THE SITE OF PAUL'S CROSS.

Kumara Times, Issue 902, 21 August 1879, Page 4

THE SITE OF PAUL'S CROSS.

The alterations now being carried out under the combined authority of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's, the ecclesiastical officials of the united parishes of St. Gregory and St. Faith, and the Corporation of the City of London have led to a most interesting discovery of great historic value in connection -with the Cathedral. Whilst laying out the proposed garden on the north-east side of the churchyard, the workmen, by the direction of Mr Penrose, surveyor to the Cathedral, were desired to search most carefully on the spot of its presumed site for Paul's Cross. At a • depth of about six feet, in the direction indicated by that gentleman, the men came upon the identical platform upon which the super-atructure originally stood. It was known [to be octagonal in form, and the foundation now laid bare exactly corresponds to this form, as correctly as the site corresponds with the drawings and descriptions still extant. According to Dugdale, the date of Paul's Cross is antecedent to the early part of the 13th century, for we read " from a writ quo warranto of the year 1287 (Edward I.) that the ground on which Paul's Cross stood is described as lj ing eaßt from the church, and as that on which the '. citizens of London had been anciently wont to hold their Folkmotes, was claimed as belonging to the King, and had only newly come to be used for the interment.of the dead." From this Crosß, in those days when there was no printing and little reading, announcements and harangues on all such matters as were deemed of public concern were poured into the public ear and heart. Stowe describes the Cross as a "pulpit cross of timber, mounted upon steps of stone, and covered with lead," and this was probably its form before and after his day. It was used for ecclesiastical purposes for the first time during the reign of Edward 1., the earliest record of such employments being in the year 3209. After this we hear of sermons regularly from the Cross. In Henry VlH.'s and Elizabeth's reigns, this pulpit was filled by the most eminent preachers of the Reformation. Latimer and Ridley proclaimed to crowds of eager listeners that testimony which they afterwards sealed with their blood. Here Ridley preached his memorable sermon on the occasion of using the new Service Book for "the first time. Thus Stowe: "In November, 1552, being the feast of All Saints, the new Service Book called of Common Prayer, began at Paul's Church, and alike through the whole city." Dr Ridley then preached at Paul's Cross, before the Lord Mayor, aldermen, and crafts in their liveries, the sermon lasting till five o'clock in the evening, " so that the Lord Mayor, aldermen, and companies entered not into the church, as had been the custom, but departed home by torchlight," an instance of zeal shown by the city worthies of that period which we are inclined to think would find but few imitators in these days. For five years after this exhibition Paul's Crosa was taken possession of by Queen Mary's spiritual advisers, including Bishop Gardiner. To these succeeded Dr Bell (Elizabeth's chaplain), Home Jewell, and other eminent Protestant divines. James I. came in great state to hear Dr Kin K , Bishop of London, preach his sermon on mid-Lent Sunday, March, 1628, from this famous pulpit; and the last record of Royalty's attendance appears to be thai of Charles 1., who came in state to Sc. Paul's, and heard the sermon at the Cross in May, 1630. The demolition of Paul's Cross appears to have been decreed by order of the Long Parliament, on September 10th and 11th, 1642, and in the following year it was razed to the ground.