Chapel with that at Balliol was somewhat to the disadvantage of the latter; but it should be borne in mind that Mr. Butterfield's chapel is by far the smaller of the two, and that it cost little more than a third of the sum expended on the chapel at Exeter College. Making the utmost allowance, however, for these circumstances, it is impossible not to award the palm of superiority to Mr. Scott, who has avoided a certain fancifulness of construction and colour which renders Mr. Butterfield's work less attractive than it otherwise would be.

From this point the visitors were placed under the guidance of Mr. J. H. Parker, who imparted to his explanations sufficient fulness without rendering them tiresome by repetition or by the introduction of irrelevant matter. The first place visited under Mr. Parker's guidance was Wolsey's noble foundation, Christ Church College. After the magnificent hall had been examined, the cathedral, used as the college chapel, was inspected. The edifice is now in process of restoration, and bids fair to assume even more than its pristine beauty. The curious shrine of St. Frideswide having been described by Mr. Parker, and sufficient time allowed for a careful examination of the cathedral, the visitors proceeded to Merton College, the "cradle of the University," with its beautiful chapel, lately restored by Mr. Butterfield. The next place visited was Bishop Waynflete's college-Magdalen, where the chief points of interest were the founder's chambers (restored in precise accordance with their original condition) and the remarkably

fine chapel, with its solemn ante-chapel, ornamented with real "painted" windows of the kind in vogue during the worst period of last century.

The visitors were so greatly pressed for time that they were unable to bestow even a glance upon the famous walks of Magdalen, but were obliged to leave the college and return along High-street to the Star Hotel, where dinner was provided. Most of the party made their way direct to the hotel; but a few, more adventurous or less fatigued than the rest, paused for a few minutes to ascend to the roof of the Radcliffe Library, whence a superb view of Oxford was obtained. Time, however, allowed of no more than a hasty glance.

A short delay occurred in procuring the keys of the Radcliffe Library, but this Mr. Parker turned to account by conducting the party to the chapel of Brazenose College (now under repair), where they found an elegantly coloured ceiling, which has attracted in general less notice than it deserves, as the redeeming feature of an otherwise ugly edifice.

After dinner, Mr. S. Timmins, who took the chair, proposed a vote of thanks to Dr. Scott, the acting Vice-Chancellor, to the Heads of the various Colleges visited during the day, and to Dr. Acland, Mr. Parker, and Mr. Spiers, for their courteous attention and the valuable assistance rendered by them. The motion was carried by acclamation, and the formal business being thus concluded, the visitors left for the railway station, and returned to Birmingham.

The Rev. G. Munn read the annual report of the committee, which stated that the past year had been one of unusual activity as regarded church building and restoration within the diocese. Never since the establishment of the Society had the committee had to record the progress and completion of such important works. Since the presentation of last year's report the following new churches had been consecrated, viz., St. James's, Wollaston; St.

John's, Stourbridge; St. Mary's, Selly Oak; All Saints', Warwick; the rebuilt churches of Daylesford and Alvechurch; and the new cemetery chapel at Great Malvern. The church erected by Warren Hastings at Daylesford had been replaced by one of rather larger dimensions, and far more correct in an architectural point of view, at the cost of H. Grisewood, Esq., from the designs of Mr. J. L. Pearson, of London. After commenting on the notoriously inconvenient arrangement and unseemly state of the parish church of Alvechurch formerly, the report went at some length into the extensive improvements that had taken place there recently. Under the superintendence of Mr. Butterfield, and at a moderate outlay, considering the extent of the work, the mutilated sanctuary had been transformed into a striking and noble church, a result in great measure due to the judicious use of simple materials, and to the great height of the church, which produced a most dignified effect, especially in the interior. To gain that loftiness, the exterior appearance of the tower had to be sacrificed, by carrying the ridge of the nave-roof up to the parapet. The addition of a lofty pyramidal roof to the tower, as designed by the architect, would be an improvement, but nothing short of an additional stage of masonry, surmounted by a spire or high roof, would bring the tower into harmony with the church.

After alluding to the commencement of All Saints' Church, Warwick, and to the recent completion of St. Mary's, Selly Oak, the committee stated that new or re-built churches would shortly be ready for consecration at Offenham, Barbourne, and Lindridge.

