The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-07-19 00:00:00

REOPENING OF BLOXWORTH CHURCH.

On Thursday, Jtily 7, was the re-opening of Blot-
worth church, the chaneel of which has been
entiiely rebuilt at the expense of the rector, the
Rev. 0. P Cambridge, as an affectionete memorial to
his let° father, many years the rerdor of the parish.
The day was observed as toile a holiday and a large
party of viritors and friends of the rector were present.
Bloawottli Church, dedicated to St. Anahew, is of very
great age. Originally •am all Norman strueture, then
enlarged and re-bored in E vly English style. Wee.
quaintly tutored in the ample decorated style, after
which about 110 years ego there was a general rebuild-
int, in when the holy of church came out in
" nod-re Gothic', as it is at present, and the ehaneel
was made up of the debris of tne whole church supple-
mented by sone tracery of windows showing the tran•
union from Qr, decorated to tde perpendicular .tale.
To this reatoration hams now succeeded the present
renovated anti adorned structure reopened to-day, and
which (containing all the available materials of the
building to which it succeed.) pruerres almost intact
the window lishind the prayer duk, and that on the
north site of the sacrarium. The east window in
its tracery in an improved copy of the old
east window, and that on the south side of the
sacrarium is an exact copy of the old one. The archi-
tect who has kindly contributed his valuable assistance
gratis to the restoration, in memory of the late rector
(present rector's father). is Mr. Geo. Evan., of Wino.
borne, well known in the county for his churches, and
as county surveyor. The builder was Mr. A. Green, of
Blandford, to whom too much praise cannot be given
for carrsing out the architecos plans. under the
drily superintendence of the rector. The chancel
has been restored in a aulutantral manoer,
in it* original early decorated style of medieval
architecture. The exterior or the walls are of flint and
stone work, harmonising well with the body of the
church, the doorway Drat windows are wrought in
Doulting stone, having labels springing from carved
heads. The eastern end is enriched by two niche.,
containing figures nf St. Peter and St. Andrew. The
interior of the walls aro lined with Bath stone. The
ro if is open-timbere i, having curved rib. springing from
carved stone corbels ; the ceiling is divided into panels
by ribs, with carved bosses at the intersections, those
over the eacrarium enriched by gilding and coloured,
rind a quatrefoil ornament completing the cornice at
the spring of the roof. 0a either side dividing the
PkV and chancel is an archway of Bath stains of great
depth and teline-a and having on each aide a column
of polisliel Irish marble, crowned with a carved stone
capital ; a more simple archway of Bath stone opens
into the organ chamber and vestry, on the north side
of the chewed The eastern wall under the window-sill
I. fini.hed with • facing of encaastie tiles of rich pattern,
from Maw and Co's., who also supplied the Bo ir tiles.
The eastern window is filled with stained glass, by
Eaten and Butler, ot London, the subject being
" The Resurrection." It is divided into three
compartmental, the centre having a nearly life-
sised figure of oar Saviour, with the Roman guards
lying beneath, and on either side the Virgin Mary
and the women who first came to the sepulchre.
Some strained glairs bordering bag also been introduc
into the side windows. The cents are of oak, hiving
carved enl., enriched with poppy heads. The reading
desk and lectern Cr- also of cult, enriched with tracery
work and earving,the latter having •oarved eagle sup-
porting the book-board. The carving is by B iulton and
800, The following contributions to the chancel were
given by the rector', relatives and friends ; —Cour m u n ion
plate, given be J. T. Trenehard, Esq., of Poxwell and
Greenhill. Weymouth ; communion table, given by
Mrs. Wallace, mother of the rector's wife ; two Glu-
tonbnry chairs, given by Miss Wallace, aunt of Mn,.
n. P. C•wbridge ; east window, memorial to the late
Rev. 0. P. Cambridge. presented by his widow and
children ; month window, memorial to Mrs. C. de
Coehlogon,pereented by her husbsnd ; lectern, memorial
to Mrs. de Coehlogon,presented by mime of her brothtus
and 'Men, and other reliationi ; altar clioh and altar
linen, winked by Mrs. W. Morrison, sister of Mrs. 0.
P. Cambridge; cushions for altar step and litany desk
worked by Mrs. 0. P. Cambridge, the rector's wife;
two kneeling stools for the communion table, worked
by Mire Newton and Miss Caroline Newton, of Buie.
worth Heine; illuminated text, written by Mr. Elg•r.
of Blandford—" In this house will I give peace sitith
the Lord of Huta," given by the parishioners ; hat.
rnonium, given by Miss Welles*, aunt of Keus. 0. P.
Cambridge; Mine beg, worked by Mr.- Fox, family
nurse to Mrs. Wallace ; first banner, worked by Mies
Sharpe, and Miss Agnes Sharpe, also two flags for the
tent; second banner, worked by Ellen Stone, nurse to
the rector's family. Among other contributors, not of
the rector's family, may be specielly mentioned Miss
Gordon, daughter of the late R.. Gordon. Esq., of
Leweston. pear Sherhorne. end Mrs. Robinson, of
leatherhead, dutrrY•