At the west end are two towers, both of which are said formerly to have been octagonal, but the south one is now of a square form, and contains the clock. Between the towers is a remarkably fine entrance doorway, or circular receding arch, 20 feet wide, with four pillars on each side, having plain square bases and capitals. The arch contains seven mouldings, with alternate zig-zag ornaments, which is also continued between the pillars. Over the arch is a pediment, with a cross at the top resembling an heraldic cross. Above are three narrow round-headed windows, and as great part of the edifice is richly mantled with ivy, it forms a very interesting and beautiful subject for the pencil. The interior is spacious; and the capitals of the pillars which divide the aisles from the nave, are curiously ornamented with Saxon sculpture. It contains a great variety of memorials, but the most remarkable are those for the learned Walter Moyle, who died at the age of 49, in the year 1721, and the superb monument by Rysbrack, in memory of Edward Eliot, Esq. who died in the following year. A white marble tablet, to the memory of Elizabeth, wife of John Glanville, Esq., has the following beautiful lines inscribed on it.
While faithful earth doth thy oold relics keep,
And soft as was thy nature is thy sleep,
Let here the pious, humble, placed above,
Witness an husband’s grief, an husband’s love;
Grief that no rolling years can e’er efface,
And love, that only with himself must cease;
And let it bear for thee this heartfelt boast—
’Twas he that knew thee best, that loved thee most.
In the south aisle is a low ornamented recess, said to have contained the effigy of an abbot of the convent. Another recess is called the Bishop’s throne; and among other relics of antiquity, is preserved a curious carved oaken chair, supposed to have belonged to one of the monks.—“A great part of the chauncell” of this church, as Carew relates, “fell suddenly downe upon a Friday, very shortly after the publick service was ended, which heavenly favour, of so little respite, saved many persons’ lives, with whom immediately before it had been stuffed; and the devout charges of the well-disposed parishioners quickly repayred this ruine.”