The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-02-09 00:00:00

88-OPENING OF BLANDFORD BT. MARY'S
CHURCH.

This sawed edifice, which has madergone consider•ble
enlargement and improvements., was re-opened for
Dieme Berrie, on Tuesday. Of the original structure it
is presumed very little remains, except the tower end
ehanceL 'lite additions and improvements now made
001$11,1L of • north aisle and transept in the
parpendicular style, with open woodwork root, built
by Lady Smith, as • memorial to the late Sir John
James Smith, Bart, of Down House. The western
gallery Ime been entirely removed, the tower and
western arch opened out, and filled with seats for the
school children. The roof of the nave, which was
in • very dilapidated state, has been repaired,
atid rwcovered with light tiling. The
rector has also, with the assistence of friends,
made considerable improvements in the chancel ; the
walls and roof hare been substantially repaired; and a
new east window, in the Gothic style, filled with stained
glass by Heaton and Butler, ha been put in, which is
divided into three compartments, the centre
one representing the "Redeemer as the Good
shepherd, with a lamb folded to His breast. "Toe
Nativity and worship of the Magi" i. 0.0 the right, and
"Christ blessing little children" on the left. Above
the central figure, which is full length, is • smaller
one of an angel, who holds a stroll, with
the words" He rhall gather the Lambe in His arum"
A new chancel web has also been erected, and • new
vestry added on the north side. Tbe whole of tbe work
hal been executed in the most aatidectory manner by
Mr.
.Marshall, builder, of thin town-
. . . . . . .

