The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-02 00:00:00

ST. MARY'S CHURCH, BRECON.

This venerable structure has recently undergone
a complete restoration, and has been formally re-
opened fur Divine service by the Bishop of Sr.
David's, the Dean ofLlandaff, and other dignitaries
of the Church in Wales, in the presence of the prin-
cipal inhabitants of the county and neighbourhood.
Tile clergy of the diocese Mustered in strong force,
and formed a most imposing sight in their proces-
sion to the altar. The Bishop of St. David's preached
in the morning from Gen. chap. x., v. 16, and in
the afternoon the new Dean of Llandaff preached a
most eloquent sermon, which has excited intense
interest throughout the county, taking for his text
the 3d and 4th verses of the 24th Psalm. In the
evening the curate, the Rev. J. Newman, preached
in the most feeling manner, selecting for his text
Jeremiah chap. xxxiii., v. 10 and 11. He alluded
to the doubts and fears of a few as to the comple-
tion of the work, and then remarked upon the
highly satisfactory manner of its accomplishment,
which is mainly to be attributed to the skill
of the architects, the Messrs. Habershon, of 38,
Bloomsbury-square, London. The amount of the
collection at the opening was upwards of 1501.,
leaving still a deficiency of 4061. Mrs. Church
Pearce, of Ffrwdgrech, has been by far the greatest
contributor to the good work. That lady also pre-
sented a memorial window—to perpetuate the me-
mory of her son, John Church Pearce Church, Esq.
It represents the Ascension in the centre, and on
either side the Raising of the Widow's Son and
IJairus's Daughter, the intermediate lights being
filled with texts. The Rev. J. Newman, curate
of St. Mary's, and' W. L. Banks, Esq., F.S.A.
(one of the churchwardens), were the original pro-
moters of the restoration, and their appeal for sub-
scriptions was most promptly and liberally re-
sponded to by the Bishop of St. David's, Colonel
Lloyd Vaughan Watkins, M. P. , Lord-Lieutenant
of the county ; Colonel and Mrs. Church Pearce,
Sir Charles Morgan, Bart., Sir Joseph Bailey,
Bart., M.P., Mr. Penry Williams, Chairman of
the. Quarter Sessions ; the Rev. Charles Griffith,
vicar of Talachddu ; Mr. Howell Gwyn, late
M.P. for Falmouth, &c. The entire cost of the
restoration was 3,0001. The aisles and the Sac-
rarium are paved with encaustic tiles, and the mag-
nificent timber roof, hitherto concealed ley
ceiling, has been exposed to view. Ths organ has
been refitted, and an entirely new set of altar fit-
' tings has been provided, comprising a most costly
velvet cloth, the finest damask linen, carved oak
Gothic chairs, table, and fauld-stools. These, with
the altar fittings, were also presented to the church
by Mrs. Church Pearce.
The Cambrian Arcbreological Society have repeat-
edly urged the restoration, in preference to the de-
struction, of this fine old Norman church, which
was probably erected late in the 12th century, and
must originally have been an extremely diminutive
structure, having been lengthened at both ends to
give it its present extent. A curious object is pre-
served in this church, which at present discharges
the functions of a font, but which was certai▪
nly not
designed for that use. It appears to have been the
capital of a respond, but it is of a singular design,
and there does not seem any place for it ei▪ ther in
this or in any other of the churches in the town.
The style appears to be decorated. The round capi-
tals of a clustered shaft support a square mast with
an octagonal one projecting from it, adorned with rich
panelling:, ogee arches, with crockets and finials, the
latter rising from. the heads of figures holding up
their hands. The general restoration has been con-
sistently carried coat, in the middle-pointed style of
an early type, and. the church will now accommo-
date nearly a thousand worshippers.