The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-09-24 00:00:00

PO WERSTOCK.

CHORAL Fzerrost..— A gathering of church choirs took
place on Tuesday, at the beautiful church of St. Mary,
Powerstock, the village being remarkable gay on the
occasion. The choirs taking part in the festival were
those of Powerstock, Cattistock, Compton Valence.
Frotne Vauchurch, Maiden Newton, Rampiaham, and
Toiler, numbering in all about 80. The church was
decorated with a varb-ty of flowers, and was well filled.
The chin and clergy assembled at the vicarage, and,
having formed in procession, walked to the church
singing the processional hymn, "Brightly gleams our
banner, pointing to the sky." On entering the church
the clergy took up taeir position in the chancel, and the
Choirs occupied the nave, the principal portion of which
had been reserved for them. Evening service then
commenced, the Prows used being Tails's. The
prayers were intoned by the Rae. G. Phillips, of the
Holy Trinity church, Weymouth. The responses were
made in a very creditable manner by the choirs, who
had evidently been well trained, and did justice to the
able teaching they hail received from Mrs. Panctuary
and Mr. Willett, the choirmaster of Powerstock. The
Psalms of the day were song antiphonally by the clergy
and choir to a Gregorian chant (7th tone). The first
lesson was read by the Rev. H. Seymour, and the second
by the Rev. G. Nash, The Magnificat and None
Dimittis were Monk's in A and rendered very credit-
ably by the choirs, whose proficiency in these, as well
as other parts of the service, must be attributed to the
able support they received from Mrs Sanctuary, who
presided at the organ. The anthem was "The Heavens
are telling," from " The Creation," and, considering the
difficulties with which the pieoe abounds, it must be
admitted to have been gone through very fairly,
although it appeared to be weak in male voieee. At
the conclusion of the services Faber. hymn, "The
pilgrims of the night," was very well sung. The
sermon was preached by the Very Rev, G. Mere, an.,
Dean of Cork, who *elected as hdi text Acts li, 1. A
collection was made in aid cif Church Missions, the
hymn, "May Jesus Christ be praised," being mean-
while sung, and followed by another hymn. "The day
Is pest and over." After Divine service the clergy and
choirs re-assembled and proceeded singing to the
vicarage, where they sejasiated. Shortly after the
Ven. Archdeacon Sencituiry entertained the clergy,
churchwardens, choire, and friends at tea. A very
large number assembled and heartily enjoyed the
excellent repast set before them, the arrangements
being of the most satisfactory character. The chair
was taken by the dean of Cork. Later in the evening
the Vet, Archdeacon Sanctuary proposed a vote of
thanks in the Very Rey. the Dean for the able and
excellent sermon he had preached. The Dean responded.
The Rev. F. Hooke then moved a aimilar vote to the
Ven. Archdeacon, who, after responding in a fe ling
manner, conveyed his thanks to the choirs and others
who had given him their assistance during the day.
At his request the Dean of Cork acknowledged too
omptliocut, alwr rdsl4:94 Shy 5ur0.1.4