This beautiful Font sadly lacks one of those lofty spiral covers which yet remain in many of the ancient churches of England. The baptistry is enclosed by a low open screen.

The Pulpit,

Is seen on proceeding up the nave, attached to the third pillar from the chancel. It has been designed from some of the finest early Italian examples, as at Pisa and Pistoia. The form is hexagonal, supported by marble shafts, the centre one resting on a base sculp. tured with the emblems of the four Evangelists. On four sides of the body of the pulpit are bassi relievi, most exquisitely carved, representing our Lord preaching the Sermon on the Mount, St. John the Bap. tist preaching in the Wilderness, and the preaching of the religious orders represented by St. Francis and St. Dominic. These sculptures are executed with the severity of the early Florentine school, and many of the figures are studies from nature and real drapery. The ascent to the Pulpit is by a series of detached steps, each supported by marble shafts and richly carved capitals, to which is attached a wrought iron railing of elaborate design. This work is entirely

executed of Caen stone, and the shafts are worked in British marble. There is a temporary sounding board, which it is to be hoped will soon be replaced by a work in accordance with the beauty of the pulpit.

We will now turn to the tower end, and shall have a good view of the great window with its beautiful painted glass, containing figures of SS. George Martyr, Richard, Ethelbert, Oswald, Edmund, and Edward the Confessor, with angels bearing scrolls and instruments. Again, facing the chancel, we have before us

which divides the chancel fro stone, supporting a rood loft. division of that portion of the C that appointed to the Clergy, an the sacred rites, has been revi posed of three open arches, 1 carved foliated caps, surmou bosses and angels, supporting a composed of three arches, the c has gates of wrought iron,) a tracery, and oak ribbed ceiling immediately over is the loft cross, an original work of th Belgium, and restored to its 1 examples existing, quite equal cuted by the same artist. The the celebrated M. Durlet, of An in the Cathedral of that city.

St. John, were carved in Engla cross are restorations of the ori remained on the carving. Th which are terminated, by pinnac hung the Sanctus and Angelu filled with lights, and decorated.

Thi

Is forty feet long, and about t the screen and sanctuary is pan seats and richly carved desks of forty persons. Crocketed arche stone seat, are built round the sa hand side), deeper than the rest, officiating clergy, and contain ap and subdeacon; the remainder & floor is laid with encaustic tiles compartments by carved princip compartment is subdivided by m are intended to be enriched by på window of nine lights is filled wit of Jesse, or genealogy of our L

senting the root was the gift of the Earl of Shrewsbury. The three side windows contain figures of St. George the martyr, patron of the cathedral; St. Stephen, deacon, the first martyr; and St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr. The large window is by Wailes, and the side ones by Hardman. A temporary episcopal throne is erected opposite the sedilia, and is used by the bishop and his

deacons.

are

grapes.

The High Altar

Jaen stone, surmounted by a slab of marble; the nto three quatrefoils filled with bass reliefs, reprefiguration, Resurrection, and Ascension of our Lord. the altar is placed the tabernacle, worked in Caen s of four clusters of pinnacles, supporting a richly y, surmounted by another containing a pelican, as an Redeemer shedding his blood for man. The whole is painted, and the doors of the tabernacle are of metal lt, and enriched with large crystals. Immediately r is an elaborately carved stone reredos or back, comall, and two large niches, filled with images of angels ns, and Saints Peter and Paul. The figure of the crucimost exquisitely carved, and partly coloured from

ture of the high altar and sanctuary has been designed lance with the building. Two high standing candelabra orting coronal lights, are placed on either side of the pedestals. Six large candlesticks of brass of hexagonal n lions, stand on the altar steps, with numerous smaller and branches, and vessels for flowers, &c. A lamp and six lights is suspended in front of the altar, and two on either side. Lower in the chancel hangs a large corona artificially wrought, painted, and gilt, with brass enrichIs, inscriptions, and crystal knobs; it is composed of the height, and will carry from fifty to sixty tapers. a most rich brass eagle or lectern, made up of wrought ting of many pieces, and having two large branches for ontains nine hundred pounds weight of brass, and was the church by the Rev. Daniel Haigh of Erdington.

Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.

ft of the chancel is the chapel of the most Blessed Sacraed off from the aisle by a high and richly wrought iron iched with lambs and chalices alternate in brass. The of this screen forms a cresting, with candlesticks for lights. laid with encaustic tiles of various colours, representing ses, and other appropriate devices. The walls and ceiling y covered with painted decorations; the ribs of the ceiling with red panels, relieved with cherubim, vine leaves, and

The walls are covered with diapered work interspersed with angels, bearing scrolls on gilt grounds. The passion flower is introduced in the borders and divisions of the quatrefoils.

The altar is supported by four cherubim attached to pillars. In the centre panel is the Agnus Dei, with four angels incensing, and two cherubim in the side panels. The altar is surmounted by a

reredos and tabernacle of rich design, carved in Caen stone; the two larger quatrefoils are filled by bas reliefs of the offering of Melchisedec, and the Jews gathering manna in the desert; the other panels contain cherubim and vine foliage. Two curtains of rich stuff are suspended by iron brackets on either side of the altar; these brackets or rods are very highly wrought; in each is an inscription in perforated brass: " Adoremus in eternum Sanctissimum Sacramentum," "Let us adore for ever the most Holy Sacrament." A bratishing of trefoil work runs along the top of the rod, which is terminated by a standard for lights. In front of the altar is hung a silver coronal and lamp; the coronal is hexagonal in form, and inscribed with the six attributes of God, and other inscriptions. The window over the altar contains a figure of our Lord, surrounded by cherubim, and the side ones are composed of quatrefoil patterns, filled with angels bearing scrolls. In the recess below are four small lights, containing figures of St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop of Milan, St. Alban, Proto-martyr of England, St. Thomas of Canterbury, and St. John the Evangelist. Again passing the chancel, we reach the

Chapel of the Blessed Virgin,

Which is also richly painted and gilt; only here the symbolical colour of blue is chiefly prominent. The ribs of the ceiling are gilt, with blue panels, containing our Lady's monogram, surrounded by white roses and stars. The walls are diapered in blue, with gilt fleurs-de lis.

The altar is divided into three compartments, separated by angels in small canopied niches; the centre division contains the pot of lilies, with our Lady and the angel Gabriel on either side; the reredos is surmounted by a row of niches and tabernacle work, with an image of the Blessed Virgin and angels holding lights; the two end clusters of pinnacles run up on each side of the window, and are terminated by images of angels. The window over the altar contains, in the centre light, a figure of our Blessed Lady, with angels; the side windows contain the Annunciation and Presentation.

The altar plate is of metal silvered parcel, gilt and enamelled, exceedingly rich and beautiful. Before the altar hangs a circular silvered lamp, richly worked with fleur-de-lis and stars. This lamp sheds a continual blue light over our Lady's sanctuary.

This chapel is divided from the church by a carved oak screen, surmounted by a row of candlesticks.

On a richly carved corbel, between this chapel and the chancel, is a large figure of the Blessed Virgin, richly gilt and drapered, before which a small silver lamp is suspended. On her festivals, this statue is decorated with lights and flowers.

Returning down our Lady's aisle, in the second bay from the chapel, we see