The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-10-18 00:00:00

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OPENING OF A NEW CATHOLIO/CHURCH

AT BRIERLEY HILL.
SERMON BY MONSIGNOR CAPEL.

The new Roman Catholic Church. the foun-
dation stone of which was laid about 15 months
since at Brierley Hill, was formally opened on
Wednesday with all the pomp and ceremony for
which the Catholic Church is so noted. There
Was a largo number of persons preeent, a great
number of whom were not Catholics. The
church consists of a nave, north aisle, chancel,
sacristy, a small chapel, and a tower. Its dine-
ensioils inside are 80ft. by Bolt, with a height
of 50ft., and it is estimated that it will seat
comfortably 400 persons. The material of valid'
the body of the church is constructed is red
brick, with Bath stone dressings. In style, it is
an example of early English, and is character-
ised by that tone of carefulness and complete-
ness that marks this period of Gothic architec-
ture. The architect was Mr. NV. E. Pugin, of
London, and the builder Mr. Horton, of Brierley
Hill. The estimated cost of the building is
estimated at about £2,500, and it was stated that
£6OO was wanted to clear off the debt. The
Bishop of Birmingham (Dr. Ullathorne) was the
celebrant at the serviee on Wednesday, and he
Was assisted by the following priests :—Canon
O'Sullivan, assistant priest; Revs. Dr. Acton
and S. Johnson, deacons of the throne; Revs.
U. Duckett and S. Johnson, deacons of the
mass; and Revs. E.Feun and W. (ireeney, mas-
ters of the ceremonies. The other priests pre-
sent were :—Rev. P. Levis (Bioxwich), Hal!,
Rigby, Timothy, Ryder (Northampton), Bath-
urst, Fogarthy. T. Duckett (Rugeley), Barney
(Willenhall), Power, Stoker, Plasttsier, Sherlock
(Birmingham), it. Walker (Kenilworth), L.
Groom (Walsall), J. Bond (Dudley), Power (Bil-
ston), and Morris (Lichtlild).
The sermon Was preached by Monsignor Capel
and he took for hie text tile words, " I have
chosen and I have sauctified this place, that my
name may be there for ever, and my eyes and
my heart remain there perpetually.- The rev.
gentleman said the words lie had cited were
spoken by tiod himself, to one whom he had
singularly endowed with wisdom above all the
soils of man, one whom he had specially chosen
Its build his own house and establish thatcentre
where sacrifiee could be offered to God Almighty
throughout the length and breath of the land
of Israel. That work having been completed,
God then, in his iufinite goodness, condescended
Ito speak to his servant, and say, " have heard
per prayer, and have chosen this place to my-
self for a house of sacrifice." That great God
of mercy, to whom the whole of heaven and
earth belonged, condescended to make his choice
of that house, where he would dwell, and would
unceasingly instruct and teach his chosen people.
Nearly thirty centuries had passed away since
the words of this text were spoken; but how
fresh and welcome they were to Catholics on
that auspicious day. '1 hey came home to their
hearts, and seemed to reply to the cravings and
longings of their innermost souls. They had
longed for that new building, end they simply
that morning attended to bear witness to that
tact. From that day forward that house was
God's own special abode, where all, both high
and low, could attend and offer up their prayers.
They meet not look at that house merely as a
structure, but as the residence of God himself.
While they were at their various occupations, or
lost in sleep, God would dwell there in human
' flesh, surrounded and shrouded by bread and
wine. That was a day of rejoicing, not only for
Catholics, but it also ought to be a day if re-
joicing for their Protestant brethren, a day in
fact wherein the country received new strength.
At that time the whole world was in a state of
excitement about there, and men were, even
after nineteen centuries, crying after truth.
They found men saying—" Lo, Christ is here ;"
and others—' Christ is there." Around them
there was growing a surging sea—infidelity was
gaining in strength and power. It was slowly
permeating the various classes, whether amongst
those who had time at their disposal or those
who were absorbed in bueiness. It would be
idle to hide front themselves that there was fast
coming npon 111.2111 a day when there sac to be
a struggle of the grayest kind —a struggle
wherein the truth of Catholicism would have to
stand face to face with the negation of infidelity.
Round one or the other of those standards men
were slowly and surely gathering themselves. It
was certain that the idea of an Almighty God
was fast waning before their great national pro-
gress. The hour was coining when men must
speak plainly, when men must speak courage-
ously, but when plainness and courage most rest
upon a sure and solid basis. The erection of a
Catholic Chnrch was, at the same time, the
erection of the principle of authority, and it
would cp(Vetly be admitted that people must
finally be led to say their position must be with
that authority, or in perfect contradiction to it.
To many it wield be a stumbling-block—to
many it would be even a source of anger; but
still it would lie to them a day of rejoicing, and
one from which they might render praise to God.
But it was not so for the district only, but for
the country. Just as there were religions trou•
Nee in the world, so the world was unsettled
socielly. Men had lived for a long time reject-
ing the authority of God. They cast it aside at
the Reform atien, but its power had been so great
in the people that, though it was dPstroyed there
yet remained a spent force within it. It had
yet more and more attenuated, until at length
' they had landed upon the position that the tie