The altar was to be built with ashlar, and the floor paved and steps placed before the altar. The above instructions have, so far as the structure is executed, been carefully complied with, and the edifice presents a favourable example of the work of the early part of the sixteenth century. Ornament has not been spared, and is specially exhibited in the heraldic carving on the shields, with which the weather mouldings terminate. These shields generally contain the arms of the Sandilands family and their connections the Douglases, of which several examples are given below. [Illustration: FIG. 1205.--Mid-Calder Church. Woodcarving.] The following is a short notice of the arms on the different parts of the building. On the angles of the projecting sacristy (the lower story of which contained the family burial vault) there are two pinnacles, with very late crocketing, and finials (Fig. 1202). The south pinnacle contains the Sandilands arms and the initials of J. Sandilands, and other lettering, [Illustration: FIG. 1206.--Mid-Calder Church. Middle Bay in Choir.] much decayed. The north pinnacle exhibits the Sandilands arms quartered with Douglas, and having two angels as supporters, the arms surmounted by a helmet, with a lion’s head for crest. The arms on the label terminations are as follow:-- On the central apse window, north side, Douglas; south side, Sandilands (a bend). 1st window west from central one. Dexter side--Lion or Griffin rampant. Sinister side--Cockburn--The family being allied to the Cockburns of Ormiston. 2nd window to west. Dexter side--Lindsay (fesse chequé) (Fig. 1203, D). Sinister side--Sandilands quartered with Douglas, and initials P. S. (Fig. 1203, A). 3rd window to west. Dexter side--Douglas (Fig. 1203, C). Sinister side--Sandilands and Douglas, with initials J. S. (Fig. 1203, B). In the interior of the church the same arms occur on corbels as in the one supporting the rood loft, now the family gallery (Fig. 1204). There in also a remarkable carved panel in oak (Fig. 1205), which combines the above arms _reversed_, with the initials J. S. and J. L., and the date 1595, together with certain Scripture texts. The Douglas descent is throughout prominently displayed, and the heart and stars sometimes occupy the chief part of the shield. One coat, from centre window (see Fig. 1203, D), exhibits the bearings of a fess chequé of four tracts, with a St. George’s cross in chief, being the arms of the distinguished predecessor of Sir James Sandilands, Lord of Torphichen, and St. John, viz., Sir Walter Lindsay, head of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem in Scotland, the cross having reference to the badge of the order.