Ebook English Church Furniture

In this book an endeavour has been made to gather together some accounts of the more remarkable examples of old church furniture which are now extant in the parish churches of England ; with lists of all chancel screens, and of the best instances of old altar slabs, altar plate, fonts, pulpits, lecterns, piscinas, holy-water stoups, stalls, benches, embroideries, chained books, and other details.

At first it was proposed to confine these accounts and lists to pre-Reformation days; but it was eventually decided to give a certain amount of general information down to the end of the seventeenth century.

The original intention was to include descriptions of such matters as painted glass, wall paintings, floor tiles, and ironwork; but the plan became perforce more restricted for lack of space. It is possible that these subjects may be discussed in a future volume.

The following pages have been in the course of preparation for about six years. The delay in issuing a book which has been so long announced has been caused by the desire of the authors to improve and perfect the lists of various articles of extant church furniture. They are, however, convinced that a delay of even double that period would not suffice to make the work actually complete, and are fully aware that it will be found deficient in some places, and perhaps incorrect in others. Nevertheless, it seems best to issue the book, notwithstanding its probable defects, for a postponement until perfection was attained would probably prove perpetual.