The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-09-08 00:00:00

BE 4MINSTER.

OPINING OF TIM Haw PAROCHIAL 80HOOUR.—
On Thursday the new Paresldol Schools, which, during
the peat eighteen months have been in course a
erection, were opened. Hitherto, the school has been
held in • room situated in High-street, but as this
was very inconvenient, efforts were made to obtain
more suitablepremises. A subscription was set on foot
sonic two years ago, and the building which was opened
on Thursday last, was the result of thet subscription.
The new schoolrooms are of Gothie design, and ars
built of local stone, with Ham Hill stone facings.
There are two lofty and commodious rooms, each
capable of holding over 100 children, well lighted.
There is a school-house adjoining, with • piece of
garden attached, the whole covering an area of about
half-an-acre, and costing about E 2,000. The work has
been carried out by Mr. W. Chambers, builder- Messrs.
Hann and Chick, carpenters ; and Mr. Teleman,
glazier; and appears to give general satisfaetion. The
decorations for this omission consisted of an arch over
the gateway with a banner, bearing the inscription
" Bedminster National and sunday schools"; and
several banners were also responded from IRO wail
which encloses the building. Over the entree°e to the
schoolrooms were two pretty arches eompoeed of flowers
and evergreens. The proceedings eommeneed by Divine
service, which was held in the parish church, when the
Lard Bishop of Salisbury preached. The Communion
*hewn' and font were nicely decked with dowers, and
there was full choral service. His Lordship took his
text from the Proverbs of Solomon, " Train up • child
in the way he should go, and when he Is old he will not
depart from it." A collection was afterwards made in aid
of the Building Fund. Divine service over, theelergy and
members of the choir who had taken prut in the proceed-
ings, about 50 in number, all westing surplices, proceeded
in processional order to the school-room, the Bishop
mging up the rear. The schoolrooms were then
formally opened by the Lord Bishop of Salisbury. A
pebbe luncheon was afterwards provided by Mr. G.
Squire, of the White Hart, in one of the school-rooms.
The chair was taken by Colonel Cox, and there were
about 150 ladies and gentlemen present, amongst whom
were—the Bishop of Salisbury, Revs. A. Coder, Si. Lee,
A. Spring Rico, E. Parham. L. Lester, T. C. Malan,
Preb. Broadley, C. W. Moloney, Morris, Willis.
Francis, Hooke. Brugge. and ; and Messrs,
J. Gilbert, T. I'. Daniel, F. Gendry, P. COI, 11. W.
Brusher, Dr. Ke,idle, CoL Marryett, &a. Tho chairman
proposed "The queen," and "The Prince and Princess
of Wales," which were enthusiastically received. Ti.
I. airman in proposing "The Bishop and Clergy of the
,ocese" said it would not be necessary for him, in the
p swage of so Large a number of cleriumen, to say any.
Ii Mg of the merits of their excellent bishop. The
13 .shop thanked thorn on behalf of himself and brother
erigureu for the kind manner in which they had
aceived the toast Ills lordship then referred to the
ist improvements made in Netherbury and Beaminster
nee his first visit some 30 years ago; and spoke of his
gallant friend CoL Cox in highly eulogistic term.. Re-
ferring to the new school-rooms his lordship said he ex-
pressed his hest wishes to all, but more especially to the
laity, for helpiug in this good work. The bishop then
proposed "The Laity," coupling with it the name of
Col. Cox. In doing so his lordship said he hoped they
would not think be did this from mere form, he did It
out of respect to Col. Co. and his family,—Col. Co.
responded, and proposed "The health of the Vicar, the
Rev, A. Guild. —The Rev. A. Co&ld in responding.
spoke of the Inconvenience which had been experienced
in the old schoolroom, and which had indueed them to
build the present ones.. The rev, gentlemen then said
that the bishop in his sermon to them that day had
spoken of clouds appearing in the distent horizon ,• but
he (the speaker) did not fear them clouds if the clew
and laity only worked together. "The Contractors,"
and "The Churchwardens of the pariah and the Ladies
of Bedminster," followed. The bells of the parish rang
merrily during the after part of the day.