The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-06-18 00:00:00

ST. MARY'S CHURCII.

On Thursday last a large and influential meeting wax
held at the Townhell, " for the purpose of considering
the best steps to be taken for repewing, warming, mid
ventilating the perish church, and forming • fund for
the purchase of pews to be made free seat., in oonse-
ustnce of the scheme for the enlargement of the church
haring been given
_tip on the ground of expense.
The MAYOR presided, and said he did ee by request.
Having read the circular convening the meeting.
The Rev, T. GeIiAVZ-, rector, addressed the meeting,
He said: In conjunction with the churchwardens I
have invited your attendance this morning to place be-
fore you two proposais ; min for the ro•tworitos, wino
ing and 1... t.., :dilation of St. Ilat .'s C . Coe
other for the lon I elvore perr. to he 1.1 .cell in the hands
of the eotreho .olenx end lir them allotted to each
prishiooer.... are lad ia Clia.iMatikaeee I, rent aerlee.
You medi Walt:a/Cr that Alealt a ye•r hiu-e II vestry WI..
held in this room and very largely attelelo I, at which
it waa until may resolved that certain plans for
enlarging a. well as repewing the church should be
carried out. lumiconlance with the directions of that
vestry, every step was taken for carrying out the works,
and some few week. since the Building Corr.mittee
advertised for tender., hut those sent in iinniensely
exceeded the rim which the arehitaac., had named
ranging from £s,ofg) to £lO,OOO instead of from £3,000
as anticipated. After • careful consideratiot of the
matter, the committee du liot deem it feasible to raise
• sufficient fund at present to carry out tit' enlarge-
nient, but I still entertain the hope that when the re•
sources as well as necessities of the town become more

