according to the
Salisbury Ritual; and there were people kneeling and praying at this
so-called sepulchre all the time, both night and day. To take care of
the church, left open throughout this period, and to look after the
lights, it was necessary for the sacristan to have other men to help
him; and what was given to them for this service is put down in the
church-wardens' books as money for "watching the sepulchre." By the
Roman Ritual, this ceremony lasts only from Maundy Thursday till
Good Friday. This rite will be duly followed in my own little church
here at Buckland, where some of my flock, two and two, in stated
succession, all through the night, as well as day, will be watching
from just after Mass on Maundy Thursday till next morning's service.
In some of the large Catholic churches in London and the provinces,
this ceremony is observed with great splendour.

DANIEL ROCK.

Buckland, Farringdon.

_Watching the Sepulchre._--If no one sends a more satisfactory reply
to the query about "Watching the Sepulchre," the following extract
from Parker's _Glossary of Architecture_ (3rd edit. p. 197.) will
throw some light on the matter:--

"In many churches we find a large flat arch in the north
wall of the chancel near the alter, which was called the
Holy Sepulchre; and was used at Easter for the performance of
solemn rites commemorative of the resurrection of our Lord.
On this occasion there was usually a temporary wooden erection
over the arch; but, occasionally, the whole was of stone, and
very richly ornamented. There are fine specimens at Navenby
and Heckington churches, Lincolnshire, and {355} Hawton
church, Notts. All these in the decorated style of the
fourteenth century; and are of great magnificence, especially
the last."

To this account of the sepulchre I may add, that one principal part
of the solemn rites referred to above consisted in depositing a
consecrated wafer or, as at Durham Cathedral, a crucifix within
its recess--a symbol of the entombment of our blessed Lord--and
removing it with great pomp, accompanied sometimes with a mimetic
representation of the visit of the Marys to the tomb, on the morning
of Easter Sunday. This is a subject capable of copious illustration,
for which, some time since, I collected some materials (which are
quite at your service); but, as your space is valuable, I will only
remark, that the "Watching the Sepulchre" was pro