Obrázky stránek
PDF
ePub

paid to the subject, and from its being enriched by so many documents of authority: and these, too, on a matter which so nearly concerns our feelings of reverence for the sanctuary of GoD.

"Two papers have been received from the Plymouth Committee, together with their report for the last quarter; they will form part of the proceedings to-day.

"A letter has been received by your Committee from the Committee for the exhibition of specimens of ancient and mediæval art, requesting the co-operation of the members of this Society, especially if they should possess any works of art suitable for exhibition. Individual members may, perhaps, be enabled to reply favourably to the application, though the Society, as a body, possesses no objects suitable to the purpose.

"In conclusion, your Committee have to congratulate the members of the Society on the still improving growth of architectural taste and skill; we learn, as we ought, to avoid some (at least) of the faults of bygone times, and though the steps from skill to greater skill are more free from pain than those which arise from another's fall, still improvement in any way is better than a stationary position. It is as impossible to stand still in the arts as it is in morals; to press forward towards a higher mark is every man's calling, and not in the least degree (we believe) is it the calling of architects, whether amateur or professional. The Jewish tabernacle was to be made after the pattern showed in the Mount; the heavenly Jerusalem is represented to our earthly minds under the figures of splendour, and order, and beauty; and so we believe, that every matter of detail, even in our material churches, is to shadow forth these same divine principles; all is to express our sense of His glory whom we serve, and how we are to serve Him. And if this be true, our past labours ought to be giving us a deeper insight into architectural truth; to be teaching us to value more that amount of knowledge and of truth to which we have already attained, as well as to convince us that there is a deeper still' in every mystery which belongs unto the things of God."

The Treasurer produced his accounts, with the observation that they were encouraging, and might be considered highly favourable, would members pay up their arrears, a step he doubted not they would be prompt in doing after the next meeting when the "Transactions" would be ready for those not in arrear. The Rev. Henry Ellacombe, Rector of Clyst S. George, Mr. J. St. Aubin, and Mr. Thomas May, of Plymouth, were elected members of the Society; and thanks to various donors of drawings and books were voted. Lieut.-Colonel Harding was then called on to read a most able and interesting paper on the History of Distemper and Fresco Painting, and its application to the adornment of ecclesiastical edifices, which elicited strong and well-deserved expressions of approval. The Secretary also read two papers communicated by the Plymouth Local Committee, the one by Mr. Damant, being Remarks on the discriminative appreciation of Gothic Architecture in this Country;" the other by Mr. Cotton, of Ivybridge, on certain local features of Medieval Architecture, for which the best thanks of the Society were returned.

[ocr errors]

The Chairman, on vacating his temporary office, commented at some length on the pleasure he had felt in enumerating no less than seventeen churches within ten miles of either side of the railway line between Exeter and the White Ball Tunnel, which had been more or less extensively restored, many of them in most laudable style: and expressed an assurance that all right-minded Churchmen would be ready to acknowledge that much of this spirit of improvement was traceable to the quiet and unobtrusive workings of this and other kindred Societies.

ARCHITECTURAL SOCIETY OF THE ARCHDEACONRY OF NORTHAMPTON.

ON Tuesday, Oct. 9th, 1849, the annual autumn meeting of this society was held; the Rev. Sir G. S. Robinson was requested to preside. The chairman, after regretting the unavoidable absence of Viscount Campden, called upon the Rev. H. J. Bigge to read the report.

The report commenced with a glance at the present state of the society, which it considered encouraging, pointing to its meetings, its reports, the assistance given to church restorers in the inspection of their designs, its shelves, and its portfolios in evidence of its vitality. Repudiating the character of a Church Building Society, it had, nevertheless, out of its slender means, contributed in several instances to objects, when the designs had been approved by its committee. Amongst those objects were the churches of S. Peter and S. Edmund. Pointing to the good old proverb of "Where there's a will there's a way," the report looked upon the restoration of S. Sepulchre's, and the rebuilding of all the destroyed churches in Northampton, as things not to be despaired of. The report then took a brief review of the transactions of the society during the past year. "The substantial repairs of the chancel of Rothwell church having been most satisfactorily completed by the impropriator, the scraping of the piers, and walls, the opening of the clerestory windows, and the partial repair of the fine oak stalls, have been accomplished by private subscription, under the superintendence of the sub-committee of the society; there is still, however, a small deficiency in the funds, which, it may be confidently hoped, will be supplied by the residents in the immediate neighbourhood. The plan of the stalls has been made by Mr. Bland for the society, with espe cial reference to the seating of the chancel of Brampton Ash. The re-seating of the whole of Brampton Ash church is now progressing, and the handsome way in which the parish and rector are respectively carrying out the restoration of the nave and chancel is worthy of all praise, and, it is hoped, will be an example followed, as it is a pattern to all parishes engaged in such works and wishing to execute them according to the most approved plans. It is to be regretted that the welldigested scheme of re-seating Uppingham church has been abandoned. In the re-building of Hartwell church all members of the society should feel especial interest, from the prominent part the committee has