developed, this or some other play of a kindred
character maybe carried out for obtaining ample addl•
tional church accommodation. Meanwhile we have
hail to consider what 1:43111.1 be done to effect • part at
least of the objects contemplated by the vestry, and we
believe the two following proposals will to, consider.
extent do so. First, we propose to remodel the present
pews, adopting them Mg far as practicable to the modern
plan of seats. The old framing will be employed, the
upper panel being removed, as also the linings. It is
also proposed to convert the present robing room into
free mete and to join the ontaide vestry to the church
by a covered pasaa,ge. This will give Z' additional free
sittings at i trifling cost, and much Mclean the
comfort of the officiating minister. The total
cost of all these improvements will not exceed, I am
assured, £l,lOO. To include, however, all ex
connected with the faculty, •rchitects, ie., we arllnall
£3.500 as the tutu required for carrying out Ibis first
proposal. Secondly. With this we promme to couple
the formation of a society,starting with • fund of £l.OOO,
and annually raising subacriptions, to he employed in
buying up from time to time such pews as may be had;
to be vested in the churchwardens, as in onlinary
pariah churches, and by then, allotted to each respect-
able poorer parishioners a• limy wish regularly to attend I
the church. You will observe that the funds required
are first, £1,500 for improvement, and meondly, £l,OOO
for purebasing pews, making together £2,500. A mum
of 1.11.201.1 has been proiiii•od for the original scheme,
sal allowing • broad margin for subscriptions which
may be withdrawn, I think it may be very fair to
count upon keeping £1.500 towards the new plan, so
that only £l,OOO would have to be raised. When I con-
sider the large sunis now being raised by the various
ehristian bodies in this town, I feel it would be a dis-
grace to the Church of England if such a sum is not
easily raised amongst you. I need not say that it is with
the greatest regret that I have abandoned for the
present the larger seheme, bet I feel the lesser one now
preferred to you is a step towards the end in view, and
that it is one which certainly ought to be accouipliabed
before any further step in taken to procure additional
church accommodation. I am unwilling to give a per-
sonal and pnvste character to • public matter of this
kind, but you have on so many occasions expressed your
wish to do all in your power to promote my personal
comfort in ministering among you, that I do not hesitate
so far to make this a personal matter, as to say that the
cordial and unanimous carrying out of these proposals
will oe a comfort and retie( to me. The lowering of
the pews and the sloping of the galleries will make the
church less fatiguing to ministers, whilst the provision
of an increased number of sittings which may
be allotted to • clam of grivring importance in the
town—but now almost excluded from the church—will
tend to remove • cause of mach and painful anxiety
from my 'Mud. I have little doubt that 111011 of the
parties who have kindly subscribed towards the
enlargement of the church will transfer their sub-
scriptions to this in every way kindred object, and I
entertain a strom; hope that in this way we may
gradually relieve the parish church from that system of
buying and selling, letting and renting, which all nest ,
deplore. A society similar to that which we propose '
to form has worked admirably in Mancliceter, where I
am informed several encutubered churches have already
been set free. I now leave the matter with much con- I
fidence in your hand, and you will say whether or not
I have judged rightly in believing it is your wish to do
all in your power to lighten the physical and mental
labours and the many and arduous responsibilities and
burden. which devolve iip.on a. ae ...toe at this sage
and important parish (applause.)—The rev. gentleman
reed the following report from Mr. Crickmay, architect:
—" I have carefully estimated the coat of executing I
the following works, and am of opinion the same may
be executed in a good and workmanlike manner, for the
sum of one thousand and seventy pounds (E 1070 ; in
fact, would undertake to get the work done for that I
sum. To at down the pews in the body of the church, I
widen the seats, remove the baize, paint and varnish
the woodwork. Alter the free seats, lower the pulpit ,
and improve the same, take down the result robing
room, put new seata on the site thereof, and make a
covered passage from east end of south side of church,
and repair the vestry for robing room, also construet
a water closet side of covered way. Alter the pitch
of galleries, cut down pews, widen seats, new capping
and paint additional ventilation. Allow for two of
Woodcock's stoves with pipe and fixing, clean and ,
repair the gas fittings and new piping where required.
Clean and repair the stove work externally and clean
and repair riding. The additional cost of pawing the
body of the church with new wood would be four
hundred pounds. I ism, dear sir, yours faithfully, G.
R. eriamey."
The Mato' asked if the whole of the seas in the
body of the church were to be cut down ?
The Micros said there were two models on the table.
one of the existing high upright pews, the other • model
preottred by Mr. Christian, of London, who was an
architect, of the kind of pews now almost universally
erected in all modern churches. To repew the church
wouhl cost £4OO, end it was therefore proposed to take
•ff the top panels of the existing pews, leaving the '
remainder as at present. The pens weeld then be an
inch or two higher than the most approved modern
pews were, and the seata would be made broader.
Mr. AIDIN asked if the pews sere to be enlist-gad.
Mr. Ottrava replied in the motive. The lower
portion of the pews would not be touched.
Mr. T. B. BLALIR thought, as one of the pew owners
at St. Mares Church, that it would be as well
that these who felt the height of the pews to be an ii
convenience, to !sift their pews at the bottom if they
chose. lie thought that emeld answer every purpose.
As he was therefore of opiniou that no one should be
allowed to interfere with the pews but the owners
thenmelves, he begged leave to move :—" That the
suggested alteratione in the pews of Melconibe Regis
Church be not carried Into effect."
Mr. S. 111.X)Itt seconded the proposition.
Mr. GILLAVIM said before the question was put, he
wished to remark that if some parties raised their
seats and some did net, it would be a great unisonse
for those sitting babied a rinaed seat for three in front
to be so much higher than themselves. There were
now • few, but he questioned whether it could be
legally done. A general scheme was necessary to mare
uniformity, and could not therefore be left to every
individual pew owner. &aides putting in false bottoms
would be nearly as expensive as cutting down the tops.
The scheme here proficient would greatly relieve the
minister, as with the present Lugs amount of wood-
work and baize, a great portion of the minister's voice
wee lea.

Mr. AYLESBURY, as a pew owner, 'odd note.. the
slightest objectioe to the proposed scheme
being serried out. Although he did not oppose the
rector in the former schtute for enlarging the church,
he wu free to content he certainly did not approve of
It, but be could not see that a fairer scheme than the
one now propounded could be possibly made to seasible
people. Ile had seats both in the gallery and in the
body of the ehorob, and the proposed alteration had
his cordial approval.
Mr. AMINO, as a pew owner in St. Yary's church
mud say that the proposed alterations would very
materially conduce to the comfort and sonvenience of
the pew owners and pew renters attending that ilace of
worship. He had, for some comiderable time IMO in
Jobs's Church, and it was iodonishing the difference
in the 'Mimi of the two eliarehes as regards eomfort.
In ',Uttar, WO, the frequenters of rtt. Mary's sulfured
from cold, and in summer they were almost suffocated
from waist of proper ventilatioe. H. thereto's proposed
as an aiueadment to the proposition already mole.—
"That in the °Pinion of this meeting it is advisable
that itense.liate steps be takeu for carrying out the alter-
ations in the pews and other works, and for venti-
lating and warming the parish church in accordance
with the report of Mr. Crickmay, now read."
Mr. ii•UNDZILIS load very great Owners In sooanding
the amendment. . _

