Melbourne Church, Derbyfhire. 393 manner, be accounted for; it is probable, however, that this church is on a fmaller fcale, yet it has its archings and vaultings varioufly enriched with zig-zag and other ornaments, piers, and capitals richly embofled, winding ftair-cafes, afcending and defcending, porticos, oratories [g], and fandtuary divided by arches and par- titions from the nave or body of the church, with ftone triforii fur- rounding. The entrance at the weft end of Melbourne church confifts of three porticos [A], divided by arches from the nave or body. Thefe porticos are vaulted, or groined with mafonry - r and there are chamr- bers over each which are divided entirely from the nave by a par- tition fupported by the arches beneath. I do not learn exactly the ufes to which thefe chambers were applied ; they might be perhaps the habitations of the Man/tonaries, or keepers of the church, who were ftyled Paftophori [/'], or perhaps for fome other purpofes, [<"] Oratory. In fome canons the name Oratories feems to be retrained to private chapels, or places of worfhip fet up for convenience in private families, ftill depend- big upon the parochial churches, and differing from them in this, that they were only places of prayer, but not for celebrating the communion. But the council of Agde France allows the Eucharift to be adminiftered in private Oratories, except upon JLafter- day y or Chrljlmas, or Epiphany ', or Afcenjlon, or Pentecojl, or iuch other of the great feftivals ; and upon thefe too if they had the bifliop's licence and permiflion for it ; fo that in thofe ages an Oratory and a Catholic church feem to have differed, as now a private chapel and a parochial church, though the nrft ages made no diftind-tion be- tween them. Bingham's Antiq. of the X". Ch. book vin. ch. I. p. 274. [h'] Portico, according to the general acceptation of the word, is an open part of a building fupported^ by columns at the entrance, under which, as we are informed by Vitruvius, " the people were flickered from the fun and exceffive weather, where " they might entertain each other in difcourfe, till the hour came for offering facrifice.'* Palladio's Arch, by Gia. Leoni. ch. ix. p. 12. [/] Pajlophonum is explained by Schcljlratc to be the chamber or habitation where the ruler of the temple dwelt. Schelftrat. Concil. Antiochen. p. 186.