been allowed to take in the designs. There is yet a deficiency in the funds, but there is well-grounded hope that the work will be commenced next spring; to this object the society has given £5. The tower of Ashton church is now completed, and the effect of the new saddle-back termination is particularly good. The plans of Smeeton church, near Kibworth, Leicestershire, although not in this archdeaconry, were laid before the committee, and approved; it is now completed, indeed was consecrated the last day of August. It is a very beautiful example of rural church architecture, and shows that a church in good taste is not necessarily an expensive building. The whole of the seats are low, open, and free; the pulpit stands on the north side of the chancel arch, and below is an oak lectern for the bible. The prayers are read from a stall in the chancel. All the windows in the chancel are filled with painted glass, the work of Mr. Wailes, of Newcastle. The pavement within the communion rails is of coloured encaustic tiles by Minton; the altar cloth is a most beautiful specimen of revived ecclesiastical embroidery, the cover of the font is lofty and richly carved. The church at Braunston has been completed and re-opened, and a good memorial window put up; the whole work highly creditable to the rector and the architect. The new chancel at Dodford church, the plans of which were laid before the committee and approved, is now fast approaching to completion, Mr. Hardwick being the architect. In the chancel of

Sibbertoft the old high square pews have been swept away, and low, open benches, placed stallwise, have been substituted instead. The east end is adorned with hangings manufactured purposely for this use by Messrs. Crace, of Wigmore Street, and the sanctuary has been paved with Minton's encaustic tiles. The plans for re-building the north aisle of Chelveston church on a larger scale, by Mr. Law, one of our members, have been approved, but the necessity of covering the new roof of the church with slates, instead of lead, is greatly regretted; indeed, it may well be wished by all ecclesiologists that a California of lead had been discovered as well as, or instead of, gold, that churches might no more be stripped of that most effectual and dignified covering. The rector and churchwardens of Marston S. Lawrence sent their plans for a new roof to their church, for the opinion of the committee, which was declared in favour of them, with a suggestion for one additional moulding. A plan for re-seating the chancel of Preston Deanery has been approved. A design for a font for Milton church has received the approbation of the committee. The restoration of the east window of Harborough church, by Mr. Bland, has been considered, and, with a recommendation to retain the old corbels, approved. At Castle Ashby, considerable improvements have been made in the church by our noble President; the opening of the arch in the chancel aisle, the erection of a stone reredos, the removal of the pulpit to the chancel arch, with other minor alterations, have greatly added to the beauty of this interesting church. At Brayfield the chancel is completed in its external walls, the new aisle finished and seated throughout with low open seats. The rector of Stoke Bruerne has applied to the society for a design for a new north porch, and a sub-committee has visited the church to advise upon it. The patron and rector of Lowick have applied for advice on

the subject of new altar-rails; the subject is now under consideration. The rector of Bugbrooke has also made known to the committee his desire to extend the south aisle of his church to co-extend with the length of the chancel, the north aisle together with an original vestry being already co-extensive. The secretary resident in Rutland informs the society that the advice given by the committee on the re-seating of Edith Weston church, in that county, has been attended to, so far as to have a middle passage up the nave, instead of closing it up (as in the Temple church, in London,) which was intended; but in other respects the work is not so satisfactory as it would have been if other suggestions of the committee had been adopted. The secretary speaks of the restoration of the chancel of Pilton church, in terms of high commendation ; as also of the re-seating of Tinwell church. These works have not been subjected to the inspection of our committee, but if they are really good, it is a matter of congratulation, as one main object of the society is thereby accomplished. . . . . . It is proposed to hold the next spring meeting at Stamford, some time in the month of May, at which place the Lincolnshire Society propose to meet us, the ground being in some degree, common to both. It may here be mentioned, that this society has been recently brought into connection with the Buckinghamshire Archæological and Architectural Society; and that the secretary of it, Rev. A. Baker, attended the meeting at Higham Ferrers. Mr. Scott, into whose able hands the restoration of S. Peter's church is given, has been elected, it were needless to add unanimously, an honorary member of our society.

