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Parentalia, or, memoirs of the family of the Wrens : Viz. of Mathew Bishop of Ely, Christopher Dean of Windsor, &c. but chiefly of Sir Christopher Wren ... in which is contained, besides his works, a great number of original papers and records on religion, politicks, anatomy, mathematicks, architecture, antiquities ... / comp. by his son Christopher; now published by his grandson Stephen Wren
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sir CHRISTOPHER WREN, knt. 315

Order; the Metops enriched with Cherubims; above the Cornice is an ellipticalAperture, on the Key-piece a Cherub, whence (by way of Compartment)extend two Festoons of large Fruit, fustain’d lower by two Cupids in a fittingPosture, their Feet resting on the Cornice; and the whole farther adorned withRustick-work, and another Door-case of the fame Form, on theWest-side;above which, on the said North-lide, is another Aperture and Balcony ; and alittle higher a Modillion Cornice; above that are four Windows, (on each Sideone) each adorned with four Pilasters, with Entablement, of the Ionick Order:

Over the Cornice a Ballustrade, and at each Angle four Cartouches, erectedtapering; and, on the Meeting of the upper Ends, a spacious Vale, which,terminates the Tower.

The Spire begins with a circular Mure; and on that, a little higher thanthe Tops of the said Vases, is a Range of Columns with Entablature, andAcroteria, of the Corinthian Order. This Balcony is adorned with Bows orArches, all which you pass under in walking round this Part of the Spire,which (a little higher) is adorned with Pedestals, their Columns and Entabla-ture of the Composite Order ; so that here are all the five Orders , regularly exe-cuted. On the Cornice of this last Order stand Cartouches, whereon is erectedan Obelisk of a considerable Altitude, and at the Vertex thereof a spaciousBall; and above that (as a Weather-cock) is the Figure of a Dragon of Brassgilt, about ten Feet long; in the expanded Wings is stgur’d a Cross, (the Sup-porter of the Enflgns-armorial of the City of London.) The Dimensions ofthe Church within, are, Length 654. Feet, Breadth 63, Altitude 38; and thatof the famous Steeple 225 beet.

To give the Sentiments of an Author we have took Occasion sometimes to mvw v e -quote :— " The Steeple of Boic-church, fays he, is another Master-piece [of vie^ofBuiid-" Sir Christopher Wren’s] in a peculiar Kind of Building, which has no fixed Condon," Rule to direct it, nor is it to be reduced to any settled Laws of Beauty ; ,z.

" withoubt doubt, if we consider it only as a Part of some other Building,

" it can be esteemed no other than a delightful Absurdity : But if either con-" sidered in itself, or as a Decoration of a whole City in Prospect, not only to" be justified, but admir’d. That which we have now mentioned is beyond“ Question as perfect as human Imagination can contrive or execute, and till" we fee it outdone, we shall hardly think it to be equalled.”

XXXVI. St. Mary Woohoth Church, situated on the South-side of Lombard -street , was repaired in 1677. The Sides, the Roof, and Part of the Ends,having been damnified by the great Fire: The Steeple was old, and wantedrebuilding, which, together with the whole Church, is now very substantiallyperformed by the ingenious and skilful Architect Mr. Nicholas Ilarokfmoor ;who formerly was, and continued for many Years, a Domestick-clerk to theSurveyor, and was afterwards employed under him in the royal, and otherpublick Works.

XXXVII. St. Mary Aldermanbury Church, situated near the Middle of Æ-dermanbury, in the Ward of Cripplegate , was rebuilt in 1677, of Stone, withthe Steeple, consisting of a Tower and Turret. The Roof within is came-rated, and supported with twelve Columns of the Composite Order: At the East-end is a large Cornice and Pediment; also two large Cartouches, and Pine-Apples of Stone carved ; the Inside of the Roof is adorned with Arches ofFret-work, and the said Columns with an Entablature; the Cornice Cantahever.

The Length 72, Breadth 45, Height 38 Feet; and of the Steeple, about 90Feet.

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XXXVIII.