The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-19 00:00:00

NEW CHURCH AT DUDLEY.

On Tuesday the new churah of St. Augustine,
Dudley, was consecrated IT the Lord Bishop of
Worcester. The edifice, which has been for some
months in course of erection, has already been de-
set ited in detail in these columns. It occupies a
conspicuous position from the high road at liollv
flail, and is built to meet the requirements of a
very populous neighbourhoc d The total cost of
he churc') wh,n finished will be £5,250, the site
havin; Lem given by the Earl of Dudley, who is
also a general donor to the building fund. The
r,rP, ect estimEted del t i £450, which amount the
Rev. T. G. G-. Swindell, incumbent designate, by
whom the undertaking has been vigoursly pushed
forward, hopes to see removed at the close of the
s ries of sel vices, which are to be continued till the
first Sunday in August.

Prior to the ceremony of Tuesday a large number
of the clergy of the diocese met at the Holly Hall
Schools and from thence walked in procession to
the nc.w church, where a large and influential con-
oregation was assembled. The order of procession
was as follows :—Chief Superintendent Fur on end
po'ice, committee, architect (Mr, Drinkwater, Ox-
ford), builder (Me. Nelson, Dudley). visitors, verger,
A ith staff, choir, deacons. priests, Mayor of DuillPy,
e is robes of chain of ofnee, ; cathedral dignitariPs,
P.O al Dern, sod Rev. T. G. Swindell, Lord A.
Compt.m (Dean of Worces'er) the Lord. Bishop of
Worcester, and Mr, A. Compton. km sec. The.
El hop was received et the (1,:or of
,the church by
the Chancellor, Registrar, minister, and churchwar-
, dens. The minister presented to him the petition
for consecrai ion. The Dish )13 then proceeded to
the east end of the church and read the appointed
prayers. The sentence of consecration was then
read by the Chancellor (Canon Cattley) and signed
by the Bishop, and by him ordered with the peti-
tion and deeds to be recorded by Mr. Hooper in the
registry. After this the Vicar Designate read the
service of the day. The first lesson was read by the
Dev. Dr. Cosens, and the second by Archdeacon
Lea. An appropriate sermon was preached by the
Bishop from the words,. "The Temple of God is
holy." The collection afterwards made amounted
to over £4B.

At the close of the service a public luncheon was
held in the Earl of Dudley's School Room. The
ex-Mayor (Alderman Garratt) presided, and among
those present were the Lord Bishop of Worcester,
the Mayor of Dudley (Alderman Howatt), the
Dean of Worcester, Lady Compton, Archdeacon
Lea, Canon Bowlby, Mr. G. Clagutcn,lMr. and
Mrs. H. Smith, Dr. Cosens and Mrs. Cosens,
Cannon Cattley, Mr. E. T. Terry, Mr. and Mrs.
S. Bagott, Mrs. Du Santory, Canon Walters, Mr.
J. B. Cochrane, Mr. B. Hingley, Mr. Joseph Rus—
sell, and the Revs. S. J. Marriott, W. J. Wissten

G. F. Hodges, R. Cosens, B. Gibbons, E. H. L.
Noot,, J. Birch, R. H. Streeten, G. C. de Renzi,
and T. Sidsdell.

The Chairman, in givirg the first toast, "Church
and Queen," remarked that the greatness and pros-
perity of this country were in a great measure duo
to its connection with the Church,and he boldly
asserted that if it was to maintain its greatness
that happy union must not be diminished.
The Lord Bishop of Worcester, in responding,
expressed the pleasure it had given him to be pre-
gent at the consecration service that day. He
congratulated the Rev Mr. Swindell on the fact
that he would now have a building worthy of his
labours, It was not only a beautiful church, but
it was particularly suited to the place in which it
was situated. No part of his duties, he might say,
gave him greater pleasure than V:e consecration of
churches with a view to the districts in which they
were situated becoming new parishes. He hoped
very soon Holly Hall would become a new parish,
and that they would see Mr. Swindell the vicar of
it—(applause). There was a crowded population in
the district, and anew church and a ne,v parish
were indispensable. In the diocese of Worcest-r
there were many large towns with extensive popula-
tions, and he was glad to find the idea of new
parishes springing up with a desire for new
churches. The town of Lirmingham itself was a
proof of this, There the population was overwhelm
in', and new parishes ought to follow the increase
of population—(hear, hear). His lordship con-
cluded by proposing "Success to St, Augustine's
Church." _ _ _ _

The Rev. T. G. Swindell nsponded, and made
touching references to the help be had recsived,
and especially from the Earl and Countess of Dad-

ley.
Archdeacon Lea gave" The Donors to the Church
Fund," observing that Lord Dudley had dis-
charged the duties of property as grandly and
generously as any nobleman who ever lived.
Mr. J. B. Cochrane replied, and urged that Mr.
Swindell ought to be relieved from the responsi-
bility by having the handsome church opened that
day free from debt To contribute to that end he
should be happy to add another £5O to the fund—
(loud applause).
The Rev, Dr. Cosens proposed "The Mayor of
Dudley and oth-r Visitors," and after eulogistic
personal references, went on to express gratitude
that a committee, consisting for the most part of
working men, had carried out the work completed
that day. There were very few pwishes in Eng-
land where it could be said with truth that a church
had been raised by men composed, with the ex-
ception of the curate and hon. secs., of the work-
ing class, s. Ho should like it to go forth through
the length and breadth of England that not only
here, but in Northampton working men were erect-
ing a church to tie glory of God—(cheers). He
trusted that early next year they would find that
Holly Hall had become a parish and had received
its end o w ment—(applause).
The Rev. Canon Bowley and the Mayor of Dud-
ley. acknowledged the toast.

'Tile remaining toasts ware "the Architect,
Builder, and Building Committee, and the Chair.
man."