Book VII, 48).

APPENDIX H
ON THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH
The following particulars are extracted and condensed from Martene's invaluable work : and as his account is not easily accessible, and somewhat long, it has been thought well to subjoin them here.
Appendix 197
Churches were often, in the primitive ages, dedicated by more than one bishop. Constantine having com- pleted a magnificent church at Jerusalem, invited the prelates, then assembled in council at Tyre, to assist in its consecration (Euseb. Vit. Const, iv, 43 ; Sozomen. i, 46).
Constantius his son, having finished a church erected by his father at Antioch, Eusebius of Nicomedia, the intruding patriarch of Constantinople, summoned a council under pretence of consecrating the church, however much in reality to decide against the Catholic doctrine of Consubstantiality. Ninety-seven bishops were present (Sozomen. iii, 5).
So it was also in the Western Church. This is proved by the Preface to the Fourth Council of Aries, holden in 524: which begins, 'When the priests of the Lord had assembled in the will of God to the dedication of the church of S. Mary at Aries.'
In the time of S. Louis, Pope Pascal I consecrated the church of S. Vincent, with the Sacred College of Bishops and Cardinals. About the year 1015, the crypt of the monastery of S. Michael was consecrated by S. Bernard of Hildersheilm and two other bishops ; and three years afterwards, the church being finished, it was consecrated by the same S. Bernard with three other bishops ( Vita S. Bernardi. cap. xxxix, xl).
All these bishops took an actual part in the service. In the consecration of the church of Mans, in 11 20, the high altar was consecrated by Gilbert, Archbishop of Mans: S. Julians by Galfred of Rouen: Hildebert of Mans consecrated S. Mary's ; Reginald of Anglers that of the Holy Cross. There is a fine passage to the same point in Sugerius's book on the dedication of the church of S. Denis : ' Right early in the morning,' saith he, ' archbishops and bishops, archdeacons . and abbots, and other venerable persons, who had lived of their proper
198 The Symbolism of Churches
expense, bore themselves right bishopfully ; and took their places on the platform raised for the consecration of the water, and placed between the sepulchres of the holy martyrs and S. Saviour's altar. Then might ye have seen, and they who stood by saw, and that with great devotion, such a band of so venerable bishops, arrayed in their white robes, sparkling in their pontifical robes and precious orfreys, grasp their pastoral staves, call on God in holy exorcism, pace around the conse- crated enclosure, and perform the nuptials of the Great King with such care, that it seemed as though the cere- mony were performed by a chorus of angels, not a band of men. The crowd, in overwhelming magnitude, rolled around to the door ; and while the aforesaid episcopal band were sprinkling the walls with hyssop, the king and his nobles drive them back, repress them, guard the portals.'
Yet the principal actor on the occasion was the bishop of the diocese. The thirty-sixth canon of the second Council of Aries decrees, * If a bishop be minded to build a church in another diocese, let its dedication be reserved for the diocesan.' S. Columbanus, being only a priest, dedicated the church of S. Aurelia (Walfrid. Strabo. Vita S. Gallo, cap. vi).
The preceding night was spent either in the church or in neighbouring churches in a solemn vigil. S. Ambrose testifies that this was done on occasions of the dedication of the Ambrosian church {^Epist. 22, ad Marcellina). So S. Gregory of Mans, in his dedication of the church of S. Julian, removed the relics of that saint into the church of S. Martin, and there kept vigil {De Glor. Mart, ii, 34).
Relics were considered indispensably necessary : so S. Paulinus {Epist, xxxii, ad Sever.) This church was dedicated in the name of Christ, the Saint of saints, the Martyr of martyrs, the Lord of lords, and was honoured
Appendix 199
with the relics of the blessed apostles. See also the beautiful epistle of S. Ambrose, translated in * The Church of the Fathers.' The phrase was, Consecrare ecclesiaDi de reliquiis Beati n.
Yet some churches were consecrated without relics. The second Nicene Council decreed that in this case they should be supplied. Those portions of the conse- crated elements were placed with these : to which per- haps that expression of S. Chrysostom is to be referred — ' What is the altar by nature but a stone ? But it is made holy, when it hath once received the body of Christ.'
These relics occupied different positions. In the church of S. Benedict, consecrated by Pope Alexander II, there were relics in the chapel-apse of S. John, in the bases of the piers, in the four angles of the bell tower, in the cross on the western gable, in the cross of the tower (^Chron. Cass, iii, 30).
