A lectern may be either of wood, iron, or cast brass, of which the last is the best, but the most costly. The desks should in most cases be made to turn, and it will add much to the comfort of using it if two cords, weighted at the ends, be attached to the top, so that they may be laid over the leaves of the book and so keep it open. Besides those with special uses, a light move⚫able lectern of wood or wrought-iron will be found convenient in many ways in a church.

but never, so far as I have observed, for the Epistle lectern. See, for instance, the passage quoted in the last note. Also Durandus "Rationale," book iv., chapters 16–24, passim. De Honecort, in his sketch-book, has left us drawings of two eagles, both of which are described as Gospel desks (see Professor Willis's edition plates, xii. and xliii.) In a series of contemporary drawings of the funeral of Abbot Islip in 1533, engraved in the fourth volume of the "Vetusta Monumenta," is one showing the sanctuary and high altar of Westminster Abbey. On the north side is an eagle desk, seemingly of brass, and of the usual form. There is no lectern of any kind for the Epistle; and other similar instances might be quoted. Having mentioned the examples in De Honecort, I will venture to point out what seems to me to be a slight misunderstanding on the part of his English editor as to the contrivance in plate xliii. I think the head of the bird was turned merely by the placing of the book on its back, the lower part of which appears to be movable, and is connected with the string and pulley in such a way, that by depresing the back, as would be done by the weight of the book, the head would be turned. A "puerile device," indeed, as Professor Willis calls it, but not quite so bad as to make the deacon stop before singing the Gospel to pull a lever.

SECTION XII.

OF THE CHANCEL LEVELS AND STEPS.

BOTH practically and æsthetically it is of the highest importance that these should be well considered. The prevailing idea now seems to be that it matters little where steps are placed, if only there are plenty of them. A well-elevated altar is usually and rightly asked for. But no greater mistake can be made than to imagine that this may be obtained by simply raising it above the level of the nave floor. It is quite possible, merely by adding steps, to destroy the whole dignity of the altar as seen from the body of the church. A great rise at the entrance to the chancel is certain to bring this about, and with a deep sanctuary many steps just outside the altarrail are almost equally prejudicial, especially if, as is often the case, the rail extends all across the chancel, and the floor beyond it is comparatively flat. In order that the steps may have their fullest effect in increasing the importance of the altar, they must be placed as far east as possible, and almost always they should be more numerous inside than outside the rail. The number of steps will vary greatly according to the size and character of the church. A lofty building may have many, but in small churches of the usual type less is often gained by raising the floor than is lost by the conse

quent diminution in the internal height of the sanctuary walls. In such a case, the maximum effect will often be obtained by using only four steps, one at the entrance to the chancel, a second at that of the sanctuary, and two within it, the first not less than three feet east of the rail, and the other about three feet in front of the altar. All steps which are added in larger churches should The first may become

be developed out of these four.

two or three, generally two, and rarely, if ever, more than three, and in very small buildings it may sometimes be entirely omitted. The step at the entrance to the sanctuary must always remain one. Nothing can possibly be more inconvenient for communicants, especially infirm persons, than the now not uncommon arrangement of a rise of two or three steps immediately outside the altar-rail. In very rare instances it may be desirable to add other steps between the rood-screen and the altar-rail. But if so, they.must be placed at the eastern end of the stalls, and a platform of at least four feet wide be left between them and the sanctuary step. The side gates of the chancel, by which communicants pass out, must open directly on to this platform.

In considering the steps of the sanctuary, it will be most convenient to begin at the east. The highest of our four normal steps is what is commonly called the foot-pace, and it is mostly returned, that is, it does not go the whole width of the sanctuary. The object of this returning is to make the step form a sort of base for the altar to stand upon, and so increase the importance of its appearance. But where the chancel is so

narrow as to leave only a few feet between the ends of the altar and the side-walls, it is most convenient for the steps to run all across. In large churches a second, and sometimes a third returned step may be added. Care must be taken to make the top one broad in front, where the celebrant stands. Four feet will be found a good width. If it be less than three feet there is a risk of the priest's foot slipping over the edge, which is uncomfortable and often dangerous. The second and third steps, known respectively as the gospeller's and the epistoler's, require to be broad enough to be walked along. About two feet will be found a convenient width. At the sides the steps need not be more than about a foot wide, as they are only required for ascent and descent. The platform at the top should not be much wider than the length of the altar, for if so, the base-like effect is destroyed; but a few inches of projection at each end will be found convenient, and looks better than if the step is exactly the length of the altar.

About two feet below the foot-pace should be placed the third of our four steps. Where an elevated altar is required, it is here that the great rise should be made. This step may become half-a-dozen, or even more, and yet every step have its due effect in dignifying the altar. But care must be taken to leave a broad, level space between the lowest step and the altar-rail, so that the clergy may with ease pass one behind another when communicating the people.

It is best that the level of the choir floor should be at least one step above that of the chancel aisles; there

will, therefore, be a descent at the north and south chancel gates. And generally there should be but one step from the nave aisle to the chancel aisle, lest, by the elevation of the latter and its contents, the preeminence of the chancel should be interfered with.

The rise of the steps will vary according to circumstances. There may be sometimes artistic reasons for preferring four low steps to three high ones. But for convenience no step should rise less than five inches or more than eight. That upon which the altar-rail stands should not be less than six inches high.