Faith's, which being fill'd with
the magazines of bookes belonging to the Stationers, and carried
thither for safety, they were all consum'd, burning for a weeke
following. It is also observable that the lead over the altar at the
East end was untouch'd, and among the divers monuments, the body of
one Bishop remain'd intire. Thus lay in ashes that most venerable
Church, one of the most antient pieces of early piety in the Christian
world."
Sancroft, who was Dean at the time of the fire, and who afterwards
became Archbishop, was anxious to restore the cathedral on the old
lines. Henchman was Bishop, but he left the matter for the Dean to
deal with, though he not only rebuilt the Bishop's Palace at his own
expense but contributed munificently to the new building. Sancroft
preached within the ruined building before the King on October 10th,
1667, from the text, "His compassions fail not," and the sermon is
really eloquent. The congregation was gathered at the west end, which
had been hastily fitted up. The east end was absolute ruin.
Wren had already declared that it was impossible to restore the old
building, and in the following April, Sancroft wrote to him that he
had been right in so judging.
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