Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/136

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DESCRIPTION OF THE ANCIENT PLAN

we find ail altar in its small enclosure, dedicated to the Cross[1], and having like the font an outer enclosure formed by screens extending from pillar to pillar on the north, south, and west sides. The western screen has a door. The nave is so completely obstructed by these screens, and by the choirs to be presently described, that the only straight passages from one end to the other are to be found one in each side aisle close to the pillars, and passing between them and the altars already mentioned.

The north transept has an altar of St. Philip and St. James placed against its eastern wall, and upon a platform ascended by three steps in front. This transept is also enclosed so as to form a chapel by means of screens, which leave only a narrow passage to the south in continuation of the above-mentioned passage of the side aisle. Benches are placed on three sides of the chapel thus formed, and in the centre is also a bench inscribed "formula." The entrance to this chapel is in its southern screen. The south transept is similarly enclosed for a chapel of St. Andrew.

We may now examine the arrangements of the principal choir and presbytery. The floor of the presbytery, which extends to the eastern piers of the central space or "crossing," is raised upon a crypt, and is reached by means of a flight of seven steps[2] that occupies part of the area of the crossing, and is divided in the middle by the passage to the confessionary, "accessus ad confessionem" or cell under the high altar, which contains the body of St.Gallus. The original plan of this portion of the church is confused by the attempt to delineate the plan of the crypt in combination with that of the presbytery over it. The arched passage marked "involutio arcuum," evi- dently belongs to the crypt alone. It is entered on each side from the transepts, and passes outside the wall of the chancel, as my key-plan No. 2 will shew[3]. These portions of the crypt are joined by a passage which nms north and south under the platform of the presbytery, and thus the central space is em- braced and isolated by this crypt. But the central space or

  1. ↑ Rather, to the crucified Saviour. It bears the inscription "Altare s'ci .salvatoris ad crucem," and the line "Crux, via, vita, salus, miseriqure redemptio mundi."
  2. ↑ Marked "septum gradus" on one side of the passage and "similiter" on the other.
  3. ↑ The north entrance to the crypt is inscribed "In criptam introitus et exitus," and the south entrance "In criptam ingressus et egrssus." An inscription behind the high altar declares that the holy structures of the saints (altars or tombs) upon the crypt shall shine in glory, "Sancta super criptam sanctorum structa nitebunt."
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