35 FOREIGN GLEANINGS. We learn from a recent number of the Bulletin Monumental, that the Abbé Arbelot,-whose letter about English churches dedicated in honour of S. Leonard appeared in a recent number of the Ecclesiologist, has now published his life of that saint, under the title "Vie de Saint Léonard, solitaire en Limousin, ses miracles et son culte." M. Arbelot professes to give the whole legend of S. Leonard, from documentary sources, for the first time. The same number of the Bulletin contains a laudatory notice of a new mansion built at Bernay by M. Bouveault. To our surprise the design, of which one façade is given, is of the most debased Renaissance, without a particle of the dignity and beauty which is often to be found in that style. Curiously enough the same part contains a number of most charming illustrations from real old French chateaux, sketched by M. De Caumont himself in the valley of Roques, near Lisieux. The chateau of Fumichon, in particular, is a most picturesque group, with its huge circular dovecote, roofed conically. It is of the date of Henry IV. This paper is the most interesting one in the volume, as showing the great richness of France in mediæval remains, both secular and ecclesiastical. The other papers are a valuable notice by Dr. Keller of M. Troyon's work on Lacustral Dwellings, and a letter from M. Bouet on the vaulting of S. Stephen's at Caen, in which the writer defends himself from M. Ruprich-Robert's strictures on a former paper. Our new contemporary, Le Beffroi, promises to be a valuable coadjutor in matters ecclesiological. The size is a large quarto, matching the Annales Archéologiques; the illustrations are as yet scanty, but more are promised in future numbers. The contents of the last pubblished livraison are as follows: First, there is a very long genealogical account of the family of the Des Trompes. This is followed by a descriptive account of a triptych of the Baptism of CHRIST, preserved in the Museum of the Academy at Bruges. The author of this work is unknown, but its date, from internal evidence, is assigned to the year 1508. Dr. Waagen attributes it to Gerard Horenbaut, of Ghent : but the present writer doubts this, preferring to claim as its painter the unknown founder of that school of landscapes to which Henry Bles, of Bouvignes, and Joachim Patenier, of Dinant, belong. Can this, he asks, be Oedier de la Rivière, an artist born at Langres, in 1460, and who died at Bruges before 1514? Next come some curious extracts from the account books belonging to the chapel of S. Laurence, at Bruges, in Flemish, but with a French translation. Then we have a paper on a picture of the Blessed Virgin and Child, by an unknown master, though evidently a Fleming, which belongs to the collection of Mr. Oppenheim, of Cologne. Extracts follow from documents in the archives of the corporations of S. Luke and S. Eloy, at Bruges, comprising charters and legal decisions. The number concludes with Melanges, Nouvelles, &c. The editor gives the epitaph of the old chronicler Jehan le Bel, which used to exist in Liége cathedral. This is written in hexameters, the metrical value of which may be judged of from this line: "Hujus canonicus fuit ecclesiæ cathedralis." The editor prints two lines of this inscription as follows, not seeing (apparently) that the word Johannes ought to come into the second line, and that the two are then to be read as hexameters : "Obtinuit priscus hunc prepositum specialis Johannes : A FOLDING CHURCH BENCH. WE owe to the kindness of Mr. J. P. Seddon, Honorary Secretary of the Royal Institute of British Architects, the use of the accompanying wood-cut, which explains the construction of an ingenious invention, lately patented by Mr. Richard Holmes, F.S.A., for a folding church bench. "The back and seat are hinged together to admit of being folded up into the same space as the thickness of the standards. The side view shows it in its position when closed. It is obvious that a number of benches may thus be conveniently stacked together against the aisle walls of a church, leaving the area free when they are not required, which is a point much to be desired; and in this position they would be less obtrusive even than chairs (which, when piled upon each other, are not very sightly objects), and as soon as they are required for use they may be easily carried and placed in position by two men, where they can remain as long as wanted; in every respect, both in appearance and in fact, as strong and substantial a class of bench as any that are made. In large churches, where daily congregations meet in fewer numbers than upon the Sunday or upon extraordinary occasions, it is thought that they would be found to answer the purpose required. The cost does not exceed that of ordinary church benches. "Church chairs can be made upon the same principle, but not at present at a cost nearly so low as the common rush-bottom chairs generally made use of. It may be added, that Messrs. C. Seddon and Co., of 58, South Molton Street, are the agents, appointed by the