The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-06-28 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
CHAPEL
_ .

The dissenters ef this town mar, we think, boast
of having as handsome places of worship as are to be ;
bawl in atom erosional towns ;is Not, within the past ,
few raters the diesseting planes of we .p have under.
gone weraidrnible alteration. As • proof of this us,
need only refer to the Baptist and Hope Chramia, which
ban been renovated, and made equal to new. Only ;
about • fortnight ago we chronicled the fact of the re- ,
opening of th• former place of worship, and now this ,
week we ban to lay before our remises • abort sketch ,
of the completion and opening of the haedeome Con- ,
erregstioeal Chapel in Gioratecter-etreet. The Indepen. 1
dent Chapel having become inedequate to the require- ,
mnsesa it ho nnoltiveratines besides being situated in a
locality *ben it was almost a matter of interusibility
for strangers to discover. the members of that body
determined not to be behind hand in the work of chapel ,
improvement, with members of other draraninationn,
and accordingly decided on leaving their old time- ,
honoured place of worship, and meet a bedding
more in conformity with the impronmeets of the I
preheat day. This praiseworthy work was engaged in
with sera energyoind Olouneterstrest Chapel standing
as a bold memrato of what can be accomplished by
milted and voluntary eff. ins ; and diameters may well
leg pres 4 h•ving senti aa handsome bailding—the
handsomest of any of the eodeliestrael structures in
the town. The expense incurred for the erection of the
raspsl is soosideruble,but with th•exceiptien of • trilling
sum it is almost liquidated. The only thing which
eat at all be regretted Is that • better site could
not have been mirage& The besety of the architecture
of the chapel is almost entirely Mil by the aloes
neighbourhood in which it reantira woad spires. list
gam musaing utak end eiady at toe sante time
convenient *seem" almost impossibilities Maur fashion-
able watering-place, and no doubt the Chapel Committee
'elected the one which they thought best. Unlike the
old chapel the position of the DeVr one Is readily found
out, for its two tall spires very prominently point oat
its wrareebrate. The desiga of the betiding is from
the pencil of Mr. Bennett, of this town, and certainly
the production manes great credit upon him, shoeing
that be is an architect of DO WWI order. The building
of the chapel was intriprad to Mr. Stephen Brown
who has faithfully rarried out lb. designs of Hsi
'reliant, and the work, especially the stone caning,
I. beautifully invented.
As perhaps • gement mails" ef the beading will not
be nainterestrag.the followingare• frardstrails respecting
It. It is built of Ridgersy stens, with Bath stone
deeming* in the Norman style of arettiesetere. the
month and principal eleystiou being in Olorameer-street.
It has a proleetieg gable between two Macon staircase
turrets, ornamented at the top with elegant
lanterns, and sernmented by Wee spires. One
of the chid features of the bedding is
the principal entnees—a bold Norman archway.
Abs.. this In an mead* of intermitting arches. finned
for lighting the lobby rad maim*.. The gable is 611 ed
with an exceedingly handsome illuminated circular
window, II feet le dWneter and inisbed with stone
moping and Asia serving The "ne in the south (root is
really beautiful. the ornamental work about the
Norman me being beautifully executed, eh Ist Oat
around the stained window is very handsome. The
schoolroom brain in the basement of the choral, a lobby
is formed a few stern shore the erten, and from this
other steps spring no each side to the chapel door. The
galleries. side and front, are accessible through • door-
way into the turrets frown the main entrance, as well
as through done, from Tecton-street and Park-street.
The general effect of the building is elegant and I_
posing. The somewhat heavy features of the Noreen
style are in thin eddies greatly relieved by the judicious
ahnixture of some early English inches and tither
devisees, ant especially br due graceful spires which
tower Ildt to heiyht of feet. The interior lessen.
if Powible, Mon beautiful then the exterior. 'rho
numerous windows, 25 in all, impart an air of cheerful
nem not always to be found is secieslastiosi structures
of former nen °aeries stretch along three sides of
' the building, mid supported on iron columns. Thep...,
' in the body of the chapel an no arranged that the
' occupants may all see the preacher without
having to turn their heads The pulpit in at thl
' north end .4 the chapel. It 1i .f Oleo BOOOS,
ercular form with winding steps. The floor of it is a
single slab of Portland stone, showing as no abacus on
e top of a bold au-belted capital a short thick pillar,
'of Koran chancier, out with draper bands. The upper
part of the pulpit is an arcade of interesting arches,
eith serpentine marble column., surmounted with
ranted capitols, red cloth hanging down within the
snobs. The top of. the pulpit forms • sliming do-k of
12 inches wide, which is also covered with red cloth.
