The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-12 00:00:00

LIMERICK AND FOYNES.

A general meeting of this company was held on Saturday
at Limerick—Mr. W. H. Barrington was called to the chair.
Mr. MONSELL caned the attention of the ineeting to the
interview of a deputation with Lord Derby within the past
week, at which it had been stated that the last commis-
slot) on the western tuaboors of Ireland had not given
its preference to Foynes • Harbour as an American
paclzet station. The right hon. gentleman went on to
read from the report itself, in which the commissioners
gi,ticetly state that they have given the preferei;ee
to the SlianacT, ov,r the port of Cal..,ay ; and that ( f
coushler FoyLes hits 13.-st
the ports iv, tt.e Shannon they
adartd fa. the purpose or a packet ,taii;,u. Mr. Monsett
fortlicr ob3erved that wide there was 11, desire on the part
(f the meeting to detract from the merits of any oilier pot t,
or lessen its claims on the Government, it was but pr,per,
that Lord Drily should b set right on the suikci, anti net
he ruish.fo:la;:d ai to the drcisiGil of thE
A r, p:oposed by lir. MONSELL aid seconded by.
Mr. Win TE WAS nuanimously adoptid, leyncstir.g ihr
chah man to call Lord Derby's attentiim to the teport, and
hiform his lordship 11,;..t. 11. e line of railway frion Foyucs to
Limerick, which the commissioners considered to he nuces•
nary to tit Foynes foe a trAnsatlantic packet station, is now
constructed and at work.

THIRD EDI tio N

SUN OFFICE, Scren o' Clock.

READING RACES.—(This Day.)

(By Etc.:lige Telegraph.)
WHITLEY STAK ES.

Knight of Kars
Katherine Logie
Madame Rachel
Thirteen ran

CAVERSOME STAKES.

My Niece
Lass of Richmond Hill
Clara Webster

Ten ran.
FOIWLTRY STAKES.

Lady Well
Syrie
Moses

Five ran.
READING STAKES.

Lady Kingston
Ardour
Pandora

Nine ran.
STAND PLATE.

Tragedy
Amaryllis .
Tiara ....,

Twenty ran.
EBOR HANDICAP.—Paid forfeit, Windward

CONS ECR A TION OF A NEW URC, II A7'

t?ICHMONI►.

On Saturday last the Bishop of Winchester consecrated
the handsome edifice which has just been erected on Rich-

mond-hill, and which bears the designation of St. Matthias'
Church. It is an exceedingly spacious building, being cal-

culated to accommodate a thousand worshippers without

having recourse to galleries. "It is built," to borrow the
architectural description of the Union," from a design by
Mr. Gilbert ScOtt, and has a nave, aisles, and side chapels in
the position where the transepts are usually planned, to-

gether with a chancel and semicircular apse. There is a

clerestory, supportEd by a series of columns and arches that

divide the nave from the aisles. The moulded work, com-

prising the voussoirs of these arches, is sumewhat plain;
but their lab3ls are terminated by heads of the Apostles.

carved in stone with great taste, feeling, and judgment.
The abaci of the capitals are octangular, formed of mould-
ings of the most beautiful section ; and their bell portions
are profusely embellished in endless variety with carvings
of the leafage, and fruit and flowers of the oak, rose, ivy,
maple, bramble, briony, lily, marigold, vine, convolvuli,

