10 OCTOBER 1896, Page 12

Curious Church Gleanings. Edited by William Andrews. (W.

Andrews, Hull.)—Mr. Andrews has followed up with the volume before us an earlier collection of papers, under the title of

"Curious Church Customs." The introductory paper is rightly on the subject of " What to Look for in an Old Church." Soon after we come to "The Lights of a Medieval Church." The essential difference between these and the lights of a modern church is that the latter are for use ; the former were symbolical and devotional Any one who is familiar with pre-Reformation wills will remember the frequent bequests for lamps. A curious instance of this is given in this paper. One James Barton (1536) gave to the Church of St. Mary Horncastle bequests for as many as twenty-seven lights. The " wode-light " was to have twelve pence. This was the highest sum. Among other specially interesting papers we may mention " Pews of the Past," " Con- cerning Crosses," "Church Gilds."