dedicated to St. Peter. It is supposed to have been connected with the castle, and most probably erected by one of the Norman Lords; but of this event there is no memorial preserved.—This is a very antient building, and consists of a nave and two aisles of equal length, with a square embattled tower at the west end, in which are eight very fine bells. The nave is separated from the aisles by eight semi-circular arches, and supported by seven columns, three of which are composed of four semicolumns, and the other four have only single shafts. The centre of the last is ornamented with a band of three mouldings, and all the capitals are decorated with sculptured scroll-work, foilage, &c. All the arches have zig-zag indentations round them, and above these are six small windows; but the most curious part of the interior of this singular building is the great archway beneath the tower, at the westend of the nave: it consists of three receding arches, each charged, both in elevation and sofit, with zig-zag mouldings, &c.—Some of the pillars are of the Ionic and the others of the Tuscan order. The length of the church and chancel is about seventy-nine feet, and the breadth of the body and aisles about thirtyfour feet. The exterior of the church and tower is equally curious, though the architectural and Over sculptural decorations are not so numerous. the western door is a blank arch, consisting of four flat mouldings, with a profusion of ornamental sculpture. Above this are several blank arches ; and on the north side of the tower are two similar ranges. The exterior of the church above the aisles, on both sides, has a continued arcade; and over this are a number of grotesque heads, &c.-It was formerly a privilege here, that any person accused of a crime, and intending to clear himself by canonical purgation, was obliged to do it in this church only, having first performed his vigil and prayers in the said church on the preceding evening. To this living are annexed those of Kingsthorpe and Uptor. The advowson was given by Edward the Third to the hospital of St. Catherine, near the Tower of London, and still remains under its patronage.-There is a small monument in this church which commemorates the memory of John Smith, the eminent Metzotinto scraper, who died in January, 1742, aged 90 years.There are likewise several other very handsome monuments. A subscription has lately been opened for improving and beautifying the interior of this church. The church dedicated to the honour of the holy Sepulchre is situate near the northern extremity of the town, and is supposed to have been built by the Knights Templars, after the model of the church erected over the holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem; there are but two other churches now standing, that are built upon the same plan, which are the Temple church in London, and Sepulchre's in Cambridge. It is of a circular form, and consists of a body, and north and south aisles, leaded. In the middle is a large cupola, also covered with lead, and supported by eight pillars of the Tuscan order; each pillar standing at the distance of eight feet from one another, and forming an angle with the pillar next adjoining. At the east end is a very large chancel, in which are a number of curious figures and inscriptions of ancient dates. At the west end is a broad embattled tower, about sixteen feet in length, and eleven feet in breadth, on which is raised a pyramidal spire, about one hundred and sixteen feet high; the tower contains six bells. The diameter of the church and aisles is fifty-eight feet six inches, and the compass of the circle of the eight pillars measured outwards one hundred and twelve feet eight inches. The body only was first built, the chancel and steeple plainly appear to have been added afterwards. On the wall of the church, within, on the left hand of the front door, are some most curious barbarous figures in relief; but to what subject they allude is hitherto, and in all probability will remain unknown; and in the wall of a house, adjoining the church-yard, is a figured stone, supposed to be the top of a cross. Upon an ordinary marble in the body of the church is the portrait of a man in brass, between his two wives, hand in hand; beneath the woman on the right are two sons and one daughter, beneath the other seven sons and two daughters, with the following lines under them :— FAREWELL TRVE FRIEND, READER VNDERSTAND BY THIS MYSTERIOVS KNOTT, OF HAND IN HAND, And round the border of the stone is inscribed, HERE RESTETH THE BODY OF GEORGE COLES OF NORTHAMPTON, WITH HIS TWO WIVES SARAH AND ELEANOR, BY WHOM HE HAD TWELVE CHILDREN. HE GAVE TO PIOVS VSES XIl. YEARELY FOR EVER ΤΟ THIS TOWNE, AND DECEASED THE FIRST OF JANVARY 1640. In 1677, Mr. Nicholas Rothwell, of London, mealman, by a verbal will gave one hundred pounds to the use of the poor of this parish. With this money two small closes were purchased, the rent of which is applied to the placing out boys apprentices. The same sum was also given to each of the other parishes in Northampton, and likewise to the parish of Hardingston, in which he was born. A very singular circumstance took place in this church a few years ago; of which the following account has been copied from Evans's Juvenile Tourist, lately published.-" During the service one morning, a noise was heard beneath one of the pews, which violently increasing, the people rushed out of the church, and the good parson coming down from the pulpit, ran after them! The bottom of the pew was taken up, but nothing was to be seen: some thought the disturbance was raised by the spirit of a gentleman buried near the spotwhilst others were of opinion, that Satan had hit upon this wicked trick to put an end to their devotions! Probably some vermin wanted the riot act read to them; though it is somewhat singular that they should have been troublesome only on this occasion." |