[Illustration: FIG. 1040.--St. John the Baptist’s, Perth. Cap and Base
of Choir Pier.]
(being only about 12 inches less), but each of the arches of the arcade
is of rather smaller span than those of the choir, owing to the internal
projecting responds at the west end, which may be regarded as fulfilling
the purpose of buttresses, and also to the enlargement of the two great
piers on the west side of the crossing. Like the choir, the nave is
divided into five bays. It has no triforium nor clerestory, but owing to
the comparative lowness of the arcade arches (see Fig. 1042), while the
ridge of the roof throughout is kept at about the same level as in the
choir, there is a deep blank wall above the arcade arches. This wall is
of rough masonry compared to that in the choir, and the whole of this
part of the church is of a much coarser and ruder description,
betokening a later age. The capitals of the piers are of the very rudest
kind, and are a perfect contrast to the delicate work of the choir. In
the meagre descriptions of St. John’s to be found in the books on Perth,
this rudeness is pointed to as a sign of great antiquity, but the
reverse is unquestionably the case. This nave is undoubtedly “the New
Kirk of Perth” referred to in the _Chronicle_, in which “ane Synodall
assemblie” was held in April 1606.
It will be seen from the views (Figs. 1043 and 1044) that the top of the
wall over the piers of the nave just shows itself and no more on the
[Illustration: FIG. 1041.
St. John the Baptist’s, Perth.