Inside the Church: ' Fittings and Ornaments'
E. A. Greening LAMBORN
This evening E. A. Greening Lamborn will discuss the fittings and ornaments of a village church. He describes ancient burials, discusses payments for sweet herbs and spices burnt in the church in olden times on ceremonial occasions, and an old-fashioned way of raising funds for the church before the advent of the modern bazaar. The alc brewed for this purpose in the room above the lych-gate, or in some handy spot, sold readily, to the great joy of the parish.
In many old churches is a fireplace in the wall at the west end of the aisle, where crab apples were roasted to flavour the ale, and churchwardens' accounts included payment for the musician who played for the dances.
Mr. Greening Lamborn examines the church door, and knows at once the date of it; and if you have found crosses scratched on the square stones forming the jambs of the doorway and suspected desecration, he will be quick to disillusion you. To Mr. Greening Lamborn the village church is a place of romance and beauty. He has the power of conjuring up the men and women who worshipped there, who married there, who had their children baptised there, and who were buried there with their children in the old days of England.