall, besides many others in this and the neighbouring counties. This, we conceive to be the most condemnable of all superstitious illu. sions; for the monks, &c. who were associated into communities, certainly were benefactors to their several neighbours; and they were esteemed, as they certainly deserved, the most learned and polished of ecclesiastical institutions; they clothed the naked, they instructed the ignorant, they afforded assistance to the sick, and abounded in other works of charity and benevolence, agreeably to the dispositions of those early and ignorant times; but the lives of anchorites, eremites, &c. were as fallacious, as uninteresting, as idle, and as selfish as the former were liberal and praise-worthy. The dissolution of the monastic orders was a circumstance, in some instances, regretted, though necessary; but the dispersion of anchorites and hermits was as useful to mankind, as the profession was obnoxious to society and the rational enjoyment of the blessings which Divine Providence constantly and freely dispersed.

To the west of this church, on the opposite side of the way, stands

CARPENTERS' HALL.

The entrance to this building is under a large and handseme arch, adorned by four Corinthian pillars, a bust, and the arms of the company. Within this is an area, divided by iron railing, and intersected by gravelled walks, which are overhung by trees, and completed by grass plots.

The antient halli s rented as a carpet and rug warehouse; the front of this building consists of a neat Doric basement with arches, windows, and porticos at the cast and west ends. On the basement is a rustic story, ornamented with cornices, pediments, &c. and the armorial bearings of the city and company.

The roof of this hall, originally of oak, has been disfigured by a stuccoed ceiling. Nine divisions of the old

eastern window, with pointed tops, exhibit the arms of the company, and the names of the masters and wardens during the reigns of Charles I. and II. in coloured glass.

The present hall, is fronted in the Ionic stile, with a pediment and Venetian window; within this hall are the portraits of WILLIAM PORTINGTON, Esq. master carpenter in the office of his majesty's buildings; who served that place forty years, and departed this life the 28th of March, 1628, aged eighty-four years; who was a well-wisher of this society. This being the gift of Matthew Banks, who served him fourteen years, and is, at this present, master of the said company, August 13, 1637." Mr. Portington is described as an aged person, in a ruff, with one hand putting a compass upon a rule held by the other. Under the other picture is inscribed; "This picture of JOHN SCOT, Esq. carpenter and carriage maker to the office of ordnance, in the reign of king Charles II. was placed here by his ap prentice, Matthew Banks, Esq. master carpenter to his majesty, and master of this company, this present year, 1698." -A table also is inscribed to the memory of "RICHARD WIAT, Esq. thrice master of this company of carpenters, Annis Dom. 1604, 1605, 1616, and a good benefactor thereunto. Among other gifts he gave 500l. to build an almshouse near Godalmin, in Surrey, for ten poor men, and 701. a year to maintain them; and his wife added something for the company to go down and visit it."

The Company of CARPENTERS were incorporated by letters patent, bearing date July 7, 1478, granted by Edward IV. by the name of " Master, Wardens, and Commonalty of the Mystery of Freemen of the Carpentry of the City of London."

Sir William Staines, lord mayor of London in 1801, is a member of this company. This excellent magistrate will be further mentioned in our account of St. George's parish, Southwark.

The side of the street on which the hall stands, was formerly called Currier's Row, on account of the residence of many persons of that profession.

The