Volltext Seite (XML)
324 THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. [APRIL 24, 1891. ARCHAEOLOGICAL PHOTOGRAPHY. Ancient Coast Oratories. Our good forefathers, although professing a creed which it has been the custom for three centuries and a half for some of us to “ protest ” against, nevertheless possessed a very large share of sincere piety and true Christian charity, as is evidenced by the grand and lasting memorials and imperishable records which they have left behind them in our glorious cathedrals, hundreds of monasteries, churches, chapels, chantries, oratories, and other religious works. It has been said that the piety and religious fervour of our ancestors was merely formal. Possibly; but if so it is very clear that this dry formality took a most substantial, useful, and unselfish turn when it could expend its energies, and its treasure, in rearing, in a genuine religious spirit, such glorious works as those just mentioned purely “ ad majorem Dei gloriam" ; and if these high-souled men and women reared the vast cathedral for the country at large, the convent for the special community, the church for the particular parish, and the chapel and chantry for family use or private devotion, their large-hearted goodness went farther still. Never losing sight of the significant fact that this is a maritime country, and that it always possessed a commerce, even from very early times, which so increased in the middle ages that many merchant princes arose, notably in the city of London—Whittington, Gresham, Crosby, Hatton, and others—and remembering that foreign commerce depends entirely on ships, and ships entirely on sailors, these thoughtful and generous people founded, on different parts of the coast, close to the sea, very small oratories, the merest remains of but one or two of which yet exist. As these were not in tended for the assembling of congregations, they were just large enough to contain an altar, with its ornaments and crucifix, an effigy of a saint (possibly St. Clement, the patron of sailors), and perhaps little else. Here a priest was engaged to say mass, perhaps two or three times a week, or even oftener, expressly for the double purpose of (1) praying for rest for the souls of those belonging to the place or town where the oratory was situated, who had lost their lives at sea ; and (2) for the safety and success of the living then sailing the sea in pursuance of their duties—an idea beautiful in itself, and embodying true Christian charity. One of the largest and most celebrated of these oratories was situated at “Bradstayer,” or “Braidestowe,” meaning “the broad place,” now called Broadstairs, on the east coast of Kent. This little chapel was dedicated to the Holy Virgin, under the name of “ Our Lady of Pity,” or St. Mary de Braidestowe.” In it was a statue of the Patroness, which was held in such extreme veneration that all ships, as they passed the spot, lowered their topsails as a mark of reverent salutation, for it must be remembered that the Blessed Virgin was always regarded with profound love and reverence by sailors and fishermen, and constantly addressed as the ‘ 1 Star of the Sea.” Such oratories also existed at Reculvers, Dover, Whitby, and in other places, though all have now disappeared. They are still, we believe, frequently to be met with on the Continent. It may not, perhaps, be generally known that the great corporation of “ Trinity House,” on Tower Hill, which takes charge of and regulates all matters connected with lighthouses, light-ships, buoys, beacons, and other matters connected with the maritime interest on the coasts of England and Wales, was originally founded in the reign of Henry VII. as a simple religious “ Guild,” the Brethren of which bound themselves to pray for the souls of sailors lost at sea, for the safety of those on the verge of ship wreck, and the lives of sailors then following their duties. It was called the “ Guild or Brotherhood of the Holy and undivided Trinity of Deptford, Strand, and St. Clement.” Accompanying this article is an illustration of what we believe to be one of these veritable and undoubted oratories, and known by the name of the “Minnis Rock’ (from “Menys”—Saxon—steep), and which may still be seen just a little to the north of the Old Town of Hastings, and close to High Wickham, in the western face of the East Hill, which, at its greatest elevation, rises to the height of about 250 feet above the sea level. The ‘ ‘ Minnis Rock Hermitage, ” as it is sometimes called, consists of three square-headed openings or arches, all of the same height, rudely cut in the face of a huge mass of rock projecting from the side of the hill, and about 12ft. or 15ft. high, and 25ft. or 30ft. broad. The cave is divided into three separate chambers of nearly equal size, as shown in the annexed plan, the centre com ¬ municating with the two side ones by rudely cut openings; but they are all three now nearly filled up with earth and rubbish, and only their heads are visible above ground. The dimensions of what, at present, can be seen may be taken as follows:— Height above ground. Breadth. Depth. Centre 2ft. Oins. ... 3ft. Ilins. ) Left 2ft. 2ins. ... 3ft. lOins. ( All about 9ft, Right 3ft. lin. ... 4ft. lOins. )