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e close of the thirteenth century, as already stated, the pointed style
    tctr wn intrnduoted into the pegieat.itna1 t, rwtfnrpg  nf "F,n1nnp
superseding the Lombard or Norman, which had previously prevailed in all
religious buildings.  Among the earliest specimens in France may be men-
tioned the works of Suger, abbot of St. Denis, who rebuilt the church of
his convent about the middle of the twelfth century.    Towards the close
of
the century, and according to the conjectures of authors, in the year 1170,
ililduard, a Benedictine monk, was employed by Foulcher, the abbot of St.
Pere, at Chartres, to rebuild the church of his convent; and this structure
not only remains in    existence, but is also much admired.      "The
archi-
tecture of France," says Mr. Whittington, "underwent a total change
in the
course of the twelfth century: during this period it exhibited three distinct
characters: at the beginning of the century the old Lombard mode was in
practice; towards the middle this became mixed with the new fashion of the
pointed arch; and before the end, the ancient heavy manner was every where
discontinued, and the new airy unmixed Gothic universally adopted."
   Salisbury Cathedral is the most perfect specimen of this style in England,
having been erected when it had been brought to a state which may be called
perfect. This magnificent structure was commenced in the year 1220, and was
forty years in building. Beverly Minster is another, and scarcely less perfect
example.   According to the date affixed by Dr. Milner for the building of
the church of St. Cross, near Winchester, it was one of the first erections
in the early English style, and was commenced in the beginning of the twelfth
century.
  In Germany also we find many examples of :the early style, not less
interesting than those of France and England, and erected about the same
period.  Among them, as one of the most elegant, must be mentioned the
church of the Teutonic knights, at Marburg, which was commenced in 1235.
The cathedral of Cologne was begun in 1248, and that of Strasburg in
T