"Who is able to build Him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? who am I then, that I should build Him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before Him? "Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide. Send me also cedar-trees, fir-trees, and algum-trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants, even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be great and wonderful."-- 2 Chron. ii. 6--9. ✠ PREFACE The following chapters are an attempt to explain in very simple language the history and use of those parts of the Church's fabric with which most persons are familiar. They are not written with a view to assist the student of Ecclesiastical Art and Architecture--for which purpose the works of many learned writers are available--but simply to inform those who, from having paid little attention to such pursuits, or from early prejudice, may have misconceived the origin and design of much that is beautiful and instructive in God's House. The spiritual and the material fabric are placed side by side, and the several offices and ceremonies of the Church as they are specially connected with the different parts of the building are briefly noticed. Some of the subjects referred to may appear trifling and unimportant; those, however, among them which seem to be the most trivial have in some parishes given rise to long and serious disputations. The unpretending narrative, which serves to embody the several subjects treated of, has the single merit of being composed of little incidents taken from real life. The first sixteen chapters were printed some years since in the _Church Builder_. The writer is greatly indebted to the Committee of the Incorporated Church Building Society for the use of most of the woodcuts which illustrate the volume. W. F. GODMERSHAM VICARAGE, _Michaelmas_, 1871. _CHAPTER I_ THE LICH-GATE "These words which I command thee; thou shalt write them on thy gates." Deut. vi. 6, 9.