48 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
determined with any degree of certainty. The calculated ratio for the latitude.
of Kent is about 1.65, to which no value given above approximates nearly
enough to support our theory. The Kent churches were designed and built
by Italian craftsmen, who presumably were uninfluenced by local pagan
tradition. The Northumbrian naves, on the other hand, were long and narrow,
in proportion very different from the calculated ratio of 1.79. It is probable
that the supporting evidence of the effect of latitude will only be found in
inconclusive isolated examples.
It is probable that the primitive Saxon church consisted of a single quadri-
lateral building set out in the manner described. The tower and chancel were
later additions. The tower is usually found at the western end, and stands
four-square to the cardinal points of the compass. Its planning and con-
struction would be guided by the accurate west wall of the nave. On the
other hand, the eastern extension or chancel would be built on to the east
wall, which usually slopes away from the true north. Hence the builder would
have to decide whether to build his chancel squarely north and south, or at
right angles to the nave wall. In either case the chancel would show a skew
when viewed from the body of the nave; in the first case to the north, and in
the second to the south.
The reason commonly ascribed to this property of Saxon chancels is based
upon the theory that it indicates the slope of the Head upon the cross, either
to the left or to the right. I am of the opinion that the explanation lies in
the problem facing the builder of the chancel. In the few cases I have
examined, the skew to the north brings the chancel axis along a true E-W
line. On the other hand, where it is built squarely at right angles to the east
wall of the nave, it shows a corresponding skew to the south.
One last point occurs to me. May it not be within the bounds of possibility
that the reason for the usual orientation of Christian churches with major
axis lying east and west lies not, as is commonly supposed, with the intention
of facing towards Jerusalem, but rather does it lie in the survival of pagan
rites of sun-worship. In recent years there has been an accumulation of
evidence for the profound influence of pagan Saxon beliefs on the development
of the early church. The proximity of sacred stones and wells to the church
site; the survival of pagan feast-days as religious high-days; the canonisation
of pagan deities as Christian saints; these and many more instance the tenacity
of the Saxon for his ancient ritual.
It is not beyond credulity to accept the early church alignment as a further
example.
TABLE 2.
The effect of latitude on the Saxon method
of survey, described above:—
Latitude L/W calculated Examples measured
50 1.64
51 1.67 Essex churches (table 3).
Wessex—
Old Sarum 1.69
Knowlton 1.69
Horton 1.67
53 1.73 Midlands—
Covington (Hunts) 1.76
Hail Weston ,, 1.76
Southoe „ 1.75
Upton ,, 1.74
55 1.79 Northumberland