The Express.
London, England, 1856-12-25 00:00:00

(Stamped ld. Additional.) [TWOPENCE.

CONSECRATION OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCH,
WALW ORTH.

Yesterday morning the Bishop of London cones-
Crated the new church built to accommodate the iahabit-
ants of the new town which, within these few year., has
sprung up in that portion of the parish of St. Mary, New-
ington, lying between the Walworth-road and Kentiegtui.
common. Several yawn ago there existed there a large
tract of open waste ground, together with • conaidereble
portion of land occupied as gardens, and for many years
oonaiderable doubts arose se to who were in fact the real
owners of the soil. About an years since, however, it came
into the possession of the Dun and Chapter of Canterbury,
by whom it was laid out and let for building purposes, and
sines then • very respectably inhabited new town has
arisen, consisting of al hundreds of houses ; and It was
part of the arrangement that a church should be erected,
with the aid of the Socieiy for the Promotion of the Building
of Churches, on condition that the inhabitants of the pariah of
St. Mary, Newington, should provide suftitient funds for the
erection and completion of the church, and • sufficient en-
dowment for the incumbent. A committee was accordiogly
formed, and Mr. Henry Juvia, architect, of Trinity-rquare,
Southwark, was instructed to prepare the necessary draw-
ings and plans for the church, to be submitted to the
society, which was done and approved of by them. The
Rev. Thomas °aglow, in the first instance, was appointed
incumbent; who, however, soon after exchanged the in-
cumbency with the Rey. Thomas Mitchell, 8.A., for the
•of Caors. sew Irtasitsera. Masses. Myer*. nr the
gestgl pt
ere road, became the sontracton for the erection of
the church, at • sum of about 6,0001., and the work was
shortly afterwards commenced. The church, so far
u the outer part was concerned, was completed about
three years ago. Daring its erection • fire broke out,
thraateeing its entire destruction, bat fortunately very
little damage was sustained. At this time, owing to the
want of funds, there was a cessation of the works, which
remained in abeyance neat a very recent period, owing to e
difficulty between the committee and the contractors as to
the security for the due payment of the contract money, and
the Rev. Mr. Mitchell in the meantime obtained a beeline
from Dr. Btombsld, then Bishop of London, to perform
divine service in the Lecture Hall of the Walworth Literary
and Scientific Institution until the church was completed.
The Dean and Chapter of Canterbury have since come
forward and secured the contractor, who at ones put on a
number of extra hands, and undertook to complete the
church in such • manner that it might be consecrated, and
opened for divine worship on Christmas Day. Accordingly
arrangements were made, with the consent and approbation
of the bishop, for Its consecration yesterday.
The church, which is now complete, is situate in the
centre of Lorrimernquare. It is built of /Lowish rag, in
the early English style of architecture of the 13th century,
and consists of • nave, chancel, and north and south stiles,
77 feet in length, and 62 feet in height to the centre of the
roof, the width, including the stales, being 62 feet
3 inches. The organ is plated In a recess on the north
side of the chancel, about four feet from the ground, and
below seats are placed for the choir, as also on the opposite
side, the choir consisties of eight gentlemen and twelve
boys. There ere two galleries, one over either aisle,
but the light from the western window will be left
free. There are sittings for 1,204 persons, 602 of which are
to be free. The seats are open varnished oak; the pulpit
is plated at the north corner of the entrance to the chancel,
and the reading desk on the south ; the font, of an elegant
design in stone, is placed opposite the window. The church
is warmed and ventilated by Meseta Ste ' gas apparatus,
erected by Messrs. Deane and Dray, of London-bridge, and
lighted by gas standards, erected by Meson. De Hauler and
Co., of Creed-lane, London.
Long before the hour appointed for the consecration
every seat in the church was tilled by the principal inhabit-
ants of that and adjoining districts, tickets of admission
being issued to the extent of the accommodation only. It
wu arranged that the ceremony should commence at eleven
o'clock, bat on Tuesday the Bishop of London altered the
hoar to half-past sieves.
Previous to the arrival of his lordship the Venerable
the Arelidesoon of Middlesex (the Rev. John Sinclair), the
Venerable the Arshd•aeon of Maidstone (the Rev. B. Har-
rison), the Rev. F. Statham, incumbent of Bt. Peter's,
Walworth; the Rev. C. Moore, M.A., carats of St. Mary,
Newington ; the Rev. J. M'Connsll Hussy, M.A., incum-
bent of Christ Church, Brixton; the Rev. D. Moulin, incum-
bent of Trinity Church, Newington ; the Rev. George
Ainslie, the Rev. W. Buck, chaplain of the Queen's Prison
and asaistant curate of St. Merril ; and the Rev. Mr. Dorsi-
brooks, arrived to take part in the ceremony.
On the arrival of the bishop, who was attended by hie
chaplain, the Rev. Frederick Blomfield, the committee,with
the Rev. T. Mitchell and the clergy present, received hie
lordship at the north estrum, the organ playing a volun-
tary. The procession then moved down the north awls and
up the litre aisle to the chancel.
On the bishop arriving at the chancel the Raul formularies
on consecration were gone through, the deed being handed to
the bishop by the incumbent.
The bishop and his chaplain having taken their seats
within the Communion rails. and the rest of the clergy the
manta asiigeted to them, the Be,. Mr. Mitchell ascended the
reading desk and read the prayers. Ten first lesson of the
day was read by the Rev. Mr. Statham, and the second
lesson by the Rev. D. Moulin. The Bishop of London and
the Rev. Mr. Blomileld read the Communion service. The
"Ts Deem," Naos in F, and the ° Jubilate," Nara, as
also the "Consecration Anthem," Boyce, and the "Old
Hundredth," were sung by Mr. Msohin, Mr. Grey, Mr.
Montem Smith, of Westminster Abbey, and Mr. Geo. Genie,
of Lincoln's-inn Chapel, assisted by the choir.
The bishop then preached the consecration sermon, from
the 12th chapter of 11. Corinthians, part of verse 10—
" When I am weak then am I strong," and at the conclu-
sion, during the reading of the offertory, a collection was
made towards the completion of the church, which was libe-
rally responded to.