- . . . . . . . . . _ . .

i;;;;;;i Fi;;;e7..."Tia,
msrble optima., and Caen stone capping. Behind tbei
pulpit is • circular meek in whhb • gallery has bate
°Destructed for the organ and singers. Ti. roof of tbe
building is partly open and partly wiled, and .panaed
with arch eirineiP•h, neatly ornamented. The whole of
theiwood.work is stained aad varnished, thus givirg the
building a light and cheerful appearance. Artificial
light is obtained by means of 10 handsome stertights.
with filet burners each, suspended from tb• roof, and by
means of braoket burner@ attached to the walla node'
the galleries. Th.-re Is atwornmodatan provided for
about 700 people. The *shoot nem is a spacious apart-
ment, 48 feet long by 45 broad. and If fees In height.
At tb• north sad is a platform raised for the superset.
tendent or minister, and a library, and eapheards. At
the .me end ere two class rooms, and • roe= Aped op
with boilers, ho. The vestry is behind therilti:e
beneath the organ gallery, and altogether the b
has every 0011,001 MM
rho Altai Wa. wand to the public' as Wednesday
morning, and was inaugurated by Divine service being
held. A very large aarnhar of peaces were lenient,
who were almost enraptured with the beautiful aspect
of their finals place of worship. Tin Bow. David
neer. of Bristol. chainisan eleot of the Coattrola-
Heal Usk& preached an approgaisa and eloquent
MUM in Hie morniag, geleattug as his text the Sib
verse of the 42nd Paha t "Why art thou ad down,
0 IRV wed, and why art thou disquieted in use? Hope
thee in God ; for I shall yet praise Hha for the help of
His reseatamees"
After the morning service • add collation. provided
by Mr. Howe, wee partaken of In the erhoel-room,
whah haA been very tastefully decorated for tbo
sosaidee by Mr. B. T. Hawkins, land, of Bondetreet.
About 100 persons wen h pivotal, wider the presideaoy
of te Rev. B. & Addeo. After the meal hed brae
partake, of, sad puss said, the Chairmaa proposed
tbe health of the Queers, remarking that it was the
boat of Dissenters of that, loyalty to Her Majesty.
The Bev. B. AUTON said it had afforded his peat
pleasure to witness the services in which they his 4
that day been espied. Both cm private and labile
ground. it waa an isteresting oseake to him. Atoll
time the ...peeing of • Haase of Ood mast be gratify's(
to every Chrotian, but when it waa in connexion with
the minietrasions of • Pia, it afforded liies peculiar
inbred and atidaietios to be mead. H. rem to
perform s date which he wee suns all would swage I.
and that was to reader baser to wLoos baser wee due,
and thanks to whoa Hanks were due. That
was of their relLdaY, aid the, lowa
• reaoladfal of their duties that day.
A (ter some further remarks be proposal • vote
of thinks to the Roy. Mr. Thomas for the able esnersis
be led nees.b.d, and whish they lief lisineed to with
so* 4iIIISI. and be hoped with pada He traded
Da remelt would be ussaeaeat Is the Wail of all who
Ye, Presteet, nod they would show that day
"al they were 110 i gloomy bat Lamy Chstiliala, I.
soidusL,b. pattpaind a yoke of &aim le Mr. Alias

la antielpitioe alibi sulscilt be weiald deliver lath.
maim.
