Winkles's Architectural and Picturesque Illustrations of the Cathedral Churches of England and Wales (Volume 1) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1851. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... Ak eminent and learned prelate has drawn a beautiful analogy betwixt a church, as displaying the admirable effect of the principles of architecture and the Christian religion. "The divine order and economy of the one, seems to be emblematically set forth by the just, plain, and majestic architecture of the other: and as the one consists of a great variety of parts united in the same regular design according to the truest art, and most exact proportion, so the other contains a decent subordination of members, various sacred institutions, sublime doctrines, and solid precepts of morality digested into the same design, and with an admirable concurrence tending to one view--the happiness and exaltation of human nature."1 The introduction of Christianity to Britain is repeatedly affirmed on the most respectable authority2 to have been occasioned by St. Paul the apostle. David, who preached to the Britons in the fifth century, is acknowledged as the patron saint of Wales; St. Cuthbert is called the apostle of the north; and St. Patrick of Ireland. St. Columba is renowned in Scottish history as the chief agent in converting the northern inhabitants of the British islands, and from the extraordinary number of its monastic institutions England has been called " The Isle of Saints." In Wales, the best authorities, for the more ancient histories of that country, mention with confidence the existence of bishoprics at Caerleon, St. David's, and Bangor; and in Scotland a bishop of the isles is said to have been established within a century after the conversion of Constantine. The English name of bishop, seemingly of Greek origin, is derived from the Anglo-Saxon biscop, a corruption of episcopus, and implies the head of the clergy, or persons publicly employed in the church; h...