patentee, to manufacture these benches." The great advantage of having such benches as these in such parts of the nave as may be wanted for, e.g., marriages and funerals, ought to be pointed out. In almost all churches these offices, which require a certain amount of free space for their dignified performance, lose all their proper effect from the cramped alleys in which the processions and other parts of the ceremonies are conducted. WORCESTERSHIRE ECCLESIOLOGY. Architectural Sketches, Ecclesiastical, Secular, and Domestic, in Worcestershire and its Borders. By J. SEVERN WALKER. Part II. Worcester, Deighton; London, Masters. WE have to welcome a second instalment of Mr. Severn Walker's excellently illustrated Architectural Sketches in Worcestershire and its borders. He gives us external perspectives of Great and Little Comberton churches, and some details from the latter. Both these villages nestle under the north side of Bredon Hill, and the latter possesses a fine old timbered manor-house, which with its circular conical-capped dove-cote, is here prettily engraved. S. Leonard's, Ribbesford, possesses a very curious wooden arcade of five arches. It is thus described:-"The piers are formed of roughly hewn octagonal timbers, with slightly projecting capitals, above which are chamfered uprights supporting a horizontal beam, and connected together by curved braces, which, meeting in the middle, form pointed arches." One of the jambs of a Romanesque door here has a very strange bas-relief, representing an archer, shooting some animal, which is supposed to be either a beaver, a salmon, or a seal. It is most like the last named creature, and there is evidence that seals did occasionally mount the Severn as far as Evesham. A silver chalice and paten, the latter forming a cover, dated 1576, are preserved at Shelsley Beauchamp church, and are among Mr. Walker's well selected illustrations. The neighbouring little church of Shelsley Walsh, (which, we believe, has another and a less euphonious designation,) was restored a year or two ago by Mr. George Truefitt, who boldly placed an open fire-place in the nave. Here there is an arrangement, of which there is said to be only one other example in England, that, viz., at Fenny Bentley church, near Ashbourne, in Derbyshire, of the roodscreen being returned into the nave so as to include a small chantry. The next parish here illustrated, Mathon, transports us to the other side of the Malvern Hills. S. Leonard's, Newland, near Malvern, is an example of a wooden church; but this will soon perish, being superseded by the new church connected with the Beauchamp Almshouses, which is building by Mr. Hardwick; there will then be only one timber church, that of Besford, left in Worcestershire. Might not, we suggest, the structure be saved for use as a school, or for some such purpose? Under the parish of Churchill we find drawings of some very good farm buildings and labourers' cottages in a quasi-Gothic style, designed for Lord Lyttelton by Mr. Chamberlain, Architect, of Birmingham. These cottages, which have three sleeping rooms-the minimum for a decent cottage— cost (it is said) £350 the pair. Next, Mr. Walker illustrates the old hall at Hagley, and then gives us the Worcester Guesten Hall, not only in its undestroyed state, as it stood in 1861, but in its ruinous condition, as-to the shame of all concerned-it stands now. Finally, there are some valuable sketches from Great Malvern Priory. We congratulate Mr. Walker on the successful progress of his work. The first part is, he tells us, out of print, and a new issue is called for. This series will be indispensable for all Worcester Ecclesiologists, and will be much valued by all who love our old churches and manor-houses, to whatever county they may belong. ECCLESIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. A COMMITTEE Meeting was held at Arklow House, on Wednesday, December 16, 1863: present, A. J. B. Beresford Hope, Esq., the president, in the chair; the Earl of Powis, V.P., J. F. France, Esq., Rev. S. S. Greatheed, Rev. G. H. Hodson, Rev. H. L. Jenner, Rev. W. Scott, and Rev. B. Webb. Henry G. Slade, Esq., of 5, Eldon Road, Kensington, and J. H. Hakewill, Esq., of 50, Maddox Street, W., were elected ordinary members. The following letter from Mr. Wynen, the treasurer of the Dutch church, Austin Friars, afforded the gratifying assurance that that interesting building would be preserved : “July 23, 1863. "REV. AND DEAR SIR,-The matter referred to in your obliging letter of the 21st, has been anxiously considered by the trustees of the Dutch church, and I believe their decision will meet the views of the Ecclesiological Society. "Our intention to rebuild was based entirely on the conclusions of our own professional advisers, as well as those of the surveyors representing an adverse interest. We could not, therefore, in behalf of the church we represent, accept the responsibility of maintaining an edifice condemned as unsafe. The communications we have had from Mr. Scott, and other eminent architects, |