The quanition was then put from the ehair, when
Lb. amendment was carried by about 110 to 15.
Mr. R. F. ELIUT next proposed—" That inasmuch as
it has been thought advisable to give up Ni. content.
plated enlargement of the parish church on the ground
el an out'ay bring required than was originally contem-
plated, this meeting considers it expedient that •
society be formed for the purchase of pews to be mails
free seats in lien of such enlargement, and that • sum
of £l,OOO be at ones provided for that purpose." He
I said they were placed in • very awkward and unplea•
aunt naution with regard to free *saki, suffering hem
tbe very clumsy dealing of their forefathers, who mow
out the church to private parties. It was not &parish
church in the full meaning of the term, as the aritinp
were in the hands of private parties. This was • great
seasdalto the church, of which there Isere, happily,
bus few insennese in the country. as the larger plan
for remedying this hail been given up, it was their
duty to look about and see in what way they could
beat meet the want& of the pariah in roptni to charch
actoooantodatioa, and it appeared to him that the plan
proposed by the vicar was a very feasible era They
had • large cherch, but the number of free male was
very email; be believed there were vasty about 100,
sod them bore placed in the eery worst part i 4 the
awash, so that the poor were in • great IIII••••TO ei•
Chided Now foloin In religious worship where they,
it,,,. oovrywitorto olacettititt to expect aecominodatinti.
Ishisving, ne he did, that the ministrations of the

church tended most materhilly to promote the highest
interests of the people, and that they were an hiatru-
mentality that had been honoured of God for the spread
of true religiou, anything which tended to make their
Ferias:a more sttractire aril to remove the 'serious incon-
tenicaces under which they were labouring. deserted
theirhest support. Of course in so large a parish as theirs
was there might naturally be expected to be differenees
of opinion, but in this, as in other matters, it was the
duty of the minority to gracefully yield to the will of
the majority. lie himself felt very strongly upon the
subject, and he therefore most cordially receinusended to
their consideration the proposed resolntion.
Mr. Mll.l.rnec seconded the proposition.
Mr. C. Hibbs said lie could not agree with the
amendment that bad just been carried, and he believed
there was a large number of pew owners absent that
day who were opposod to any alterariont. (Mr.
Gersvga :—And there area great many absent favour-
able to the alterations.] The reason why lie (Mr.
limes) voted against any alterations being made was,
that he did not like to see this strife raked up In the
pariah, and he believed that if they spent the motley
that the alterations would cost in purchasing pews for
tree seats, it would five far greater satisfaction.
Mr. ANDREWS said the Dreamt trirrow high backed
seats wen a source of great discomfort to thoo who
attended divine service at St. Mary's Church, &fill often
often kept him mid many others away when they wished
to be present. It was really quite painful to sit to
listen to the preacher, and profit was almost impossidle.
It was therefore with pleasure that belied roted
In favour of the amendment. With regard to the epics-
tion at present 11.4, tlitui, he iii lm t rcinark llist there
ti.eveut .10,11 ..1 pt• t. their i.rimist.•
perty in tlwir }mutest church so cii ernintsly t., the
psmehid se trent, mei he 'limit r.,r li•Ily apprtt•el the
raising of a nun it money for the freeing of the PilVh
a. tney were fro.., time to ti.ne offered fur disposal. It
was very herd fur those who enald tint alT,ti,l 101 pay
for sittings to he escluded (non the miniairations of
the church—or if they did Attend, for the liii,band to be
pushed into one ounce, his wife into another, and bia
children dancing 'bunt to get a mat where they weld.
fly raining the proposed fund they would form a
umiclua for freeing the parish from its premed state
of thraldom. . . . .

The resoissUon WWI thon put and carried unanimously.
The RIICTOR then propoied, and Mr. DIEVENISII
seconded, a vote of thanhi to the Mayor for the
kindness and ability with which he had presided that
day.
The MaTOIL, in acknowledging the ooespliment, said
that when he consented to provide he wan greatly
afraid, from knowing the high feeling that had been
evinced in reference to any alterations being made in
the chord', that they would have • stormy 'fleeting
that day. He was happy however, everything, had
passed off no comfortable, and lie truated that new
the matter was settled, they would carry out the work
harmoniously and energetically.