The Sun.
London, England, 1825-11-04 00:00:00

ST. BRIDE'S STEEPLE.

Yesterday being tbe-,day appointed for laying
the foundation-stone of ...tlA6w buildings forming the avenue
leading to the above Church, a numerous party of ladies and
gentlemen assembled in the vestry-room, at one o'clock, and
shortly after two a procession, consisting of the Rector of the
Parish, the Committee appointed to manage the erection of the
new building, the Secretary, &c. proceeded from the Church to
the spot where the foundation-stone was to be laid. Nothwith-
standing the unfavourable state of the weather a number of
elegantly dressed ladies were present, who appeared to take a
lively interest in the proceedings of the day. The Committee
and Gentlemen having assembled, Mr. SPOT TISWODE ad-
dressed the surrounding multitude, and detailed the particu-
lars of the intended improvement.
JOHN BLADES, Esq. then came forward, and addressed the
company assembled. He stated that it afforded him great plea-
sure to see so numerous and respectable a meeting of his fellow-
citizens assembled on the present occasion. He felt a great in-
terest in the undertaking they had met to support, and which
he had every reason to believe would be crowned with success.
A Plate, representing a plan of the proposed improvement,
was then exhibited, after which various gold and silver coins, of
the present reign, were deposited in the cavity appointed for their
rfeeption, and a brass plate, with the following inscription, was
read by A ttwood Smith, Esq. the Secretary, previous to its being
placed under the stone

The SPIRE of the CHURCH of ST. BRIDE, in the City of
LONDON,
A master-piece of Art, designed by the great Architect,
Sir CHRISTOPHER WREN, Knight,
flaying been obscured by surrounding Buildings for upwards
of a century,
A Public Subscription took place, tor the purpose of bringing
into View its hitherto concealed Beauties, and of affbrding
an improved approach to the Church. These objects haying
received liberal Encouragement, the Foundation Stone of the
Buildings, forming
ST. BRIDE'S AVENUE,
was laid by
JOHN. BLADES, Esq., the Treasurer ;
Assisted by
JOHN PAPWORTH, Esq., the Architect,
Under the Auspices of
The Right Hon. JOHN GARRATT, Lord Mayor of the City of
London,
On THiT asHAY, the 3d day of November, 1825, and in '
Sixth Year of the Reign of his Most Gracious Majesty King
GEORGE IV.

On the completion of the ceremony, H. Manittovr, Esq.
came forward, and stated, that as a member of the Committee,
be felt bound to thank his friend 11Ir. Blades for his attend-
ance. The intended improvement would rescue one of the
most beautiful specimens of art from obscurity. Without the
liberality which had been so nobly displayed by the Gentleman
who had that day honoured them with his presence, and laid
the tbundation of a building, which he believed would prove to
he a great ornament to the City, the object, in which all pre-
sent took so great an interest, would never have been carried
into effect.—Three hearty cheers were then given by the spec-
tators, after which they departed.

LIVERPOOL,

NEW CHURCH, SCOTLAND-ROAD.

On Friday last the ceremony of layinz, the
foundation of the New Church, in Great Oxfbrd•street North,
Scotland-road, was performed by the BtsitoP of CuraTEn,
attended by the clergy of the town and a number of gentlemen.
At half-past one they began to assemble in the Council-room
in the Town-hall: his Lordship arrived before two, and was
received by Mr. Langton and Mr. Wotherspoon, the Church-
wardens. The Mayor did not enter the roam until after his
Lordship, being particularly engaged by the important business
of the Sessions, which prevented him from being present at the
ceremony.
The procession began to move at two o'clock. A party of
constables, followed by the boys of the Blue School, preceded
the Mayor's state carriage, in which were the Bishop and the
Reverend Samuel Renshaw, Rector ; they were supported by
the Churchwardens and Clergy on foot, followed by several
Members of the Common Council, the Local Committee, Select
Vestry, and a number of Gentlemen. They proceeded down
Dale-street, through Barom.street and Scotland-road, and at
the end of Great Oxford-street the Bishop alighted from the
carriage, and walked in the procession the remainder of
the way.

His Lordship, the Churchwardens, Clergy, and as many
Gentlemen as could be accommodated, descended into the
foundation, which, being cut through a stratum of marl to the
rock, was very deep. A specimen of the coins of the present
reign, &c., inclosed in a glass case, were laid in a hollow in the
foundation stone. This was covered with a brass plate, on
which was die following inscription :

44 THIS STONE,

Being the Foundation-stone of the National Church, Great
OXforil-street Nortli, Liverpool. was laid by the Right Rev.
Charles James, Lord Bishop of Chester, on the 28th Oct.
1823.

