The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1879-12-23 00:00:00

El-OPENING OF THE CHURCH.

- - - -
The pariah church was reopened on Friday, after
thorough renovation and the air:ldiom of • vestry.
Formerly there wee in the interior a two-decker pulpit
and reading-desk, in front of the communion table, the
pews were of the old high straiet.haeked pattern, Psi
the walls arid ceiling were 'imply whitewaabed. Alto-
gether it was a comfortless-looking place. The old two-
decker has been removed, and a handsome ol pulpit of
Sir Christopher Wren's. from Sr. Anttiole's Church, in
London, has been placed on the north side of the chancel-
oriel ; the airhole of the high pews have been cut down to
• reaeonable height, and the straight becks slanted; the
wrier, ceiling, and pillar"' of the nave have been cleaned,
coloured, and tastefully decorate.). as • ell s the dome of
the apse over the commuftion-ialrle. The for or line of
the walls of the centre r inning alone at the top of
the handsome lonic pities, ii of (trek design end has a
very pleasing effect, as has also the ornamental work of
the ape. dome before &Sethi to. A new reading-desk
placed on the month side, °pre:elite lbs pulpit, and • band.
some brass lectern have le en provided, the forme. by Mr.
and Mrs. Johns as • thank. ifering. and the lett, 'Py Mrs.
Wm. Smith, in memory of her late hushand. The floor
of the apse,and the steno leading tithe rommunion-t
have been paved with Minton's like, of a very orripmental
design. The pulpit is the gift if Mr.. Fynee C in•on and
her mother, in memory of her (Mrs. Clinton's) father, and
the candlestick on it waa preeented by the school children
of Blandford. The decorative wdk f the chancel•apes
was ectrustsd to the lat• Mr. W. T. Veer, the decoration
of the nave to Meters. Stickland and son, awl the ether
work to Kr. A. H. Green. nese three firms have well
egecuted the work entrusted to them, and the result is
very satisfied wy. A weed of praise is due to the actor,
the Rev. (3. Fyn's-01114m, and the churchwardens
Messrs. Ryer, and Devise for the pert they have taken in
bringing se comm•iniable • work to s successful conch'.
Rion. The total cost of the renovation is about .Ceile
or £7OO, and of this a large sum remains yet to he paid.
The architecture of the church le what is called Grecian,
bat the fabric itself did pet need any restoration.
There was ac debration of Holy Crier:melon at 9 a.m.,
followed hy • full choral opening service at 1130 At the
' time Axed the following clergy walked in procersion up the
nave and took their position bathe apse : —Rev. Chancellor
Stearns of Salisbury ; Rev. Canon Farquharson, Rev. Sir :
Talbot !taker, Rev, John Neal, Rev. J. Lee Warner, Rev.
R. Watts, Rev. A Crocket, Rev. J. Beymer, 111.ev. A..
Littieworel, Rey. J. At,, the Hon. and Rev. A. Douglas,
Rev. I'. Blunt. Rey. W. Wickham, Rev. C. Fyors-Clyn-
ton, and the Rev. R. C. Twyne. The hymn before the
service was " Blase. d city, heavenly Salem." and the other
portions of the musical part of the service were :—Veeire.
todson in C: Peale' lx•i.. Tomlinson in D: Psalm
lxxxiv.. Heywood in Eliit ; To Perna and .rsob;leee Garrett
F ; anthem
I(rom Peal 111 ), wee el id when they
said unto me: hymn after sermon. "Al ye ple that on
earth do dwell" 101,1 Hundredth ton,): Lyme after
offertory, "Cloche's things of thee are spoken ;" couclud•
leg voluntary, "Hallelujah Chores" Jfeeeis& Tbe choir
was &strong one, and took their part, very well, and the
organ was very nicely played by Mrs. E 'ward..

_ -
The sermon was prearbel by the It 'v. Chancellor
Swayne, also Nob for hi. text, 2 Orrin,hians lit., 17.
" Where the spirit of the Ir‘r,l is there is liberty.'
Another service we. held in the evening• ani the
preacher was the Rev. R. F. Trotnian, prie4 vicar of
Wirnborne Minster. There were fairly 'a-co congregations
at both services, and collections were made iu aid of the
restoration fund.
At the conclusion of the evening service the church-
warden, entertained the choir, cle.k, sidee.
man at supper at the Crown Hotel. Mr. Ever. occup
the chair, and Mr DAV(' the vice-chilr. and the curate
was among the guests.