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arched, except over the galleries, and
two rows of Corinthian columns sup-
port both the galleries and arch which
extends over the body of the church,
and is neatly adorned with fret work,
from which hang several handsome
gilt branches. The steeple, tho' heavy,
has an air of magnificence. In the
center of the front is a large plain
arched window, decorated at a distance
with pilasters of the Doric order. Over
this window is a festoon, and above
that an angular pediment; on each
side is a door crowned with windows,
and over these others of the porthole
kind; above these last rises a square
tower crowned with a dome, whose
base is circular, and surrounded by a
balustrade in the same form; by the
side of which, on the corners of the
tower, are placed urns with flames.
From this part rises a series of coupled
Corinthian columns, supporting other
urns like the former, and over them
rises the orgive dome, crowned
with a very large vase with flames.
The Author of The Critical Review
says, that he thinks this steeple more
in taste than most about town; and
that the parts of which it is composed
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are simple, beautiful and harmonious.
The author of The English Architecture,
however, observes, "That the placing of
" a window in the middle of the street,
" where the principal door should have
" been, is an error of the first magni-
" tude. The most unlearned eye must
" perceive a strange imperfection in this,
" though without knowing what it is;
" and there is something in the highest
" degree disgustful, at being shut out by
" a dead wall at the proper and natural
" entrance." But in justification of the
architect, it may be alledged, that this
being the east end, he might not be
allowed to form a door in the center,
where the altar is placed under a noble
arch beneath the steeple; and that
much greater improprieties than this are
daily seen, from the idle custom which
has generally prevailed of placing the
altar to the east in spight of any incon-
veniences it may occasion, as in St. Cle-
ment's in the Strand, St. Dunstan's in
Fleet street, and many others. This
church is a rectory, the patronage of
which is in the Bishop of London. The
Rector, besides other considerable ad-
vantages, receives about 200l. a year by
tithes.
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