Ashes were sprinkled on the floor, and the bishop with his pastoral staff wrote on them the alphabet, sometimes in Latin alone, sometimes in Greek also.
The whole ceremony concluded with the endowment of the church : or, as it was termed, presenting its dowry.
By way of setting before our readers as clearly as possible the ancient form of dedication, we have chosen, among ten forms preserved by Martene, that of S. Dunstan.
Here beginnetJi the 07'der of the dedication of a church. The bishops and other ministers of the church advance singing the antiphon, ' Zaccheus, make haste and come down,' etc.
Prevent us, O Lord, in all our, etc.
Theft twelve candles are to be lighted, ajtd placed round
200 The Symbolisni of CJiurches
the church, with the antiphon, three from the east, three from the west, three from the north, three from the south.
God, which by the preaching of Thine apostles, didst open to Thy Church the Kingdom of Heaven, and didst call them the Lights of the world, grant, we beseech Thee, that being assisted by their prayers, by whose teaching we are guided, and splendour illuminated, we may make these our actions pleasing to Thy Divine Majesty.
Here followeth the Litany : the priests going thrice round tJie church, and beginning from that door at which they be after to enter, namely, the south door.
O Christ, hear us, etc.
Prevent us, O Lord, with Thy tender mercy, and by the intercession of Thy saints, receive our prayers graciously.
Let our prayers, O Lord, come up before Thee, and expel all wickedness from Thy Church.
God, which rulest heaven and earth, graciously give us the aid of Thy defence.
Then one of the deacons entering the church, and shut- ting the door standeth before it, the others remaining with- out : and the bishop striking it with his staff, saith :
Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in.
The deacon within answereth, and saith : Who is the King of Glory ?
The Bishop. Lift up, etc.
The Deacon. Who is, etc.
The Bishop. Lift up, etc.
The Deacon. Who is, etc.
Chorus. The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.
The bishop again striking the door it is opened: and
Appendix 201
he enteretJi : the chorus singing after Jiini, Lift up your heads, etc., to the end of the Psalm.
The Bishop. The Lord be with you.
Response. And with thy spirit.
The Bishop. Let us pray :
We beseech Thee, O Lord, of Thy mercy, to enter Thy house, and to make for Thyself an habitation in the hearts of the faithful. Through, etc.
Then tJie bishop enteretJi the choir ^ saying :
Peace be to this house, and to all that are in it ; peace to them that come in, and to them that go out.
Bless, O Lord, this house, which the sons of men have built for Thee : hear those which shall come up to this place : hear their prayers in the lofty throne of Thy glor)-.
TJie clej'ks begin the Litany ; the bishop, with certain priests and deacons, remaining prostrate at the altar.
Lord have mercy upon us, etc.
As soon as Agnus Dei is said, tJie bishop, rising, saith :
Let us pray.
Be Thou exalted. Lord, in Thine own strength, etc.
Then the bishop shall write the alphabet along the pave- ment} first from east to west, then from north to south, the chorus saying the Psalm, Fundamenta ejus.
' In the treatise of the Mart. Remigius, De Dedicatione Ecdesice^ we have the following explanation of this singular custom : 'A thing which might appear puerile, unless it had been instituted by men, great in dignity, spiritual in life, apostolical in discipline. In all things of this kind, the Lord by His example hath gone before us : and what He hath done, re- maineth unchangeable in his successors. What is understood by the alphabet save the beginnings and rudiments of sacred doctrine ? Whence S. Paul, " Ye have need that one teach you again, which be the first prin- ciples of the oracles of God." Therefore the bishop writeth the alphabet, to signify that he teacheth the pure doctrine of the gospel. He writeth the alphabet twice, and that in the figure of a cross, to signify that the Passion of Christ is set forth by the gospel in its purity. He writeth it in the angles of the church, because by them be set forth the four corners of the world. He oeginneth from the east, because the gospel began from the Jews.'
There is probably some reference to the Saviour's stooping down, and writing in the sand. We may also compare those singular and rare bells, in which the only inscription round the crown consists of the letters of the alphabet.
202 The Symbolisin of ChurcJies
The Bishop. O God, make speed, etc.
Response. O Lord, make haste, etc.
The Bishop. Glory be, etc.
Response. i\s it, etc.
Then followeth the exorcisvi of the salt, and the water, and the ashes.
