The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-09-18 00:00:00

BRLDPOLE HARVEST THANKSOPTING
SERVICE.

This church festival on Tburaday the 6th, notwithstand-
ing the two great drawbacks that occurred, passed off
with much success, owing entirely to the energy and
activity of those who undertook its details. The chief
drawback that occurred was the sudden and lamented
death, on the morning of the festival, of Robert Hite,
who for forty years had ably discharged the duties of
clerk in the parish. This natundly threw • gloom Over
the parishioners, and in deference to his memory the
church bells—the celebrated Bradrle bells—were not
rung. The other drawback to which we referred wee
the usual drawback on these occasions, namely, the
weather. We need not describe the state of that as
every one must remember it. On the morning of the
service, which was at 4.30 p.m., and also on the previous
day, large contributions of beautiful Bowery, evergreens,
and corn were sent to the church to be used to the
glory of Oixl in decorating His house, and certainly, it
was most chastely and efficiently executed. To begin at
the east end—on advancing towards the chased one was
struck with the extreme beauty and delicacy with which
it was ornamented ; the upright pillars supporting the
minor arches of the reredos were entwined with a fine
strip of creeping ivy; bunches of scarlet geraniums were
(,stoned to the capitals of the pillars—and the arches
themselves were marked out by beautiful feathery ferns,
me, tug at the apex with a geranium—the bright
scarier, dark green, and the white atone forming • deli.
eiitui combination. The string-eourse beneath the east
window was marked by white leaved flowers inter-
spersed with various fruits. Out ths centre of the altar
was • wheat-sheaf, presented by Mr. Miller; with •
smaller sheaf of oats on oue side, and of barley on the
other, prsaented by Mrs. Way.. Poppies, Gem flower@
. . .

A;0.,.. mixed with the corn
.i.dded Mud; to. the effect.

In 'front of the larger .hoaf there was • pile of ripe
fruits, grapes, apples,plums, Ice., offered by the villagers.
The six palmy supporting the altar-rail, were erns
-
Muted with bunches of oats and barley alternately.
over the reredos, and supported by the but ' window
was a large Latin crev in choice Bowers. The cheese
windows, north and south, had their sills decorated
with Greek cruse. in scarlet geraniums and dahlias.
The chancel stalls were most elegantly ornamented
with • trellis work of white-leaved plants, picked out
with geraniums, fuchsias, dahlias, verbenas, ko, forming
St. Andrew'. crosses and thus showing the connection
between the two churches.. The lectern was surrounded I
by a wreath of corn, mixed with hot-bonae plants—
the mouldings of the chancel arch were tilled with
evergreens terminating, above the capital; in a rood
screen with • Latin cross. The pulpit panels were
brought out with • string-course of ivy and ecarlet
dowers, ',hewing well on the dark wood. The walls of
the nave and aisle were decorated with emblems
of the Holy Trinity in dowers, and the sills of the '
several windows were ornamented erihh three fern
leaves, meeting in three dahlias of three different
colours. The fon‘was • masterpiece, around the base I
was • circlet of clematis—amend the top of the support-
ing pillar, was • wreath of dark ivy—on the top was •
raised bed e/ bright shining ivy leaves, with a wheat-
sheaf in the oentre—the octagonal divisions's/ the top
were marked out by lines of verbenas of eight different
colours, and (rum each angle hung • hunch of grapes—
the mouldings el the south porch also era, filled with
choice dowers, ferns, and evergreens. The service, as
we said, commented at balfipaat four o'clock, by which
time nearly every labourer in the parish was seated,
• most gratifyieg sight. Before the prayers the
Old Hundredth Psalm wee sung by the whole
congregation, the first part of the service wee
taken by the Rev. Prebendary Smedley, the
latter part by the Rev. Herbert Francis, the
leasons were read by the Rev. H. C. Hintable, rector of
Bettiscombe and the Rev. Herbert Francis. The Rev.
H. U. Heatable preached. most impressive and instruc-
tive sermon. Deounting upon the lees the parish had
sustained by the death of the clerk, he went on to warn
his hearer, against allowing • feeling of pride to
become master of their hearts when they beheld the
wonderful machinery of these days for expediting
labour, and ended with an appeal for their thank-
offerings in behalf of Church lliasions. Thus ended •
service which rivetted the solemn &Gautier' of the con-
gregation, and as it ii repeated year by year as the
bles.ing of harvest is poured down, so will the hearts
and lives of the people, not only of Bradpole, hut of the
whole neighbourbood.he drawn tighter round the Church
Lod fitted to be themselves gathered in at the great
Huvest.