112
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
the thanks of all present for the kindness of his reception, and for the very
interesting and instructive demonstrations given by him and by members of his
staff.
Proceeding to the Abbey, the members were received by the vicar, the Rev.
F. B. Johnston, M.A., and the Rev. J. H. Stamp.
Mr. G. H. Birch, F.S.A., gave an eloquent and instructive historical sketch
of the Abbey and its foundation, and a description of the more salient features of
its architecture. It is impossible to do justice to such a large subject in a report of
this kind, the reader is referred to the many excellent books and papers on the
Abbey and its history. Some interesting notes by Mr. Birch may be read in the
report of the previous visit (see Proc. E.F.C, vol. ii., pp. 6-11). Much informa-
tion about the Town and Abbey will be found in Mr. Winters' works.1
It was pointed out as an interesting coincidence that the day was the anniver-
sary of the Dedication of Harold's Church, which took place on May 3rd, 1060,
the Feast of the "Invention of the Holy Cross." The new church had by this
time evidently reached such a state of completion as to be fit for divine service.
The festival of the finding the Holy Cross was regularly observed on May 3rd,
in Anglo-Saxon times. "This Cross, I presume," (Mr. Winters writes) "was not
the one discovered by the smith of Montacute in Somersetshire (which gave the
title of 'Holy Cross' to the parish of Waltham) but that found by Helena,
mother of Constantine (circa 305-326). It was the custom of the Canons of
Waltham in the Middle Ages to head a procession of parishioners annually on the
3rd of May, singing the Litany, from the Abbey to an ancient Cross (called
'Holy Cross') at Wormley Westend, co. Herts. The Abbot of Waltham was
then Lord of the Manor of Wormley. This procession was held with a view of
keeping the Abbot's lands that joined the kingdom of Mercia distinct from those
belonging to the Abbey of St. Albans, and which were in that kingdom, and con-
tiguous to Wormley."
After a careful inspection of the church and the beautiful "Lady Chapel,"
under Mr. Birch's guidance, tea was taken at the "Cock Hotel." The circum-
ference of the large elm in the churchyard was taken at 28 feet.
Later in the evening an Ordinary Meeting of the Club (the 114th) was
held in the girls' school-room (by kind permission of the vicar), Mr. E. A. Fitch,
President, in the chair.
The following were elected members :—Messrs. W. Folliott, J. C. Thresh,
D.Sc., M.B., and W. Lloyd Wise, C.C.
Mr. F, H. Meggy brought for exhibition the larva of a beetle from which were
issuing numerous larvae (forty or more) of a hymenopterous parasite. The
specimen had been dug up by Mr. Dennis in his garden at Great Baddow. Mr.
Fitch said that the beetle larva much resembled that of Creophilus maxillosus from
which a species of Proctotrypes was bred by Mr. Frohawk (see Entom, xix , 225,
with figure, Sept., 1886) and the host and parasite might very possibly belong to
the same or closely allied species. Mr. Frohawk's larva with the nine parasitic
pupae was found on Oct. 15th, 1883.
Mr. Charles Browne, M.A., F.S.A. (Hon Counsel to the Club) then delivered
the conclusion of his lecture "On some Abnormal Forms of Vegetation," the first
part of which was given before the Club at the meeting at Loughton on April
1 Viz. :—"The History of Waltham Abbey"; "Annals of the Clergy of Waltham Holy
Cross," and "Our Parish Registers." Mr. Freeman's paper in Trans. Essex Arch. Soc, ii.
(1st Ser.) should also be consulted.