The Her. Dee= fitowas, In reepooding, Mid if hie
sermon had given satifeetion, sad isie likely to
=sister to the aulduet of those plio be.= bite, hewn.
isgunesL Ii redeems, to the of I ebtoel, Is mid that
be bed spent three or lour weeks in the town, mid be
felt, what be wu sun everybody inset ha.. felt. that
there wee not in all Zeeland more necessity for • plus
of worship in wenesiou with their denouttnetion than
there woe in this tore. Who. be looked at the
busty of the Jowl, and Ha infidel) filiportente, he
Isis that, with proPriste, Wind weld not be allowed
toga 00 u they ewe. HY therefore rejoiced that We
sew chapel had bees built, and that se much had he=
done to remove the bard= of the de= sad that so
little remained. He conerstulahrd Mr. Asides upon
hie having, in oemegion with others, brought le pees
the date of things which they bed sue that day. In
conclusion, he highly celvgleed Mr. Ashton, remarking
that many pee* would be glad to hear of his pro.-
parity in this town.
The Rev. REmIT MIAS also returned thanks. In
doing se he spoke in terms of praise and oommenda.
don of the Christian virtues of Kr. and
Ashton, War. He (the weaker) was also Is the teen
about two or three years mo, v.-1m be sew their eld
shwa. He told Mr. Ashton that it was hardly see
ditable W a town lace Weymouth, when he informed
him that • site had bees =Wined for the new ebegilla
and it wee intended to proceed with its "reed= at
=Mt AV one must pica feel laterested la the
• neer eh= they thoselsti
31.114,11 sight isp=4 lit it. n. now& to
• se of prayer so elegant and erten*. He
Wee= the greatest imports's°, to this, believing it
was powerful in many lia7L He did not grudge at
having lavish expense in a place of worship, if the con-
ition could afford to pay for auk. He did not
believe Clod would reject lavish ornament in a place of
worship if it was offered to Him as an offering of love.
He untended that places of Worship had • great deal to
de With whet wee offer= up in thew and in support of
this alluded to the lounging, aweless habit which the
empegadoes of barn-like pleas of worship exhibited
who. attending Divine service. He believed that in
haedsome structures the attitude would be more devout,
the praises would be more firm, and prayer more
revereetial. la ormelusion, the rev. gentlemen ex-
pressed • hope that God would bless their pastor ens
ebreegthen his heeds, and stated it must he • source of
greet eswouragement to him to know that the bedding
sus ao nearly paid for, and hoped the debt would woo
be cleared et
The Ciattutan due tailed Oa Mr. Dunce, the
wwwaary. to give • few details respecting the inancial
=edition of the elute= In the sperm Of his epee= that
ireatleisiaa, der exprendag bid regret at sad Wing able
to lay • estraplete statement of eitennta before the meet-
ing, said it weaW be reausabered that the new eisapel
00.111onasimi with the "Wit of some friends from London—
Me sers.Bwi• ILlforley,aed witerib, who, with the amietaace
, of some other friends, purchased and gave the du.
The rsommiitee h4l received, including the purchase of
the bind (CM) cuoo, derived in the following man.
air : —The eusgregation had raised 1106; £4B had been
gives by the townepeople, not menthers of the chapel,
and the late member for the borough, Sir William
Freesten, had given coo. This appeared to be a small
mon, bet it should be borne in mind that Sines their
chapel bad bees In coetemplatioa, • similar spirit
seemed to have moved all the other dissenting donomi-
natio= in the town, for there was seereely one of
that body who bei sot been segued either in rebuild-
ing, =Urging. or otherwise improvise their shawl
£39 bed been received from teens in the eitoty,
elusive of Waymire* whlist £1,122 had been colleted
in Load= lad other parts of the country. Mr. Damon
rettWked that not so me= usistance had been received
U eight have been expected flow Woos pleas whence
nu /rudest number of visite', mune from during the
summer mead= The ehspel had in • greet muslin.
he might my, been built for them. If Weymouth had
remained in he former elate, the old chapel would Lave
done; but the railway bed brought inch a Issue number
el people into the town, that the tit building had
bees erect el for their emote . The sale
of the old chapel had realised 11/0, from the
Cospegadonal Building licelety, £lOO, and a
Worry of £97. The expenditure and remaining
littilides amounted to £3.730, leaving a deficiency of
0300, which had ems reties= by the monsing%
£3O. It might perhaps be interesting to NON*
present to know what the old chapel coat —especially 11111
It had been saki that the peewit building was un-
neerwarly expensive, and much too handsome for •
Demoting place of worship. and, by way of °lima, that
it was good epough for a Ow= —a aomenhat equivocal
sort of tinmplithent Ibut be thought when they knew the
eat of the old chapel they would not think the new
one so expensive after all. The old chapel cost, exclu-
sive of land up= which it stands 11,547. The present
building, with the exception of the land would out,
£3.000. a difference of only £450.
