monarch). By an act for rebuilding the city of London and uniting of parishes, which was passed in the reign of Charles II., that of St. Olave, Silver-street, was annexed to St. Alban's, Wood-street; and the right of presentation to the united rectory is now exercised alternately by Eton College, and the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's. The present incumbent is the Rev. J. A. Roberts, M.A.

The interior of the church, as it appears when viewed from the west end, is represented in the accompanying engraving. The style, as may be seen, is that which prevailed during the last period of pointed architecture, probably the same as that of the old church.1 Clustered columns bearing very flat pointed arches, divide it into a nave and two ailes; and at the east end above the altar piece is a large window, which, together with one in the front, next Wood-street, and others in the side walls, has the appearance of greater age than the rest of the building. The ceiling of the nave exhibits bold groining, and the general effect of the interior is pleasing.

In a curious brass frame attached to the pulpit, and shewn in the engraving, is an hour glass,-an appendage which was common in churches during parts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, in order to remind the preacher of the flight of time, but is now seldom met with. So early as 1564, we find this entry in an old churchwardens' book, belonging to St. Katherine's Christ Church, Aldgate :-" Paid for an hour glass, that hangeth by the pulpitt when the preacher doth make a sermon, that he may know how the hour passeth away,—one shilling; and in the same book among the bequests in 1616, is mentioned "an hower glass with a frame of Irone

1 "The building is Gothic as the same was before the fire." Parentalia. 2" Londinium Redivivum." Vol. III. p. 309.

to stand in." At the church of St. Dunstan in the West,

too, there was a large hour glass in a silver frame; of which latter, when the instrument was taken to pieces in 1723, two heads were made for the parish staves.

At the west end of the church, on the north side, is a handsome marble font, which was presented by Benjamin Harvey, Esq. in 1684., as is recorded on the tablet to this gentleman's memory affixed to the north wall of the church. The length of the building is 66 feet; the breadth 59 feet, and height 33 feet.1

The exterior of the church displays few beauties; the mouldings are for the most part badly designed; and the west front is disfigured by a door-way which is tasteless, and truly ugly. The tower, represented in the annexed engraving, stands on the north side of the church, in Little Love Lane; and adjoining the church on the south side, is the residence of the incumbent.2

An inscription in the church mentions among other property belonging to it, a messuage called the George, and others thereto adjoining, situate in George yard and Snow Hill, in the parish of St. Sepulchre, which was under the direction of the parishioners for the relief of the poor and repair of the church. After the Reformation, and under colour of a statute which empowered the Crown to seize all effects devoted to superstitious uses, this estate was sold by Royal patent dated 15 May in the 4th year of Edward VI. but was recovered by the Parish the 14th February 1611. The application of the funds herefrom arising has caused some schism amongst the parishioners.

2 "Parentalia." The height of the tower to the top of the pinnacle is 92 feet.

1 In the reign of Richard I. says Stow, a decree passed that houses in the metropolis should be built of stone for defence from fire; and this law continued above two hundred years. After that time, however, in order to gain ground, many houses thus built were taken down, and others of timber erected; and he supposes, as no stone edifice had been known in this street, that it was of this latter period, and owed its name to the materials of which the houses were composed. Its origin may with more reason be sought, in the name of the builder or original owner of the street.