Then the hisJwp inaketh the sign of the cross at the four corners of the altar, with hyssop, going round it seven times. The chorus sing the Psalm, Miserere mei Deus. Then the bishop sprinkleth the water th7'ee times round the church : the chorus singing Deus noster refugium. Then the bishop sprinkleth the water over the altar : the chorus singing Qui habitat. Tlien the bishop sprinkleth the whole church inside with the water thrice : to signify the ChurcJis inward faith in the Trinity : and once outside, to signify the one baptism. The chorus sing Fundamenta ejus ; and while the priests are ascending the turrets, Jacob beheld a ladder, etc., and the Psalm Deus noster refugium.
Then the bishop entereth the church : and sprinkleth water on the pavement in the form of a cross : the chorus singing Benedicite, omnia opera.
The Bishop. Lift up your hearts. Response. We lift, etc.
The Bishop. Let us give thanks, etc. Response. It is meet, etc.
Then the bishop goeth to the altar, and poureth the remainder of the water at its base.
Then he blesseth the altar-stone, the altar clothes, the sacerdotal vestments, the corporal, the paten, the chalice, the thurible.
Here followeth the Mass of Dedication. The post communion ended, the Bishop saith : Incline, O Lord, Thine ears unto me, and hear me : Look down, O Christ, from heaven, on thy flock and thy
Appendix 203
sheep : stretch Thine hand over them : bless their bodies and their souls : that in the communion of the saints they may receive celestial benediction, light angelical, the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete. Amen.
They who be regenerate of water and the Holy Ghost who be redeemed on earth by Thy precious blood, who have received Thy sign on their foreheads, grant them to be Thine on the day of judgment. Amen.
And as Thou didst bless patriarchs and prophets and apostles, martyrs and confessors, virgins and priests, so bless this flock, who are assembled to-day in Thy name in this church. Amen.
And as by Thine angel Thou didst free the three children from the burning fiery furnace, so free this flock from everlasting death and the power of the devil, and from earthly lusts and all manner of weaknesses. Amen.
Spare their faults, remit their sins, and present them pure and undefiled in the day of judgment : as Thou didst receive Enoch and Elias into the kingdom of heaven. Amen.
God Almighty bless and keep you, and make this house to shine with the glory of His presence, and open the eyes of His pity upon it day and night. Amen.
And grant of His mercy, that all, who have assembled together at this dedication, by the intercession of Blessed N., and all other saints whose relics rest here, may obtain the remission of their sins. Amen.
That ye may be made a holy temple in the spirit, where the Holy Trinity may ever deign to dwell ; and after this short life ye may attain to everlasting felicity. Amen.
Which He grant. Who liveth and reigneth, world without end. Amen.
204 T^^^ Symbolism of Churches
APPENDIX I
ADDENDA
Page 6. — It shows how little Durandus can rightly be charged with fancifulness, when we find him classing among ceremonial precepts, rites for which the Rabbis and many modern expositors have given a symbolical reason.
Page 23. — 'The lattice work of the windows.' Wrongly translated in Lewis, 'the screens before the windows.'
Page 25. — This passage proves that in the time and country of Durandus seats or chairs except in the choir were unknown. Though in England Early English or Early Decorated open seats do occur, as in Clapton-in- Gordan, Somersetshire, they are very rare, and take up much less of the church than is the case in later examples. See ' Hist, of Pews,' 3rd ed., pp. 19, 20, 79.
Page 39. — The reader is aware that the words in medio of the early Christian altars gave rise to the warmest disputes between the Puritans and the Catholics of the 17th century. The Puritans insisted that they meant in the body of the church : the Catholics generally, and more particularly that most able defender of altars, Dr Laurence, insisted that when the fathers spoke of an alter in medio^ they only meant one so placed as to be where all might see it. The words undoubtedly may bear this meaning : yet perhaps it is better to understand them, as they must be understood in this passage of Durandus, of an altar placed in the chord of the segment of a circle formed by the apse. See Ecclesiologist^ vol. ii, p. 13.
Page 46, note 2c. — This is a mistake. The fresco alluded to represents a priest repeating the Pater Noster (which is written in his open book) at the N. W. angle of an altar. Upon the altar are two candlesticks and a ciborium : rising out of the latter is the figure of our Blessed Lord. There can be no doubt of the objectionable nature of such a representation.
Page 54- — The nimbus of the Saviour, it is perhaps needless to observe in explanation, is alv/ays inlaid, as it were, with a cross : at least the exceptions are excessively rare.