44 JOSEPH LANOTON,
G°} MATTHEW. WOTHERSPOON, Churchwardens.
44 JOHN FOSTER, Jun., Architect."
Mr. LANGTON, having audibly read the inscription, replaced
the plate, and, taking in his hand the trowel which had been
prepared tin the Occasion, addressed his Lordship to the follow.
ing effect :--
"My Lord Bishop_As one of the Churchwardens of this
parish, the duty is assigned to me of presenting to your Lord.
ship this trowel, for the ceremony of to-day. I congratulate
myself and my fellow-parishioners, that the time is at length
arrived for the commencement of this church, so much wanted
for the convenience of the large and rapidly increasing popula.
tion of the neighbourhood ; and I trust that the poorer classes,
for whose accommodation such liberal provision is here made,
will not be backward in availing themselves of the advantages
which it affinils. I have only further to express to your Lord.
ship the obligations of the parish-officers for your attendance
upon this occasion."

His liolinsurP, taking the trowel, (a very beautiful instru-
ment), spoke to the following effect :—" I have very great plea-
sure in officiating on this interesting occasion. The making
provision for the spiritual wants of such an immense popu-
lation as that which surrounds this neighbourhood is a sub-
ject of awful interest. Although much, has been done by the
piety of individuals, as well as by the liberality of the munici-
pal body which administers the government of this great and
flourishing town, with so much advantage to the inhabitants and
honour to itself, yet much still remains to be accomplished ;
and what has been already done in the good cause will, I trust,
only serve as a motive to perseverance in the like course for the
future. -This monument of national piety which we are now
about to erect will, when completed, not only be a conspicuous
object to those who attend divine service within its walls, but
may serve to remind those who are navigating the seas which
surround these islands, of the great duty of common worship to
God. it will also be a satisfactory memento of that feeling
which, thanks be to Gad, is now excited in this nation, and
which is daily increasing—the intense' desire of providing for
the spiritual wants of our poor brethren ;. a desire which exists
not only in the breasts of pious individuals, but in the Govern-
ment of this great Christian nation itself. And I thank God,
that the eyes of our Government are awake to the imperative
necessity of making a provision for enabPng the poor to attend
on the common duties of public worship, in an age when a spi.
sit of religious inquiry has .gone abroad, and when the bless-
ings of religious educatiOn are widely diffused. I now pro-
ceed to discharge the pleasing duty which has devolved on me
this day."

The Bishop having spread the mortar, and the covering-stone
being lowered into its place, his Lordship, When it was settled,
took a mallet, struck the stone, and completed the form oflaying
the foundation. His Lordship then made an impressive prayer,
the attendant crowd standing uncovered.
" 0 Eternal Lord God ! of Majesty unapproachable, whom
the heaven of heavens cannot contain, much less the walls of
temples made with hands, and who yet hast been pleased to ap-
point, under the law, peculiar places, wherein thy name
might be glorified, and the prayers of thy devout servants
offered up to thee ; and, under the gospel, hast promised thy
especial presence where even two or three are gathered to
in thy name, we humbly thank thee that thou hast put
into the hearts of thy faithful servants, in all ages of thy church,
to erect temples to thy great name and for the edification of
thy people. We thank thee more particularly, 0 Lord that,
in this our age, a zeal for this good work has gone abroad
among us, and that those whom thou hast appointed to be our
Governors are careful to provide for the spiritual wants of the
people whom thou hast intrusted to their charge. Grant, 0
Lord ! that this spirit may increase among us, and that we may
prove the blessed fruits of it in the daily growth of Christian piety,
in unity, and godly love. 0 heavenly Father! be pleased to bless
the pious work which we have begun, that it may be brought
to a prosperous issue, and made conducive to the tbrtherance of
true religion and piety. And grant, 0 Lord ! that the church
to which we belong may he enabled to dispense. the comfortable
ordinances of religion to the increasing wants of the people
of this neighbourhood; and that she may advance to that per-
fect
state, when she may be presented to thee without spot or
wrinkle, or any such thing. For Christ's sake, merciful Lord
we beseech thee to accept these our imperfect petitions, and to

I accomplish our desires, according to the spirit of that prayer
which our blessed Lerd himself has taught us."
The Bishop having recited the Lord's Prayer, and pro-
nounced the usual benediction, the ceremony was concluded.
The Churchwarden, who had held the trowel during the
prayer, now presented it to his Lordship, calling his attention
to the inscription, which is as follows :
" This Trowel, with which the Right Reverend Charles
James, Lord Bishop of Chester, laid the Foundation-stone of
the National Church, in Great Oxford-street, North, was
presented to him by the Parish of Liverpool, 28th Oct. 1825."
His Lordship said, that he was highly gratified to receive
from the parishioners such a pleasing memento of the occasion,
and that it would at all times give him sincere pleasure to be
instrumental in promoting their welfare. _

The. processiOn returned in the same order; and in the
evening his Lordship, the Clergy, Churchwardens, and other
Gentlemen, dined with the Mayor in the Town—hall.