On the north side, was open to the street, from which it was separated by a small green churchyard. Its west front, as now, was divided from the adjoining houses by St. Michael's Alley, then called

the

Longe Aley

,

and for naylls, and for tymbre for said cros, and for the carpent

s

. labor.

The steeple, which was begun to be built in , was probably finished in , as in that year William Rus, or Russe, alderman and goldsmith, added, by will, a bell, or , to the , which had been hung in the former belfry. years afterwards, the following entries occur for church work:

This last entry deserves remark, as rectifying a mistake which has been often made, that, before the Reformation, there were in our churches.

Payd to John Crochard, smythe, for makyng of the yron warke in the rodeloft, ye whiche stondeth by ye orgons, and holdythe ye rode-loft, &c. xxj. s.—Payd to Roberd Crosseby, carpentr. for v gyfts and c burde, ij feletts and iij legges; and for rabaytyng of ye seid burds, and workemanshype of ye same in the rode-lofte, to enhawse hyt, and to make stonding for the seid organs, sma. v. s. vij. d.—Payd for ij barres of yron wt stapulls and nayles to them, to staye wt oure Lady and Saynte John in the rode-lofte, sma. iij. s. v. d. ob.—Payd to a carpentr. to make holes in the sayd ij ymages, and to make them fast wt the seid barres of yron, both at viij. d.

Payd for carryng of tymbur and shorys to our church, to vndr. shore the northe syde, tylle hytt was made ayen, sma. vij. d.

By the latter entry, which was made in 1475, the church seems at this time to have needed some considerable repairs. INCIDENTAL DISBURSEMENTS during the above Interval: Payd for a corde of blu twyne, for the redell of the image of Seint George------ GRC: Illegible in printed book. d. Item, for amendyng of the redell of Seynt Mighell and Seynte George------ ij. s. To a peyntour for clensyng of ye ymages of Seynt Mighel and Seynt George------ ix. d. To John Belamy, carpentr. for tymbre of the crosse, and carrynge of the same----- xiiij. d. Paid to West, founder, for amendyng of a candelstyk afore Saynte Barbara----- viij. d. Item, payed for the makyng clene of the bolles of our Lady of Pitee-------- ij. d. Item, for makyng clene of the candelstick afore Seint John-------- iiij. d. Payd to Richard Sutton, goldsmyth, for amending of the crownes and cheynes of the silver sencers--- ij. s. Paied to Ric. Messauge, goldsmith, for iij ounces of silver, to the amendyng of Russe's crosse, viij. s., and for werkmanship, vj. s. viij. d.--------- xiiij. s. iiij. d. Item, paied to the smyth for hangyng of a clothe of the Tr.nsfiguracion----- xviij. d. For amendyng of ij crosses, and for a little. bell, that ryngeth afore the sacrament----- v. s. vj. d.

This church had a considerable quire, of which was conduct in the reign of Henry VIII. who covenanted with M. John Wardropper, the parson, and the wardens, duly and truly

to be psent in syngyng and helping of the service of God, w

t

in the said chirch of Seint Mighell, to be doon vpon pryncipall fests, double fests, fests of x lessons, and other suche dayes as orgayns should there be occupied, and on other

feriall

dayes, except when lawfully exempted therefrom, for the techyng of his children.

to find iiij children, the best he might have, to helpe the quyre on pricipall fests, and holy dayes, in syngyng of pryksong and playn song.

to keep evy. Friday after the mann afore vsed, the

masse

of

Ihu

, at the owre of iij of the clok, at after none following, w

t

children convenyent. by the space of an hole year,

Thus commenced the havoc that was made of the venerable memorials of the dead in this church. We may guess the extent of this sacrilege by the Items in the succeeding list of property sold:

The civil wars brought in the Presbyterian form of discipline in this church, and the vestry ordered, pursuant to an ordinance of parliament, dated , for the demolishing of monuments of

idolatrie and supersticion

This church having shared the common fate in the great fire of London, Sir C. Wren was employed to erect the present elegant structure. It consists of an exquisitely proportioned interior of the Tuscan order; pillars and semi-pillars compose a body and aisles; the roof of the middle consists of intersected arches, separated by ornamental bands, which spring from elegant brackets: over each arch are circular clerestory windows; small pilasters face the pillars on the north and south walls; and from those, arches intersect; and centre flowers have pendant chains for lustres.

The sacrarium is fronted by pilasters, whose capitals are gilt, and a rich gilt cornice passes from them to the east wall.—The altar-piece is very elegant.—The tower, which is of the pointed style, and very tall, was built in . Though not correctly designed in the taste, it is certainly very beautiful. At each corner is an angulated turret, as high as the belfry; where they become fluted, and the capital ornamented with sculptures of human faces, from which they spire into very elegant pinnacles.

The dreadful conflagration in Exchange Alley, which happened in the year , was stopped by the tower of this church.