Page 54- — These 'carved figures ' probably signify the corbels. Page 54, note 54. — There is a valuable article on the nimbus by M. Didron from the Revue Generale de V Architecture in the Literary Gazette for Dec. 1842. An example is there given of the square nimbus in the case of Pope Nicholas, as represented in a contemporary MS. The whole is well worth reading.
Page 102. — Dedication crosses. We have seen a valuable example of these in the church of Moorlinch, Somersetshire. There are four circles containing crosses pattees on the north and south sides of the chancel ; and two at the east end, in all ten : the other two have disappeared.
Page 146. — The bodies of good men called horses. The same idea is worked out at great length in S. Chrysostom's earlier homilies on the Statues.
Page 170. — But how great is the admiration, etc. Compare S. Hildebert's hymn, Exrta portam^ towards the conclusion :
Appendix 205
Oauntum tui gratulentur,
(juam festive conviventur
yuis affectus eos stringat,
Et qucc gemma muros pingat,
Ouis chalcedon, quis jacintus,
Norunt isti, (juis sunt intiis ! The last line has the same beautiful turn with the expression of Hugh of S. Victor.
Page 180. — Most of the following practices are observed to this day in the Metropolitical Church of Seville. There are twoambones, but no rood loft : the sub-deacon chants the epistle by himself, in the southern ambo ; the deacon, preceded by a taper, chants the gospel from the northern.
Page 182. — So S. Bernard in his commentary on that verse of the 90th Psalm, 'A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand :tt thy right hand.'
INDEX
Abbots, how represented, 52
Agathensian, the Council, 45
Agnus Dei, The, 47
Alexander, Pope, 124
Alphabet, inscription of, 98
Allegory, 6
Altar candlesticks, 58
Altar rails, 26
Altars, stripped on Good Friday, 61
Altars, their consecration, 113
Altars, why encircled seven times at
consecration, 119 Altare distinguished from ara, 34 Anagoge, 7
Analogium, see Rood Loft Angels, how represented, 47 Antioch, Council of, 197 Antiphonal chanting, 21 Apostles, the, how represented, 50 Appodiatio, explained, 62 Ark of Testimony 35
its contents, 36
Aries, Fourth Council of, 197
Arnaldistae, 139
Augustine, S., 49, 84, 85, 136, 152
Basilica, 13
Baruth, legend of, 89
Bell rope, 74
Bells, when first used, 71
what they signify, 72
silent, when, 196
Bernard, S., 131, 139
Beverstone church, 46
Bishop, the consecration of n, 145
Bishopstone, 19
Black, when used, 194
Boneface I\', Pope, 94
Breastplate, how made, 10
Burchardus, S., 64
Burial of heretics in cemeteries. 1 1 r
Cambridge Camden Society, 85
Cambridge, S. Sepulchre, 55
Cambridge, S. Giles, 26
Capella, whence derived, 14
Carrhage, Council of, 158
Cavilla, 74
Cellar, 30
Cement, its symbolism, 17
Cemetery, 82
Ccenobium, 14
Chalices, their materials, 68
Chancels, lower than nave, 26
Chancels, 173
Chancel, more holy than nave, 20
Chrism, 137
Christmas, how churches are to be adorned at, 65
Chrysologus, S. Peter, 49
Church, its meanings, 12
Churches, when to be moved, 32
Clement, S., of Rome, 46
Cloister, 29
Cobham church, 46
Cothelstone church, 54
Cock, the, 165
Commands, moral, $
Cone, 23
Confessors, how represented, 52
Consecration of a church, 88
Constantine builds a church at Jeru- salem. 197
Cosins, Bishop, 154
208
TJie Symbolism of Churches
Ciampini, 103, 126
Cross, the sign of the, 188
Cross triumphal, 28
Cross churches, 21
Crosses, the five, that mark an altar,
114 Crypts, 22
Curtains, of the tabernacle, 15 Cymbalum, 77 Dedication crosses, 98 Degrees, songs of, 43 Depulsare distinguished from com-
pulsare, 78 Derby, the Earl of, 179 Divine Majesty, the, how repre- sented, 53 Division, of the whole work, 11 Door, 24 Dormitory, 30 Dorsals, 56 Dowsing, William, 26 Dunstan, S., his form of dedication,
199 Durandus, his many occupations,
