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architecture, but the ornamental belfry clearly demonstrates, that the architect did not contemplate that this part of the tower should be hidden from the spectator, viewing it from the floor of the church. It is much to be lamented, that the internal architectural beauty of many of our finest towers has been destroyed by the mode of bell-ringing, which renders it necessary to have belfries nearer to the bells.

The great antiquity of the church is clearly attested by considerable portions of Norman architecture observable in various parts of the structure. These remains are however so intermingled with architecture of subsequent ages, that in this building alone we have examples of almost every period, from the conquest to the reign of King George the Third. From the character of the spire, and other parts of this building, it appears probable that it was erected about the same time as the neighbouring churches of Witney and Burford."

§ 6. OF THE VICARS AND CHURCH-ESTABLISHMENT OF

BAMPTON.

The church of Bampton is open for divine service on Sundays at the hours of 11 and 3, and on Wednesdays and Fridays at 11. To these have of late been added services in the chancel, at 8 in the morning on ordinary days, and at 11 and 4 on Saints-days. The Sunday services are on the whole well attended, but at the weekly service there is but a scanty congregation, owing, no doubt, to the laborious daily occupations of the inhabitants.

The duties of the Church are discharged by the three vicars or their curates, who formerly, when there were only the parish-church of Bampton and the chapel-ofcase at Shifford, were on duty each during four months of the year, but, this arrangement not being agreeable

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to one of the former vicars, it was determined in a court of law that the three incumbents should discharge the duties of the parish in turn, each every third week. Since the erection of two additional churches, at Lew and at Aston, the Sunday services have fallen sufficiently heavy on all the three vicars alike, or on those who as curates perform these duties for them.

The revenues of the vicars of Bampton are considerable, and in consequence of circumstances which have happened from time to time, arise from various sources. The original source of revenue were tithes, which were paid by all the inhabitants of the town and the adjoining hamlets. In addition to these, a sum of £100 is paid yearly to the vicars by the parish of Clanfield, Similar payments, but much smaller in amount, are made by the parishes of Standlake and Yelford: the former of these, under the name of "Pension-tithe," pays £ 2. 2s. 6d., the latter pays twenty pence, a year, to the vicars of Bampton. In return for this payment, certain lands in both those parishes are exempt from the payment of tithes to their own clergymen, but I have not been able to discover the origin of the payments.

In the year 1812 large tracts of common land were enclosed in this parish, and by an arrangement then made, three estates, lying in different parts of the parish, were set apart for the vicar in lieu of tithes; so that at present the town of Bampton and the hamlets of Weald and Lew are tithe-free. In addition to these estates, and the money which comes in from Clanfield, Standlake and Yelford, the hamlets of Aston and Cote, which for tithe-purposes are assessed together, also Brighthampton, Shifford, and Chimney, which are separately assessed, pay certain sums of money yearly, according to the recent act for the commutation of tithes and from all these

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sources, the three portionists of the living of Bampton enjoy a revenue amounting to between fifteen hundred and two thousand a year.*

The other officers, attached to the church establishment of Bampton, are a clerk, sexton, organist, and company of ringers. A bedel, also, although properly a civic functionary, is mostly seen on duty near the sacred edifice, under whose shadow, perhaps, from his advanced years, he already contemplates enjoying his last rest.

The custody of the parish-church of Bampton is in the hands of two church-wardens, one of whom is appointed by the vestry-meeting, the other by the three vicars. One of the gentlemen who now hold this office, has discharged its duties with credit and respectability during the long period of thirty years.

The parish-clerk of Bampton is appointed by the vicars; his salary is £10 a year, besides which he receives certain fees, paid for burials and other services, according to a scale which may be seen on a board suspended in the Vestry-room : the sexton is elected by the parishioners in vestry assembled, and receives £5. 19. a year, besides fees.

The organist receives £24 a year, being the interest, at 4 per cent, of £2703 lent, with other monies, to the Stoken-church Turnpike-trust: besides £2. 19s. the interest, after paying legacy-duty, &c., of £100 bequeathed by Miss Carr.

The office of Organist is at present filled by Miss Whitaker, a lady possessing zeal and ability in the duties which she condescends to undertake, and a member of that highly respectable family resident at Bampton, whose urbanity gives

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* The TITHE-APPORTIONMENT of the above-mentioned villages is as follows: — -Aston and Cote, £550. Chimney, £107. 10s. Old and New Shifford, £127. Brighthampton, about £120, but the commutation for this village has not yet been effected.

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