"Yes; and your remark, of course, applies specially to the _transepts_ about which we were speaking, since even in our country churches every transept had its separate altar, the _piscina_ attached to which is still to be found in almost every old church." "I suppose," said Mr. Acres, "that beautiful Gothic niche in our south transept which you recently restored is a _piscina_?" "Yes, it is. The piscina was always placed on the south side of the altar, and it was used chiefly as the receptacle for the water used in cleansing the sacred vessels, or for that used by the priest in washing his hands[129]. It is to be found in our earliest Norman churches, and evidently dates from the time of their erection. There is often a _shelf_ placed over the basin of the piscina, which was used as a _credence_[130]." "We heard much about the credence-table some time since," interrupted the Squire, "when there was a suit in law about this and some other matters; but I confess I am still ignorant as to the purpose of the credence-table." "It is usually a small table, or, when forming part of the piscina, a shelf, on which the elements intended for use at the Eucharist are placed before their consecration. Just before the prayer for the _church militant_ in the Communion Service there is this direction: 'The priest shall _then_ place upon the table (i.e. the altar) so much bread and wine as he shall think sufficient.' Now, you see, it would be very inconvenient, and a sad interruption of that part of the service, to bring these from a distant part of the church. The ancient custom, therefore, of placing the elements on the credence-table at the commencement of the service is most convenient for the proper observance of this rubric. And so, although the credence has only been preserved as an interesting relic, or ornament in other parts of the church, in the chancel it has been preserved or restored[131], as being still a most useful and important part of the furniture of the church." Having now arrived at the vicarage-gate, the two friends bade each other good-night. _CHAPTER XXII_ THE CHANCEL SCREEN "The vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy." Exod. xxvi. 33. "I love the Church,--the holy Church, The Saviour's spotless bride: And, oh, I love her palaces Through all the land so wide! The cross-topp'd spire amid the trees, The holy bell of prayer; The music of our mother's voice, Our mother's home is there. "I love the Church,--the holy Church, That o'er our life presides; The birth, the bridal, and the grave, And many an hour besides! Be mine, through life, to live in her, And when the Lord shall call, To die in her--the spouse of Christ, The mother of us all." _Christian Ballads._ Illustration: Church of St. John, Walworth THE CHANCEL SCREEN