&c., conventionally treated; some portions of which,
particularly those at the external angles, are in very high
relief and much undercut, so as to be rendered highly effec-
tive. The whole of the capitals of the divisional shafts in
the apse, the slender ones of its three windows, together
with the corbels that support the arches dividing the aisles
from the chapels, alss the brackets on which the principals
of the roof rest, are all similarly treated, and thus keep up
a due and satisfactory harmony in the carved work of the
interior. The western doorway has a tympanum over it
which is tilled by moulded work, having in its centre an en-
riched boss of briony leaves, encompassed by a circular
moulding. The seats are all open, and, thou,gh not finished
with poppy heads at their ends, are extremely characteristic.
There are already three stained glass windows in the church,
all of which, we understand, are donations. Two of them
II have been supplied from the works of Mr. Lavers, are two
lights each, and are inserted in the south aisle. That nearest
the east end represents our Saviour in two characters, viz.,
the " Good Shepherd," anti as standing knocking at the
door. These figures were designed by Mr. Marks, and are
represented under canopies which have exceedingly rich ruby
backgrounds, appropriate bordering's, and the panels below
them of geometrical design. The other window by Mr. La-
vers has also a rich background, on which is emblazoned
medallions of the rose, lily, passion-flower, and vine, ren-
dered conventionally in a very artistic manner. There are
quatrefoils above, of a corresponding ch erecter, with sacred
monograms introduced in their centres. The pulpit is of
wood on a stone base and pedestal, and is placed opposite the
base of the chancel columns on the northern side." We may
add that it is very tastefully carved, each panel bearing a
design which combines the well-known linen pattern with
foliage. The fout is of Caen stone, and consists of a round
basin richly decorated with sculpture.
Mr. Scott has introduced into his plans one or two archi-
tectural novelties, which deserve a passing notice. Thus
the west front, which is very elaborate, is crowned by a
moulded arch, similar in size to that at the other end of the
nave by which the junction with the chancel is effected. The
experiment is not, however, likely to invite imitation. It
has a make-shift look, and suggests the idea that it is in-
tended some day to lengthen tl. e church, which, considring
the position of the tower (over the west bay of the north
aisle) is, of course, out of the question. The chancel roof
imitates in some degree a stone construction, the principals
being curved, and resembling the ribs of a groined ceiling.
It is simple and very effective; but it may be doubted whe-
ther there is not a little disproportion between the vault-
ing shafts and the somewhat light timbers which rest upon
them. The stained windows do not entirely escape the long-
since exploded, but it would seem not altogether obsolete,
mistake of running too much on the positive colours. Mr.
Ruskin has, we believe, somewhere, an eloquent and very
sensible passage on this subject. The points mentioned, how-
ever, are but minor blemishes, and the church as a whole
does credit to the taste and the enlightened liberality of its
promoters. The entire cost of the building and fittings up
to the present time has been about £8,000; and it is worthy
of remark that when it was handed over to the bishop for
consecration it had not only been paid for, but the committee
had £7O in hand. Nevertheless, a sum of £1,501 was re-
quired to complete the beautiful and spire which had
for the present been left unfinished.
The dedicatory services on Saturday were in conformity
with the usage of the diocese. The sentence of consecration
was read by the Chancellor, Mr. Sumner, and having, been
signed by the bishop, was handed to the registrar, Mr. IL
C. Rothesay, for enrolment in the archives of the see.
After the Nicene Creed, the right reverend prelate
_eenv-
tered the pulpit and preached an eloquent sermon from It
xiv., v. 23, " And I heard the voice of harpers harp in Ifogre the
their harps ; and they sung as it were a new song with.
throne." Dr. Sumner contrasted at some lengtnhbethe ac-
count given by St. John of the ritual of heaven
thatd fre-
quented celestial congregation, with the
glegheeaven the whole
the houses of prayer on eartchn.n
In
present but the
assembly and church of the first-born
wweerree hut-a
few out of
assembly who had met there that day
a whole parish, just as of old a few .were gathered toge-
titer in au upper room out of an entire people..
But why
was that ? Why was the congregation ecletic instead of
catholic, a gathered flock instead of all the sheep for whom
Christ tad died? In Heaven all the congregation wore
the white robe, which was the righteousness of the
saints; but how many on earth were there who hail not
on the wedding garment ! Were there none in that
very place who had come for curiosity, none from custom,
none from compulsion, none to see, none to be seen? In
Heaven they worshipped before the throne itse:f ; on earth
they could only approach God through ordinances and means
cf grace. Still they must not suppose that the '6 new song"
spoken of in the text was like the sweet but unintelligible
straine of distant music. They were told its very words—
" Worthy is the Lamb that was slain !" That was Heaven's
music; let Christians also make it theirs. Let them echo
back in their lives the celestial accents that came to them
from above. Finally, let them remember that amongst the
20 harpers there was none who struck a discordant note,
none that was mute. Let theca never forget that unity was
the highest Christian duty. It was not when the sacrifices
were offered, not when the Ark was borne into the Holy
place, but when " the trumpeters and singers were as one to
make one sound to be heard in praising the Lord" that the
Temple "was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could
not stand to minister by reason of the cloud ; for the glory of
the Lord had filled the House of God." The right rev. pre-
late concluded his address by congratulating the people of
Richmond on the auspicious event which bad called them
together. The affecting sentences were then read, and a
collection was made, amounting to the liberal sum of £163.
After the ceremony the bishop partook of a handsome
collation provided by a number of ladies of the parish, in a
spacious marquee erected near the church. The chair was
taken by Mr. Selwyn, Q.C., the donor of the site. The
learned gentleman, alter acknowledging the liberal subscrip-
tions of the royal family, proposed the health of her Majesty,
" the lady of the manor." He then proposed the health of
the bishop, making a graceful allusion to a similar occasion,
when his late father had received the right rev. prelate at
the consecration of St. John's Church, seven-and-twenty
years before.
The BISHOP, in responding to the toast, pronounced a
warm eulogiutn upon Mr. Selwyn, and remarked that im-
-1 portant as had been the benefactions of the family, its most
' valuable gift to the church had been the chairman's right
rev. brother, the Bishop of New Zealand. Dr. Sumner then
complimented the vicar, the Rev. Mr. Dupuis' upon his
exertions for the good of the parish, and proposed his health.
Mr. Duruas, in reply, gave a humorous account of the
difficulties with which the committee had had to grapple, and
the triumphant success which had crowned their efforts.
The BISHOP next proposed the Chairman; and in acknow-
ledging tie; toast,
Mr. SELWY N announced that the Marquis of Landsdowne
had promised 501. to cards the completion of the tower and
spire, a sum which he (Mr. Selwyn) would make tip to
1501. (Cheers.)
"The Committee" and "The Ladies" were next duly
honoured, after which the party broke up.