CRAMLINGTON CHURCH.

This is about eight miles distant from Newcastle, and dedicated to St. Nicholas. It is a perpetual curacy. Patrons, by turns, Sir M W. Ridley, bart. and - Lawson, efq. formerly of Cramlington.

There have been a confiderable number of wellknown characters, who have officiated here, viz. Meff. Potter, Stevenson, Alderson, Brand, (the hiftorian of this town) and Mr. Falcon, who still holds the curacy. Salary twenty pounds per annum.

Thus have we taken a general view of St. Nicholas' church, its structure, its endowments, its long line of clergy, and, lastly, its dependent chapels.---Amongst its ministers we have recorded some, whose characters for learning and piety were eminent while they lived, and whose memories will be treated with veneration and esteem to the remoteft periods of time, amongst whom Dr. THOMLINSON stands confpicuous. When meditating on the inestimable treasure he has left to us in his LIBRARY, we would recommend his example to the rich and to the powerful. But, alas! for us to advise, is easier than for fuch to practife--according to the Welsh proverb,

Hawdd yw d'wedyd dacow'r Wyddva
Nid eir drofti ond yn ara'!

To fpeak of Snowdon's height, fublime,
Is far more easy than to climb!

JONES'S RELICS OF THE WELCH BARDS.

Should, however, any be inclined to follow a precedent so truly illustrious, we hope they will benefit by experience, and leave their libraries so, as to secure them to the town, against the innovations of priestly indolence and avarice.

ST.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

This ancient church stands in the pleasant street of Westgate, near the vicarage. It owes some of its chief ornaments to the liberal spirit of a pious tradefmen, one of its parishioners, Mr. Robert Percival, pin-manufacturer.---He beautified the altar, 1710, and built, at the same time, the north gallery, to contain thirty people. On taking down the three old bells, 1707, and procuring, by public fubfcription, fix new ones, he gave three pounds. But his beneficence did not terminate with his existence; for, at his death, 1729, he left a house in the Woolmarket, to his beloved parish, at the rent of twenty pounds per annum. These benefactions reflect a lustre on his memory, and shew that he posseffed an elevated foul.

The communion plate was the gift of another of its pious friends, Mr. Robert Rymer. He presented this church with a large flagon, a chalice, and a falver, valued at fixty pounds, anno 1722.

At the west end of the church is another gallery, in which is the organ, erected at the expence of the parishioners.

This church had three chantries, all founded by liberal and piously disposed men; among whom we find Richard de Emeldon, mayor, Richard de Acton, &c. names ever to be revered by the people of Newcastle. They were in honour of, and dedicated to, 1. St. Thomas the Martyr.

2. St. Mary the Blessed Virgin.

3. The Holy Trinity.

The intention and uses of these little sequestered chapels have been mentioned before, in our account of St. Nicholas' church.

The

The temporalities arifing to the minifter of this parish are, from the vicar three pounds, from the crown five pounds, and from the corporation for being lecturer ninety pounds.

The facrament is administered on the third Sunday in every month; and prayers three times in the week. At Easter the corporation used in former times to give fifteen gallons of wine to this church.

There is more painted glass remaining in St. John's church, than in any other in the town. The great eastern window abounds with specimens, but of too small confequence to enumerate.

Anno Domini 1762, the church-yard was inclosed by subscription with a brick wall railed above, and planted round in the infide with lime and elm trees. Cunningham, the paftoral poet, was buried here. On his monument is the following infcription:

Here lie the remains of

JOHN CUNNINGHAM.

Of his excellence

As a pastoral poet,

His works will remain a monument
For ages,

After this temporary tribute of esteem
is in dust forgotten.

He died Sept. 18, 1773, aged 44.

He cull'd the essence of fimplicity,
And arrang'd it in pastoral verse.

LEGACIES AND DONATIONS TO THE POOR.

St. John's church being fituated in the middle of Westgate-street, which has been long the refidence of the most opulent inhabitants, they have not forgotten. their brethren, to whom Providence has been less liberal. Among the many worthy and respectable

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spectable names, we shall, however, only select a few of the principal :

This church stands near New gate, on the west fide of the street. From the style of the architecture, and its fituation, where old Monkchester chiefly stood, it feems to claim priority to the rest for antiquity.

The old bells were taken down in 1726, and fix new ones replaced them, by a contribution among the inhabitants, the corporation giving fifty pounds. A new porch was built at the fame time to the church. At the west end is a handfome gallery, erected at the expence of the parish in 1711.

Three chantries were founded in it, in honour of 1. St. Mary, the Blessed Virgin.

2. The Holy Trinity.

3. St. Thomas.

These chapels contain the remains of many " illuftrious dead;" among whom are those of Sir Adam de Atholl, knight, and of his lady, with a Latin inscription.

In the year 1783, the inhabitants purchased fome houses and waste ground to enlarge the church-yard, which is walled, pallisadoed round, and planted with trees. A new gallery and veftry were built at the same time. The church was beautified, and the whole, whole, from the White-cross, has a cleanly, light appearance.

The minister of this church receives annually from the vicar three pounds; from the crown five pounds two shillings and fixpence; and from the corporation, for being lecturer, one hundred pounds. The facrament is every fourth Sunday; prayers twice a week. At Easter, in former times, ten gallons of wine were given by the corporation.

An organ, purchased by a voluntary subscription of the parishioners, was erected in this church A. D. 1783; and a falary of twenty pounds a year settled by the common-council on the organist.

The legacies left to the poor of St. Andrew's pa. rish are ample and many; among whom are :

The names of many of the curates and lecturers of St. Andrew's have occurred already in the account of St. Nicholas' church; we shall therefore omit them here.

Chapels of Eafe to St. Andrew's Parish.

ST. JAMES'S CHAPEL,

Formerly stood on the north fide of the Barrow's or Barras-bridge. It has been long in ruins.

ST. MARY'S CHAPEL AT JESMOND.

This ancient chapel, now also in ruins, got the name of Jef'mont, i. e. Jesus Mount, or Mount of Jesus.

There