The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-31 00:00:00

STRANGE SIGNS.

RE-OPEICING OF THE CHURCH OF ST. PETER•LB-
BIILET.—This church, which has been closed for
some weeks for alterations and decorations, was re-
opened for Divine service on Sunday last, and this
event has since formed a topic of discussion in the
city in consequence of the unexpected character of
some of the decorations.

The whole of the pews, which were of very fine
oak, have been removed, and are replaced by open
seats formed of the old materials; and the whole of
the interior has been painted and coloured ; the church
furniture—the pulpit hangings and cover of the com
munion table are new.

A new and very large dipping font, in the style of
the early Norman period, has been placed just within
the door.

The walls of the church have also been somewhat
profusely covered with Scripture texts in the Old
English character.
Some of these texts are disposed in the form of
crosses ! One of these text-formed crosses of small
proportions is placed over the north door exactly op-
posite the worshipper as he enters the church. Another
of larger proportions stands out boldly from the east
end of the church above the communion table. The
crucial figure being very bold and distinct, but, of
course, not the text or the letters of it.

A large cross embroidered in gold enriches the
velvet pulpit cloth, and two large gold, or silver-gilt
candlesticks, with tapers, decorate what must now be
called " the altar."

The most startling thing of all, and which cannot
be seen without a shudder, is what looks like a bold
yet artful attempt to enforce the doctrine of tran-
substantiation on the people. The text wrested by
the Roman Catholics, and by Dr. Pusey, in order to
sustain the idea that the literal body and blood of our
Lord is taken in that Sacrament which was instituted
to commemorate our Blessed Lord, is written imme-
diately over, almost upon, the communion table. Our
Lord's own explanation of his words, which would
seem to have been gives► to prevent so gross a per-
version, are nowhere, to be seen. He said, "The
words that speak unto you they are spirit and they
are life." The text inscribed over the communion-
table is the well-known declaration, "Except ye eat
my flesh and drink my blood," &c.
Before the re-opening of the church the curate
(Rev. W. B. Ileathcote, of New College) addressed a
long circular letter to the parishioners, in which he
made and argued two requests :—First, a division of
the sexes in the church ; and next, that none would
place cushions in the seats, so as to make a kind of
appropriation by so doing.
With these requests the parishioners complied on
Sunday last, when the congregation was larger than
usual, though there was mach uncomfortable feeling
on account of the novelties.

No collection was made towards the expenses, the
curate being responsible for the entire charge of these
somewhat costly alterations and decorations ; it has
been suggested that certain members of the Camden
Society, who are anxious to bring our churches into
external conformity to the plans and designs adopted
in our ancient churches for the purposes of Roman
Catholic worship, will assist in defraying the expense.
An intelligent and observant person, who has
travelled much in Catholic countries, has loudly ex-
pressed his wonder and astonishment at the resem-
blance to a Roman Catholic Church which St. Peter-
le-Bailey now wears.
The great size of the font (above which is the text
enjoining faith and repentance before baptism)
leads to the idea that the curate, who is a rigid Ru-
brician of the Tractarian school, will obey the rubric
which enjoins dipping as the mode of baptism in our
Church.—(From a Correspondent of the Oxford
Chronicle.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Ely, though un-
avoidably absent from Ely Lodge, have, with their usual
liberality and kindness, ordered the distribution of a
arge quantity of clothing suited to the present season
6ong the poor of the district.
Earl Fitzwilliam dispensed hii usual bounty
among the workpeople on the Wentworth estate on St.
Thomas's day. The number of persons who received
his Lordship's bounty amounted to 1,030, and the quan-
tity of beef distributed amounted to 503 stone,