ance was done in consequence of the above, and the choir continued going gradually to decay, till about the year 1630 it became unsafe to celebrate Divine service in, accordingly the parishioners set about repairing the nave, and in the years 1634 and 1635 great sums were expended in new roofing and stalling that part of the church. About the middle of the year 1696 the groined stone roof of the chancel fell in, having withstood the ravages of time upwards of three hundred years. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to restore it, but they all proved abortive. Gent says, "The choir fell down not many years ago. But in the wicked usurper's time, the inner part was miserably rent to pieces; its comely, tuneful, and melodious organ pulled down; some of the vile niscreants, his soldiers, carrying the pipes, and scornfully striving to tune them, as they proceeded towards Wressle, two miles from that place." On the 7th of October, 1701, the Barons of the court of Exchequer referred the suit of the parish, against those persons who held the revenues of the late dissolved college, for the repairs of the chancel, to the determination of his grace Dr. John Sharp, Archbishop of York, who accordingly made an award under his hand and seal, of which the Rev. Thomas Reynolds, the then Vicar, had a copy from Mr. Dearing his grace's chaplain. In 1718 the church was greatly ornamented for the reception of Sir William Dawes, Bart. arch bishop of York, who at this time held a confirmation in it. In 1785 and the following year, the chancel and chapter-house were cleared of the stones and rubbish occasioned by the falling of the roof. Just below the surface of the ground, the workmen found a stone coffin in which were human bones. The bones were put into the earth, and the coffin, by the direction of the vicar and churchwardens, was placed behind the south door of the cross aisle. The church is in the form of a cross, with a square tower rising from the centre, upon pointed arches, supported on clustered pillars. There is no evidence to prove the time of its being built, but it appears from the great irregularity in placing the stones, observable in various parts of the walls, that it hath been erected from the materials of a previous structure, and it is probable, that as the early English style of architecture prevailed, when the Prebends was endowed in 1267, that the Transept and Nave were then complete, if not more of the fabrick. The tower was erected or heightened by bishop Walter Skirlaw, about the year 1390. This tower has been stated by various authors, to have been built for the purpose of the inhabitants to flee to as a place of safety in case of inundations, which surmise is ridiculous. This Bishop also built the Chapter-house and School, and expended great sums of money in the |