161 Dying, the, lay in sackcloth and
ashes, 149 Egleton church, 55 Epiphany, what events celebrated
thereon, 155 Evangelistic symbols, 48 Evaristus, Pope, 158 Exeter cathedral, 21 Extreme unction, 139, 148 Faustinus, S., his legend, 84 Felix III, Pope, 89 Ferculum, 28, 167 Frescoes, 45 Glass, 23
Gospel, the, fixed on the altar, 60 why not read from the rood
loft in a Mass of requiem, 187 Green, when used, 194 Gregory, S., 54,73, 75, 9i, 152 _ Greeks, the, how they paint saints,
43 Haddenham, 14 Henry, S., his shrine, 48 Holy, distinguished from sacred^ 81 Horologium, 27 Horses, the bodies of good men,
why so called, 146 Hours, the, explained, 75
Hugh of S. Victor, his ' Mystical
Mirror ' 163 Human body, its resemblance to a
church, 19 Hyssop, its virtues, 95 Idolatr)', a protest against, 44 Ingoldsby Legends, their profanity,
84 Isidore, S., 83, 137, 155, 156 Jerusalem, its variety of significa- tions, 8
rebuilt, 18
John, S., Evangelist, his confessions,
38 Journeys, the Saviour's seven, 119 Kilpeck church, 19 Kyriake, 13 Lateran, S. John, its altar to the
west, 177 Lattice-work, 23 Litter, 34, 167 Llandanwg church, 46 Ludlow church, 21 Lyons, Council of, 41 Machpelah, 83 Mans, dedication of a church there,
198 Marriages, when forbidden, 154
second, 159
Martyrs, how represented, 52
Martyrium, 14
Mary, S., Magdalene, 126
Maundy Thursday, 153
Mende, 2
Mirror of Magistrates, 9
Moleon, De, his ' Voyage Litur-
gique,' 67 Montague, Bishop, 31 Murderers, limits of right of
sanctuary. 32 Mystical, its meaning, 5 Nola, 77 Nolula, 77 Nimbus, the, 54 Orientation, 19, 177, seq. Orfrey, the, 59 Ornaments of churches not to be
profaned, 69 Ostrich eggs, why hung in churches,
67 Oxted church, 50 Palmers, 52 Paradise, how represented, 54
Index
209
Parthian skins, 19
Patriarchs, how represented, 51
Pavement, 24
Phylacterium, difference between it and phylacteria, 57
Pictures, their use, 45
Piers, 24
Piscina, 27
Pity, how five-fold, 130
Podium, 85
Portfolio, the, what it represents, 56
Priests, unlettered, 4
allowed to consecrate churches,
16
Prophets, how represented, 51
Preston church, 54
Prothesis, table of, 3
Prynne, 21
Pyx, the, 56
Pulpit, 26
Rationale, reason of the name, 10
Reconciliation of a church, 107
Reconsecration, when to be prac- tised, 105
Remigius Monk, 201
Relics required for the consecra- tion of a church, 198
Richard of Cremona, 139
Ring-, the wedding, 156 Ringing, various kinds of, 77 Rod of weathercock, 23
Rood loft, 26
turrets, two, common in Nor- folk, 180 Round churches, 21 Sacraments defined, 152
their nature, 2
Sacramental, distinguished from
ceremonial, 5 Sugerius, 197 Sambuca, the, 100 Sanctuary, the, 20 Saviour, our, various representa- tions of, 46 Savinianus, Pope, 75 Scarlet, when used, 189 Scuta, the, 59 beal, the, of an altar, 105
Second Day. why it had no blessing.
79 Senses of Holy Scripture, 5 Separation of men and women, 30 Signum, 77 Sion, distinguished from Jerusalem,
13 Snuffers, the, 58 Sacristy, 27 Stalls, 25 Squilla, 76 Stephen, Pope, 70 Stones of a church, their symbolism,
^7
Sylvester, S., 139
Synagogue never applied to a church, 13
Te Deum, method of chanting, 78
Temple, Aslackby church, 21
Thiers, Father, 26
Tie-beams, 25
Tiles, 27
Toledo, Council of, 41
Tongs, the, 59
Torrentius, Lan-inus, 189
Towers, 22
Treasures of the church, why ex- hibited, 66
Unctions, 134
Variety of rites, 8
Veils, their various kinds, 61 Vigilantius, 57
\'igil, of the dedication of a church,
198 Violet, when used, 193 Virgins, difference between and continent, 20
how represented, 52
Vladimir, S., his conversion, 55 Walls, why four, 20 Water, Holy, 115, 171 Weathercock, 22
White cloths cover the altar, why, 40 White, when used. 189 Widford church, 46 Women, their heads to be un- covered, 31 York, S. Lawrence, 55
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