_
Having given • demnptinn of the alterations and
Improvement., our next duty is to notice that the church
was very tastefully deenrats3l with chaplets and other
denote formed with Gowen- and evrrgreens, the skil-
ful handiwork of several kind ladies residing in the
neighbourhood, the pulpit especially being very nicely
ornamented with snowdrops and other fiowers, formed
into various shapes. Round the entire chancel, written
In Lige-eine illuminated characters were the word.—
Holy, holy,boly.Lord God of Hosts ; h and earth
are full of the msjesty of thy glory; Glory be to This,
0 Lord, most High." The altar was covered Yitk.,s,
very rich cloth, having the sacred nionopoig lei the
centre, and over the vestry door was written, "Let
Thy priests be clothed with righteousness;" whilst
opposite over the place appropriated for the choir were
the words—" 0 sing praises unto His name for it is
lovely." Shortly before 11 o'clock the children attend-
ing the Infant rail Sunday Schools marched in pro-
cession to church, carrying small banners and firms, and
soon after the sacred building began to fill, seversl of
the most dietingiiishral famili,e residing in the neigh-
bourhood being present. About 16 of the clergy of
the district aa.embel as the rectory, from whence they
walked in procession; bsbited in their surplices, to the
church gates, where they were met by the members of
the united choirs of Spettisbury and Charlton, svilh
Mr. T. Spinney at their head, and, proceeding in this
order, entered the church singing the 121od Psalm to a
Gregorian chant. Prayers were read by the rector,
the first lesion by the Rev. Robert Farquharson, and
the second by the Rev. Reginald Smith, and the follow-
ing portions of the service weirs very nicely chanted and
sang by the choir, under the able leadership of Mr.
Spinney : Vends —ll.show ; Psalms for the day-91h,
Wimborrie ; 10th and Ilth, Richardson; Fe Demo—
Spinney, 2 chants; Jubilate—Romeo, single; Apoetles'
Creed —Spinosy ; Aolhen—" Thine 0 Lord, is the
greatoess," ite.-14 Hymn, No. 190, &ram Hymn
Book—Melii s. The cominandmenta and Gospel ws-re
read by the Very Rev. Archdeacon Sanoteary. and the
Epistle by the Rev. Hutchings. Hymn before
Sermon,No.l63, Sarum Hymn Book. OrWL —in lb* en•
avoidable absence of the Bishop of Salisbury, tbe
sernme wee preached by the Yen. Arcilidemoo
Sanctuary, who took for his text the 22nd verse of the
10th chapter of Proverbs.— "The blessing of dm Lord it
maketh rich, and He addeth no morrow with it."—The
preacher, in hls opening remarks, said that the words
of the text, like the greater part of the writings of
IS 'lmmo, stood out alone, and was one of those
pismires of Scripture %Mob we need not to exansine the
context to find out their meaning. The taxi was a
single link out of the golden chola of inspired truth.
After enumerating some of the advantages which might
be derived by the careful and prayerful reader of the
Kink of Proverbs, the nwr, gentleman proceeded to
consider,—ld. In what the blessing spoken of oon•
sisted. —2nd. The prods they enjoyed who tad this
hlessing.-3rd. Who were the parties who felt this
blaming. The blessing spoken of °unstated in a man
continually a genie of God being present with
him. in the seine ways. Rooth and Noah, who walked
with God; as Joseph, when (weaken by his friends and
hated by his brothers, trusted in God, mid would not
sin for fear of God; as Hesekiab, who in his distress
pleaded with tiod ; as Jeremiah in the pit, and Isaiah
when suffering pereeention. Earthly circumstances
make no change or difference whatever in the enjoy-
ment 01 this blessing- the pour and the rich can equally
participate in it. This blessing consists in the samarium
of God's favour, of His rmooeiliatios to us by the
death sod sufferings of Christ. Christ procured
this blessing for us. The man who enjoyed the
abiding presence of his God enjoyed this blessing. The
profit of this blessing is to make rich. Rightly to
understand the glory of this blaming ww have only to
eomider from whom it proceeds. On whom it rests it
make, rich in the truest sew of the wont God's
blessing cannot be meamuid by any temporal blaming
we enjoy. We must turn sway from the idea that the
sorrow-gotten riche, of this life are meant hers, No
sorrow is added to the enjoyment of this blessing. Tbe
children of God are enriched in thie world by a foretaste
of the blessing, of the eternal kingdom. Three who
enjoy this blessing have renounced their trust in them-
selves, they only rely on God. If we would have this
blessing we must he willing to submit to selfcaoriare.
If we would eajoy the preemies and glory of God in
heaven we must, whilst on earth, seek this bleating.
The end we ought to have in view when entering the
House of God is to become, se much as possible, Divine
worshippers. Yet while we have each, as Chri•tians,
.n individual interest in Christ, aa members of Christ's
Church, we ought to seek to enjoy e united worship,
with one voice and heart praising God. Let no selfish
thought ever defile this House of God. Here, at least,
let all debase themselves, and feel their own unworthi•
nets. Here, 0 rich man, cookies thy poverty—and thou
roan of intellectual greatness, confess thy ignorance—
and eocse end learn as a child the kenos. of heavenly
eisclosn. Here, at team let us all ape. together,
seeking above all other things the blessing spoken of in
the text, The rev, gentleman coot:laded his discourse
by pointing out in how many says the service, of God's
Hones might he made • biassing to His people. During
the reading of the °Moto/ sentences a nolleetioa was
made, and the Archdeacon and the clergy, with •
portion of the congregation, afterwards partook of the
Holy Communion.
In the afternoon the children attending the Infant
and Sunday School were kindly treated with.. excel-
lent tea and cake its the schoolroo,n. the latter supplied
by Mr. Etheridge, of Blandford St. ; end to the
elder female parishioners wee given from she rectory •
iitiantity of tea, sugar, and cake, so that they might
enjoy some little pleasure on this happy day at their
own homes.

The evening mak* ootamoneed at 6 o'elook, amid was
atleaded by a good aosgragaties. • portion of lb..
aerates was choral, the following beteg the abuts and
tnnee used :—Paahn 12. 13. Biala ; Pasha 14,
.aireardess ; resaleas, Dr. Tringi Dow, liaay
11.16114 Ilk Mead awl. Mo. in 111. Meese I ink

Eventide The whole of this port.en of the nervice
vi ry well given by the choir. A very able aeruion area
pre .ched by the 11,v. Reginald Smith, rector of
Stafford, sod the whole of the day's proceedings nag
marked by s truly &retiree! feeling.