BURTHORPE AND EAST LEACH.

Nos. 6 and 7.

D

"Hie we through the autumnal wood,

Pausing where the echoes dwell,

Boys, or men of boyish mood

Trying how afar they swell.
Haply down some opening glade,

Now the old grey tower we see,
Underneath whose solemn shade
JESUS risen hath sworn to be.

"He hath sworn, for there will meet
Two or three in His great name,
Waiting till their incense sweet

Feel His heaven-descended flame.

Day by day that old grey tower

Tells its tale, and week by week

In their tranquil hoary bower,

To the unlearned its shadows speak."

(Lyra Innocentium, p. 254.)

EAR to the river Lech (called by Leland "Lech-brook"), which is a tributary of the Thames, and runs into it at Lechlade, are situated the two churches of the small parishes

of East Leach, or East Lech, and Burthorpe (pronounced Butherup),

which latter is sometimes called East Leach Martin, the former being distinguished as East Leach Turville, or Tourville. East Leach Turville appears to be the Lace or Lecca of "Domesday Book," and Burthorpe appears under the name of "Brosthorpe." The two churches are very near together, being hardly more than a stone's throw apart, the stream running between them. Mr. KEBLE held the curacies of these two small parishes for nearly eight years immediately following his ordination, as appears from the entries in his hand in the parish registers. (See Appendix.) During this time he lived with his father at Fairford, except when he was obliged to be in Oxford for his duties there.

At Michaelmas, 1818, the Poet became Tutor at Oriel, and his brother, who had been Curate of Windrush and Sherbourne, became Tutor at Corpus; then in Term time their father undertook the parochial visiting and occasional services in the week in these little parishes, and the brothers took the duty on alternate Sundays, (one brother riding over from Oxford one Saturday to spend Sunday at home, and the other brother doing so on the following Saturday,) receiving small remuneration for their work. (See Memoir.)

Burthorpe Church, like most others in this neighbourhood, is of Norman date, passing off into the transition style, and added to at later periods.

The village to which this church belongs is a mile distant from the church; while East Leach Turville (with its church and village) is close by.

At the entrance of this latter church is a beautiful ancient carving in stone of Christ blessing little children, with figures of angels at each side.