The committee reported that one of the worst cases of the wanton destruction of ancient and valuable work that had ever cone under their notice was that now being effected at Exhall Church, near Alcester, (which had been put into the hands of an ordinary builder, who was evidently quite ignorant of the first principles of church architecture). The plans for the so-called restoration had been recently laid before the committee, from which it appeared that interesting old windows, a Nor

man doorway, and a wooden bell-turret were to be destroyed, in order to give place to others of the builder's own designing. The new bell-gable, the buttresses, and the porch (the only new works of which drawings were sent) were very ugly in themselves, and out of keeping with the simplicity of the old church. The committee had reported strongly against the plans to the Church Building Society, and it was satisfactory to them to know that that Society refused to make any grant towards carrying those plans into effect. Thus another instance was afforded of the lamentable injury inflicted upon ancient buildings through the absence of proper professional superintendents. In conclusion, the committee invited discussion at the meeting as to whether the sphere of the Society's operations could with advantage be extended so as to include Herefordshire, now so closely connected with this county by railway, and possessing many churches and buildings of great interest at present but very little known; and also what steps should be taken to prepare for the annual meeting of the British Archæological Institute in Worcester in 1862.

The inclusion of Herefordshire was approved of by the meeting, as was also the appointment of a committee to make arrangements for the visit of the Institute. It was mentioned that there are many objects of interest in the neighbourhood well worthy of a visit-such as Cruckbarrow-hill, the largest Druidical mound in the kingdom, and the Bambury stone on Bredon-hill, as well as a number of Roman vases and urns recently dug up near the cathedral and at Diglis, and now in the possession of Mr. Binns.

On the following day several of the members and their friends proceeded on an excursion, for the purpose of inspecting several churches lying to the south of Worcester.

At Kempsey, the excursionists were received by General Colville, General Pilcher, and others. Mr. J. Severn Walker gave a short historical sketch of the parish and its connection with the history of the bishopric, the Bishops of Wor

cester having had a palace there from a very early period. He also described the architectural features of the church, which is a cruciform structure of considerable size. The chancel is a fine example of Early English; traces of this style also occur in the south transept, and at the west end of the south aisle. The nave arcades are of the Decorated period, the rest of the building being early Perpendicular. There are triple sedilia and an elegant piscina in the chancel, and some good old stained glass remains in one or two of the windows. The interior is much disfigured by deal pews, organ-gallery, plastered ceilings, and mural tablets, and the exterior has also been covered with a coating of stucco. Mr. Lees called attention to the interesting fact of the church standing in the centre of an ancient Roman camp. General Colville and General Pilcher invited the party to partake of refreshments, but the time allotted to Kempsey having expired, they could not avail themselves of the proffered hospitality.

Pirton Court was the next object visited. It is a remarkably fine half-timbered structure, having a richly ornamented gable, and a large stone fireplace in the principal room. The moat is now filled up, and a considerable portion of the house has been removed. Pirton Church is an interesting little Norman structure, with later windows, chiefly Decorated, inserted. It had once a tower between the nave and chancel, the staircase to which still remains in the north wall. The present tower is of wood, on the north side of the nave. The whole building is in a dilapidated state. Some fruitless endeavours have been made to strengthen the walls by means of iron rods, but they are in such a bad condition as to demand entire rebuilding, and that at no distant period.

Strensham (the next place of halting) has a very interesting church of the Decorated and Perpendicular styles. The front of the western gallery is thought by some to have been originally the rood-loft. It is divided into numerous panels, each con

taining a full-length painting of an apostle or other saint, our Lord occupying the centre. Here are some brasses of the Russells, who flourished here for a period of 400 years. Two of these brasses are now in the vestry, the stone to which they are fixed having been taken up by the late Rector, Dr. Grove, in order to place his own inscription in the place! The old open seats remain, the passage between them being of unusual width, and paved with tiles; the patterns are, however, for the most part obliterated.

Hill Croome (next visited) is a very simple structure, with a gabled tower at the west end. A piscina occupies an unusual position, being placed across the south-east angle of the chancel. The east window has just been filled with stained glass, of a poor description however.

Earl's Croome Church has a chancel-arch, doorways, and other features of Norman workmanship, and on the north side is an elegant two-light Decorated window. Unfortunately, an ugly tower was erected at the west end some years ago, but judicious renovations have just been effected, including the removal of the plaster from the exterior of the chancel. The Rev. H. Philpott had provided luncheon for the visitors, but they were obliged to press on to Severn Stoke, where they dined, C. Holt Bracebridge, Esq., occupying the chair, and the Rev. H. G. Pepys being vice-chairman. This parish church was afterwards examined. It is chiefly of the Decorated period, with traces of Norman work in the north wall, and a few Perpendicular additions. The piers and arches are rather ungraceful, and the interior is much disfigured by the modern fittings. The tower occupies the position of a north transept, and groups very picturesquely with the church. The Rev. H. Burrow exhibited some curious old registers, and otherwise conduced to the pleasures of the day by acting as local hon. secretary.

The churches visited were each described by Mr. J. S. Walker, and it was only regretted that more time could not be devoted to their inspection.