1854-1857 245 and Hay ward's monstrosity removed. He placed the task of reconstruction in the hands of Mr. F. Bligh Bond, architect. Unhappily the original body of the pulpit had been sawn up and used as fuel. The screen was very fine as well, and happily had not been 11 restored " away. This also was undertaken, and its deficiencies remedied. Kenton is now one of the finest churches in the county. At this time it was that I began to prosecute one of the great objects for which I had desired to work, and to which to devote my life, as mentioned in my preface, should time and opportunity be afforded me. That object, however, was not the first. Religion among the people of the parish was not of earnest quality, and the morality was very bad indeed among the young men and women; The Revel, that took place about the octave of S. Petrock's Day, was an occasion of gross scandals. There were races on Lew Down, shows, much drunkenness and debauchery. My father put an end to the Revel, and instituted in its place a flower show, that was only partially successful. My father instituted a series of lectures. He delivered one on Aqui-taine, but where Aquitaine was none of the villagers had the faintest conception. Next he obtained a lecturer to harangue on optics. I asked one of our farmers how he liked the lecture. M Well," he replied, " I reckon I did not understand much about it. But he did show us a pictur o' the sun and the miine." This picture was one of the eye in full and the same in section. After one or two further attempts, the lectures were dropped, as no audience was obtainable. My second ambition was to restore Lew Church. It was a humble late perpendicular structure, windows, pillars and arches of granite, but was at one time rich in carved oak. Not only did it possess a screen, but was also benched throughout with carved pews, on which were the instruments of the Passion, S. Michael weighing souls, Our Lord in the Act of Benediction, the Squire capped with a curious head-dress, and below this bust an archway. Also the head, not in profile, of the lady of the manor, in a horned head-dress, and beneath her, a jester. They were intended for Anthony Monck, ancestor of George Duke of Albemarle, and Elizabeth his wife, daughter and heiress of Edward
