AN UNDERGROUND CHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19124, 19 March 1924, Page 11

AN UNDERGROUND CHURCH.

WHERE PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC HAVE WORSHIPPED. St. Ethcldreda’s is a wonderful old building, which dates back to 1297. This unusual place, which is underground, is situated in Ely place, Holburn, writes H. M. Forties in the Daily Chronicle. There arc two churches here, on© below, one above ground; but it is the former which has had by far the strangest history. Here have worshipped both Catholics and Protestants, at one time tho chapel being let to tho Spanish Ambassador; here during tho turbulent days of the Protector languished many an unhappy prisoner ; hero at one time of the chapel's chequered history were stored the casks of a brewery firm! Flora time to time many celebiated personages have congregated under the old-world chestnut rafters, among others Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Apparently a tremendous time of it these latter had in this old-world building. Wine ran like water, the boards groaning under a series of delicacies tho very mention of which makes one long for knife and fork. These sere the days, we learn, when fowl cost eighteenpence a dozen, though whether Henry VIII caused ns much 'havoc among these menu items as he caused among hie wives is not recorded! Still in regular use, this underground place of worship well repays a visit. The wooden nailed timber work is unique, ttie ancient altars quite a, study, the windows—exquisite imitations of old glass—hardly less so. In 1876 the Fathers, finding the building rather too cramped, resolved to lower the floor, an enterprise in the execution of which a fine Roman or Old British font was unearthed—a relic which is still preserved in another part of tho edifice. One of tho most interesting features of London’s underground church is to be seen in the pillars, until 1876 entirely wood, now the upper part wood, the lower stone.