munificent prelate was a great builder, and, as has been before stated, erected a castle at Sleaford for his own residence.

The spire is remarkably broad, the base of it being square, and covering the walls of the tower, without any surrounding parapet or battlements. This was the earliest form of spires, and is found in several examples of later date than this at Sleaford: afterwards the spire became narrower at its base, and bolder in elevation, as successive efforts gave more confidence to the builders, until at length a degree of sublimity was attained which has never been equalled in modern times. How far the more ancient fabric of the church corresponded with the tower cannot be known, the other parts having been entirely rebuilt in a very different style. A statement has been published, and said to have been taken from a manuscript found in the church chest; setting forth that the church was built in the year 1271, by Roger Blount and Roger Brickham, of Sleaford, merchants; and that it was endowed in the year 1277, and dedicateda to St. Dennis.b No such document can now be found, and the record has certainly been interpreted more extensively than its true meaning warranted. Those merchants might found some chantry or chapel, attached to

a "As to the consecration of churches, we find the Jews had their Encœnia, or Feasts of Dedication of their Temple. Jon. X. 22. MACCAB. IV. 59.

"But there was no dedication of our christian churches to saints, until praying to saints was in use; and after churches began to be dedicated to saints, their dedication feasts were usually kept on that day, which was the feast-day appointed in the calendar, for commemoration of that saint to whom such church was particularly dedicated. This time was called with us The Wakes, for waking, as the Latin word Vigile, or Vigilando, because at such times the people prayed most of the night before such feast-day in the churches." ANTIQUARIAN REPERTORY, Vol. II. p. 425.

b See "A Selection of Views in Lincolnshire, with Topographical and Historical Accounts, by Bartholomew Howlett," In this work are two views of Sleaford church, with short descriptions of the church and town.

the church; but its architecture furnishes abundant evidence that the rebuilding was carried on from an early part of the fourteenth, to some time in the fifteenth century. The west front is viewed to great advantage from the square where the markets are held, and presents a singular and picturesque composition of architecture. The tower occupies the centre, in which the original design remains unaltered, with the exception of one window in front, inserted probably at the time the church was rebuilt. The north aisle is lighted by a large window, filled with beautiful ramified tracery, beneath which is placed an arched door under a pointed gable, The western window of the south aisle is of less size and richness than that of the north aisle. It has also a door beneath it, which is remarkable, very few parochial churches having more than one entrance at the west end. The stair-turrets at the north and south terminations of the front, the parapets, and the two open tabernacles over the windows, are all beautifully decorated in the style of the fourteenth century.

The exterior of the church, in the aisles, chancel, and a transept projecting on the north side, exhibits the same style as the west front, and many of the windows are uncommonly rich and elegant in their tracery, The upper story is of later style, and admirably light and beautiful. Two windows are placed over each of the principal arches which support the sides of the nave, above which the parapets are embattled, and thickly set with pinnacles. The flattened arches of these windows refer them to the fifteenth century, this part of the fabric being the latest part of the work.

a These tabernacles were anciently furnished with two small bells; one is yet remaining, and was used, within memory, on market days, to give notice to Hucksters of the time when they might begin to purchase.