The old church was a majestic edifice, and from its situation, on a commanding eminence, presented from a distance a cathedral-like appearance. It was cruciform, with a central tower, and chiefly in the Anglo-Norman and lancet styles of architecture, with subsequent additions, having the characteristics of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The misfortune which befel this venerable edifice in 1788 is a striking proof of the mischiefs occasioned by the interment of the dead in the interior of places of worship. Early in the year, one of the four pillars, which supported the tower in the centre of the church, shrunk in so alarming a manner as to endanger the safety of the fabric. An architect of the town advised that the whole tower should be taken down, but the parish vestry, rejecting this advice, employed a mason in the rash attempt of underbuilding the pillar. The second morning after the work had commenced, July 9th, when the clock had struck four, the decayed pillar gave way, the tower was instantly rent asunder, and falling with its heavy peal of bells on the roof of the nave and transepts, sunk, with a great part of the building, in one tremendous crash to the ground. The ruins, on the following day, presented an awful spectacle; and pews, pulpit, organ, monuments, and bells, were seen broken and dispersed in a thousand forms. Among the rubbish were found pieces of Saxon sculpture, which had probably belonged to the ancient church, and had been used in the repairs after the calamitous fire which happened in 1393. Any attempt at rebuilding the edifice being now deemed inadvisable, the remaining fragments were taken down, except the Lady Chancel, to prevent further mischief. The fine stained glass of the west window having fortunately escaped destruction, was carefully preserved, and afterwards placed in the chancel of St. Mary’s church. The figure of St. Chad, in his episcopal vestments, which stood on the summit of the organ, was also preserved, and is now placed in the vestry of the new church. Such funeral monuments as could be rescued from the ruins, were placed at the disposal of the families to whom they belonged, and others were removed to the chapel before mentioned. This chapel, originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was rebuilt in 1571, by Humphrey Onslow, Esq., being the burial place of his family, and is now solely used for reading the funeral service over those who are buried in the ancient cemetery. One of the monuments now removed to the Abbey Church remembered Richard Onslow, an eminent lawyer, and speaker of the House of Commons in the 8th of Queen Elizabeth. He was the ancestor of Sir Richard, afterwards Lord Onslow, who filled the chair of the House of Commons in the 8th of Queen Anne; and also of Arthur Onslow, Esq., who so ably exercised the office of speaker during many successive parliaments. There is a small tablet to the Rev. Job Orton, who was interred in the same grave as Mr. Bryan, a former minister of this church, who quitted his benefice on the act of uniformity.