The Rev. D. Af.tun then presented the chairman with
£lO, which be said one of his d. aeons bad rent He ex-
premed surprise at the differeoes in the out of the old
sad new chapel, and also thought the co.,* for the
weetion of the latter was wry small. He instaneed a
chat el in Lawton, which was not much larger or better
in aspens= than the presest, which cost £lO,OOO to
ha erected.
.14. Juts made a very long speech, alluding
to the new pleas of worship and the petition
It omelet which be mid as far better than
where the old one was. Whilst advocating the erection
of handsome places of worship, he considered they were
not WWII= in going to that expense which it was un-
namable for them to inset, thus throwing the burden of
the chapel epos thew who eans• after.
The Rey. R. Anne= banded to the chairman • doa &-
don of 21 guise= which he said wan from • friend in
London. He =premed surprise that the town of Wey.
mouth, and the towns in the county generally, had
Irrat. eL,
liq•
uidate the debt on the building he Would pledge Mul-
elt if any One rlme would follow his example, to nee
£llO by the anniversary rusting next year.
The Cattiness announced that Kr. Matthew
Devenish, of Doreheeter, had placed • £lO note in his
hand towards clearing off the debt on the chapel.
The Rev. R. T. VactaLL, of Poole, was also called
upon by the Chairman to soya few words. In respond-
ing to the cell he said be did not think the °minty had
been called upon, at least eo far u he knew, to say what
it would contribute toward, the new chapel.
The Rev. ,f. Fox, of Dorchester, said be had been
*West= with • toe= *hi= It= "Prosperity to the
=grebes of the town and neighbourhood.' He thought
the service which had been celebrated In the chapel
would have Ilse effect of contributing towards& good end.
The &TA. Roe (Wesleyan) exercised the pleasure
It afforded hiss of being present. He dwelt on the
happy intercourse which be had bad with his brother
ministers, and rejoiced to au the prosperity of evert
section of the Christian Chunk.
The OHAllSANproposed "the health, of the anal-
Wet and header., wishing them prospority in their re-
spective celliop, and whom, he remarked, had winked
well
it/ether. They were much indebted to them,
v the architect, who, being • =miler of their
aura, bed shown • great deal of seal in the sneetieln
61 the pews= isaildtag, and the whaile of the wood
carries In its Wieder *so 11111 cootrzbation, and the
week al hid hands.
Roth of these pentlecees having retired from the
a/heehaws, the ONA111.11•11 maid upon the Rev. J.
Bseltt. the former puler of the essereesticse, to address
We meeting.
The Rev J. flew= said that before kis retirement he
_ . . . _

prayed that he might be spared to see the opeolag of
the mew place of worship, for mem knew better Vow
he did Si. necessity for it Is the old ellopel he ,
laboured hood, lant to lark little canoes. to got the
visitors to Ile town to attend the old eh**, bet that
drivel., wee now resoodied. He einumesdod the
onsgammtfee I.r Male. ISM sad said if moms of the
rood old people who had goes helots wore to rioe from
thrir raves they would be astonished at such • thing.
The Outsmart then brousht the proceedings to a
Glom by tbaakiug all those pencils. who had 00-operatod
with hits in the ervetion of the building.
At Ave o'clock the eehool-roodi Oat throin opts tor
tea, lad was toes lied to railwoo ; Wm/Oben were so
may perwele who wished to partake of the social meal,
that • attotbi his had to be provided, Lad on this
demi= oho the room was Mad. After ate t 0.,..
over, mirvii• was again bold is the chapel, which was
'wooded with ea attoative eoegregation. The Her. H.
Allis, of laling!r, preached • powerful disooeree from
St. John air— Let not your heart be troubled, ye
holier* in God b Seim also in or." The oollsotion.
throughout SW day simointed to £7l.

WrItMOUTII TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.
O Wsdnanday • restinj of Ow Town Oonnoil
took ptses at A. Coattail inakber. The Mayor
presid•d, and titers was • very lull attendance of
Aldermen and Cossedloes.