The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-08-27 00:00:00

SHAFTES BURY.

CONRECHATION or Sr. JANIS'S CHURCH. SHAMS.
BORT.—The parish church of St. James's, Shaftesbury,
' which has been entirely rebuilt, was opened for divine
worship and consecreted by the Lord Bishop of Salis-
bury, on Thursday, 15th. The work has cost altogether,
we believe, a sum of about £3350. The site of the new
building was obtained from the Marquis of West-
tninster, end the foundation stone 1/.1 laid on the 28th
of May, 1466. The old church was entirely taken
down. and the material; so far as they were serviceable,
have been used in the construction of the new one. The
designs for the building were furnished by Mr. T. H.
Wyatt, of London, the builder being Mr. Miles, of
Shaftesbury. Though the general character of the church
is Early English, that style has not been rigidly adhered
to throughout the building. It has been built of green.
stone, with Bath stone dressings. The interior of the
church consists of a nave, north and south aisles, and
chenoeL The nave is separated from the aisles on
either side by four fine arches, on clustered piers, with
highly carved capitals. The roof throughout is *pen
timbered. The fittings of the chancel are of oar,
obtained from the old church, but all richly carved.
and having • neat appearance. The chanted is paved
with Maw's encsustic tiles, of • very rich character.
The reading desk and pulpit are constructed of the old
oak, very elaborately but neatly carved. They both
stand upon stone pedestals. The organ has Teen
supplied from the manufactory of Messrs. Berington and
Sons, London, and is fixed at the east end of the north
aisle. Under the tower there is an Early English font,
highly carved in Caen stone, and resting on four
Devonshire marble columns, with a Tisbury stone base,
surrounded with a pavement of encaustic tiles. The
nave is lighted by six clerestory quatrefoil windows ;the
south aisle with two two-light, and one three-light
windows ; the north aisle by three two-light, the north
transeept by a large three-light tracery window, and the
eolith transept by two three-light tracery windows,
highly decorated. At the west-end of the north aisle
there are two small memorial windows, one to the
memory of the Bennett family, and the other erected by
Mrs. Stephens to the memory of her husband. At the
east side of the south transept there is a very neat
memorial window of stained glue to the memory of the
late Rev. Wm. Pattison. The chancel is lighted by a
large five-light highly traceried window at the east end ;
in the north side there is a two-light window; and on
the south side two two-lights, of coloured diaper glass,
and three small windows, being the gift of the architect
and builder. It is hoped that before long the eastern
window will be replaced by one of stained glass. In the
tower at the west end there is a very bold four-light
traceried window. The three stained glass windows
were all supplied by Meares. Lavers and Barraud, of
London. The seats throughout the church are open,
and md stained deal. There will be accommodation for
440 worshippers, the old church having only sooommoda-
tion for 230. The old clock has been refixed in the
tower, but thanks to the liberality of Mr. Thomas, a
new and very neatly decorated slate dial hu been sub-
stituted for the old one, and the old large bell has been
refixed in the new tower for the clock as well se for
service. The site of the new church is very near,
tlimmuth it is not etewtiy than which erne weeepied by the
old building, so that some of the tomb, which were '
formerly within the walls of the sacred building are
now outside the church. The churchyard itself has
been extended, and this new portion was also con-
secrated by the Bishop. The ceremony of Thursday
was regarded with coasiderable interest. In addition
to the Bishop of the Diocese, the following elver,-
men were also amongst those present :—The Ven.
Archdeacon Sanctuary, the Ven. Archdeacon
Huxtable, the Rends. J. Daubeny (the Eshop's
chaplain), G. L. Harkness (rector of the parish), R.
Barrett, H. Glyn, F. Gell, W. Rigden, jun., Robert
Harkness, T. D. Bonn,' (of Bath). E. Elliott, J.
Davidson, S. P. Downing, W. Mills, H. Dean, C. A.
Pinhorne, R. W. Blackmon., C. W. Rogers, J.
Wilkinson, G. Glover, R. N. Milford, J. W. Sh-lton,
F. E. Hutchinson, S. Hair, R. B. Bormse, E V.
Chapel, end A. W. Phelps Amongst the laity were
Mr. J. C. Thomas, Mr. George Troyte-Berook, Dr.
Shettle, Mr. Dußoulay, the Hon. Mary Wellesley, the
Misses Fenwiek, Mr. Raymond, Mr. Hann, Mr.
Berridge, Mr. Macklin, Mr. Phillips, Mrs. Stephens.
Miss Bouverie, Mr. and Mrs. Lyon, Am., lee., nearly all
the principle families in the neighbourhood being
represented. The sermon was preached by the Bishop
of Salisbury, who took for his tent, 28t, John, and
put of the 17th verse—" The zeal of Thy house bath
eaten rce up." The discourse was an earnest exposi-
ticn of the urgent necessity for well directed seal, and
was listened to with the utmost attention. About
half-past two o'clock • numerous company of ladies
and gentlemen partook of luncheon in a large marquee
which bed been erected for the occasion in • meadow
near the Rectory. The Bishop presided, and the
company included most of the clergy and the principal
ladies and gentleman who had attended the Consecra-
tion Service. la the evening service was again
performed in the church. and there was again • very
large congregation. The prayers were read by the
Rev. J. Harkness, the first lesson by the Rev. W.
Rmgden, of Cann, and the second by the Rev. F. Geld
of Shaftesbury. The sermon was preached by the
Key. T. D. Bernard, rector of Woolf., Beth, who
took for his text St. John Ix., 24-27. There was •
collection at the ohne, which amounted to 145., making
She OW collected at both services f:37s. 4s.