Which of the midget churches is the smallest it is somewhat
difficult to say; but it is believed that the smallest church in
England is the truly miniature church of Lullington, in Sussex.
It is a primitive and quaint building, constructed of flint with
stone quoins, with a roof of red tiles. It can boast of a little
weather-boarded turret at its west end; but its bell does not toll
now, and the birds of the air have long since found the turret a
convenient nesting-place. The church is but sixteen feet square. The
pulpit is a pew, with panelled sides and door, and the furniture is
of the plainest. Five, narrow, diamond-paned windows throw a scanty
light upon the interior, in which there is accommodation for thirty
persons--quite sufficient for the population of the village.
[Illustration: (_Photo: H. J. Unwin, Hailsham._)
LULLINGTON CHURCH.
(_Sixteen feet square._)]
A somewhat larger edifice is the very interesting church of
Wythburn, in Cumberland, the dimensions of which are--nave (length),
thirty-nine feet; height of walls, ten feet; and width, fifteen
feet. This was the original church, erected about one hundred and
sixty years ago, and is of the simplest description. The roof is
constructed of old ships' timber, and the windows are square holes
with wooden frames. The chancel is eighteen feet long by fifteen
feet by ten feet. The beautiful little east window is by Henry
Holiday, and was put in to the memory of the late vicar. What
a magnificent site for a church! The poets have thus expressed
themselves with regard to this humble but beautifully situated
church:--
Canon H. D. Rawnsley wrote:
"We cannot stay--for life is but an Inn,
A halfway house--and, lo! the graves how near!
Yet mighty minds have hither come for cheer
Before the upward path they dared begin.
Here Gray the pilgrim rested pale and thin,
Here Wilson laughed, and Wordsworth murmured here.
Here Coleridge mused, and ere he crossed the mere
Hence Arnold viewed the Goal he hoped to win.
And we who would Helvellyn's height essay,
Or climb towards the gateway of the mound
Where Dunmail died because his realm was fair,
May join their gracious company who found
Earth's beauty made Life's Inn a House of Prayer,
And speed, refreshed of soul, upon our way."
[Illustration: _Wythburn Church as compared with St. Paul's
Cathedral._
(_Photo: T. Dumble, Keswick._)
WYTHBURN CHURCH.
(_Thirteen yards long, five yards wide._)]
Wordsworth, too, said:
"If Wythburn's modest House of Prayer,
As lowly as the lowliest dwelling,
Had, with its belfry's humble stock,
A little pair that hang in air,
Been mistress also of a clock
(And one, too, not hung in crazy plight),
Twelve strokes that clock would have been telling
Under the brow of old Helvellyn."
And H. Coleridge:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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