in the wall for that purpose," the hole being the
hagioscope referred to. But, as Harrod observes, to do this the priest
must have assumed a recumbent position, which is neither convenient nor
usual.

The real use, no doubt, of this bay of the arcade, was for the Easter
sepulchre; its usual position is on the north side of the sanctuary. It
will be noticed also that in the aisle immediately behind is a raised
gallery of Decorated character, access to which was gained from the
sanctuary by steps on the left side of the bay of the arcade, in which
occurs the hagioscope. This gallery formed the ante-chapel to the
#Reliquary Chapel#, which projected northwards from the aisle of the
cathedral; the roof line of this chapel can be seen plainly from the
outside. From the reliquary chapel on Good Friday the crucifix and pyx
were taken out and deposited in the Easter sepulchre below; and from the
vault above, through the hole before referred to, was hung the great
sepulchre light. More probably the hagioscope was intended to be used by
the watcher at the sepulchre.

[Illustration: The Choir, looking West.]

The arrangement of the presbytery, as we have already noted when
referring to the plates here reproduced from Britton, has undergone many
changes; in the beginning of the century the level of the floor of the
choir was continued until between the third and fourth bay from the
tower in the presbytery, where it rose by five steps to the level of the
sanctuary floor. Harrod speaks of two steps up at the third pier past
the tower, and three at the fourth or point of the junction of the apse.
In Dean Goulburn's time, the sanctuary space was enlarged by being
brought forward one bay. The present floor, designed by Sir A.W.
Blomfield in glass mosaic and porphyry, was executed by Powell
Brothers. Then also was added the somewhat elaborate communicants' rail,
executed in bronze and spars. In enlarging the sanctuary, Dean Goulburn
moved the three steps from the fourth pier past the tower to the third,
and at the same time the two steps at the third pier were moved forward
to the first past the tower. And now again, during the recent works of
reparation, the presbytery floor has been brought forward at one level
to the tower arch, where it descends to the level of the choir floor by
five steps: screens which filled the first bays on either side were
removed, and similar flights of steps now descend from the presbytery
and the north an