"Measures have been taken for procuring an appropriate design for a seal for the society. Mr. Hawkins, of the British Museum, Professor Willis, and Mr. Albert Way, have kindly given their advice, and the work is about to be entrusted to the efficient hands of Mr. Jewitt. The publication of the Description of the Churches of the Archdeaconry' is, for the present suspended, owing to the representation of the publisher, that the work, with the present number of subscribers, was not remunerative. It will be a subject of great regret to the committee, and the society generally, if a work so favourably commenced, should be brought to a premature end, from want of that support which it might fairly look for. As the committee are now in correspondence with their publisher, with the view of resuming the publication, in some form or other, it may at present be unnecessary to say more than to express a hope that the county at large will be ready, when the work is recommenced to come forward with at least an equal amount of zeal in its support."

The Treasurer's report showed a balance of £111. 10s. 6d. in favour of the society.

COMMITTEE. The following names were added to the committee :L. Christie, Esq., W. Smyth, Esq., H. O. Nethercoat, Esq., W. M. Dolben, Esq., Revds. Dr. Stoddart, Dr. Langley, P. Thornton, H. T. Parker, J. D. Watson, F. S. Trotman, P. H. Lee, J. H. Harrison, H. V. Broughton, G. Baker, C. F. Watkins and Clarke.

The Duke of Buccleugh and Sir Arthur de Capel Brooke were elected Vice-Presidents by acclamation.

Buckingham Architectural and Archæological Society. 431

The Chairman then called upon the Rev. G. A. Poole to read his promised paper, entitled, “Remarks on some of the peculiarities of the Norfolk Churches."

The Rev. Thos. James then rose to read his

Cottages."

paper on

"Labourers'

Mr. George G. Scott read an interesting paper on the restoration of S. Peter's, Northampton.

At the conclusion of the paper, Mr. James read a report from the Rev. F. S. Trotman, of the state of the funds for the restoration. There still lacked £650 of the required sum.

ARCHITECTURAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOR THE COUNTY OF BUCKINGHAM.

THE Committee of this Society met on Wednesday, February 6th, T. Tyringham Bernard, Esq., V.P., in the chair.

The accounts of the Treasurer for the past year were examined, when it appeared, that a balance of £1. 4s. 5d. remained in his hand, and that several of the subscriptions were in arrear. The Treasurer was requested to make application for the same.

The Rev. A. Baker, who acted as Secretary, pro tem., stated that he had received a communication from G. L. Browne, Esq., his late colleague, expressing his wish also to be relieved from the duties of that office, in consequence of increased occupation elsewhere.

It was resolved that the following gentlemen be requested to undertake the office in conjunction: the Rev. T. Evetts, Perpetual Curate of Prestwood, the architectural department; the Rev. W. Hastings Kelke, Rector of Drayton Beauchamp, the archæological department; and the Rev. W. B. Gale, Curate of Stoke Mandeville, the correspondence and ordinary business.

Some ancient encaustic tiles of various patterns, from the floor of S. Mary's, Aylesbury, and a Nuremberg Abbey-token dug up there by a labourer employed in the repairs now going on, were exhibited to the meeting.

Two stone coffins of large size with coped lids, bearing crosses, discovered in the chantry on the north side of the nave of the same church, and probably belonging to the founders of the chantry, were also visited and inspected by the members present.

A letter was read from Mr. B. Beedham, calling attention to some "very interesting Saxon remains," brought to light in Iver church, in this county, of which he had furnished a notice in the Builder for October 20, 1849, and stating that Mr. E. A. Freeman, of Trinity College, Oxford, had lately read a paper on the subject before the Archæological Institute.

Mr. Baker stated that, as Secretary, he had been in communication with a member of the Society on the subject of warming churches. After consulting with an eminent architect, he had advised as the most

« PředchozíPokračovat »