Formerly, judging from Dibden's account of the church, there was great display in the religious functions at S. Germain: "The immediate vicinity of S. Germain is sadly choked by stalls and shops--the West front has been cruelly covered by modern appendages. It is the church dearest to antiquaries, and with reason. I first visited it on a Sunday, when that part of the service was performed which required the fullest intonations of the organ. The effect altogether was very striking. The singular pillars of which the capitals are equally massive and grotesque, being sometimes composed of human beings, and sometimes of birds and beasts, especially towards the choir--the rising up and sitting down of the congregation, and the yet more frequent movements of the priests--the swinging of the censers--and the parade of the vergers, dressed in bag wigs, with broad red sashes of silk, and silk stockings--but above all, the most scientifically-touched, as well as the deepest and loudest toned organ I ever heard--perfectly bewildered and amazed me! Upon the dispersion of the congregation--which very shortly followed this religious excitation--I had ample leisure to survey every part of this curious old structure, which reminded me, although upon a much larger scale, of the peculiarities of S. Georges de Bocherville and Notre-Dame at Guibray. Certainly, very much of this church is of the twelfth century, and, as I am not writing to our friend N., I will make bold to say that some portions of it yet 'smacks strongly' of the eleventh." I cannot say that I have ever noted much ceremonial, or any fine music, at S. Germain. Times have changed probably; certainly, its chief beauty now is the building itself--its grand architecture and beautiful decoration. SAINT-GERVAIS-SAINT-PROTAIS. [Illustration] There can be no doubt that the quaint inscription informing "les bonnes gens" that the church of _Messeigneurs Saint Gervais et Saint Prothais_ was dedicated in 1420, refers to an earlier building than the present one. The Saints were twin-brothers, and are represented here as elsewhere, vested as deacons, although there is no evidence in their history of their having been in holy orders. The full inscription is as follows:-- BONNES GENS PLAISE VOUS SAUOIR QUE CESTE PRESENTE ESGLISE DE MESSEIGNEURS SAINT GERVAIS ET SAINT PROTHAIS FUT DEDIÉE LE DIMÂNCHE DEUANT LA FESTE DE SAINT SIMON ET SAINT JUDE, L'AN MIL QUATRE CENS ET VINT PAR LA MAIN DU REUEREND PERE EN DIEU MAISTRE GOMBAUT, EVESQUE D'A- GRENCE, ET SERA A TOUSJOURS LA FESTE DE LA SAINTE DÉDICACE LE DIMÂNCHE DEUANT LA DICTE FESTE DE SAINT SIMON ET SAINT JUDE. SI VOUS PLAIS Y VENIR, GANGNIER LES GRANS PARDONS ET PRIEZ POUR LES BIENS-FAICTEURS DE CETTE ESGLISE ET AUSSI POUR LES TRESPASSEZ. PATER NOSTER AUE MARIA.