The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-10-09 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE NEW CHURCH, HILL-
STREET, TOXTETH- PARK.

This church, which is dedicated to St. Matthew, was
opened for divine service, under license from the bishop,
on Sunday morning. The Bishop of Chester preached a
sermon on the occasion in the morning, and the Rev.
Fielding Ould contributed to the inauguration in a similar
mode in the evening. The church, which is situated in a
densely populated district, is a beautiful edifice, in the
gothic style, the interior being in keeping, though totally
destitute of the decorations which usually accompany it.
The coup d'ceil, on entering, is calculated to impress the
mind with the presence of one of the simple ecclesiastical
structures of which not a few may at present be seen in
the last stage of decay in some of our remote rural parishes.
The whole of the lower part of the church is fitted up with
benches, there being not a single pew, exc?pt in the gal-
lery. Consistently with the general design, there is no
ceiling, the beams supporting the roof contributing their
share to produce the effect of the primitive character of
the whole. This character is also preserved in what may
be termed the official Dart of the church ' • a space before
the communion table is railed off at each side, the floor
of which is slightly elevated above that of the church, and
being, in fact, a tesselated pavement, tends effectively to
relieve the prevriling simplicity. On this ornamental
dais, so to speak, stand the pulpit and reading desk, the
one on the right and the other on the left, the intermedi-
ate space being the approach to the communion table
the pulpit is octagonal, and is supported by a single pillar,
also octagonal ; the cushion and its usual appendage are of
somewhat less dimension than is generally allowed to these
necessary items of church furniture, and are trimmed with
crimson moreen ; the reading desk is not remarkable, being
destitute of any ornamental appendages. The space behind
is again elevated by two steps and possesses a variegated
pavement. Here the communion table stands, enclosed
in a plain oak rail ; the table is wholly concealed by a
covering of ample dimensions, the sombre hue of which is
in some degree relieved by the letters I H S, embroidered
in front and encircled in a border, the colour of which, as
well as the letters, is yellow, in character with the pulpit
cloth.

Some time before the hour appointed for the commence=
ment of the service the Lord Bishop arrived ; he was met
at the door by the Rev. H. Hampton and the Rev. Mr.
Brewster, the incumbent, and conducted to the vestry.
Shortly afterwards, J. Bromley Moore, Esq., the Mayor,
arrived in his carriage, and took his seat on one of the
benches immediately in front of the reading desk, and
which are destined for free seats. There were present
also, Mr. Chilton, Mr. Royden, Mr. Watson, and Mr. W.
Fisher, jun., town councillors, Mr. C. S. Parker, with
numerous other gentlemen residing in the district, and
who take a lively interest in the spiritual welfare of the
locality, and all occupied seats in the body of the church.
Every seat and nearly all the available standing room
were taken up before the service commenced. The sittings
are estimated at twelve hundred, about four hnndred of
which are to be appropriated to the poor, as free seats,
and many of the others will be let at very low sums.
The Rev. H. Hampton ascended the reading desk, and
the bishop and the incumbent took their places at the
communion table ; the whole of the transverse portion of
the gallery at the extreme end of the church was filled by
a number of the boys and girls connected with the Blue
Coat School, whose services had been solicited as a choir;
and certainly they performed the chaunts and sung the
hymns selected for the occasion in a style that could not
fail to have impressed every person who heard them with
admiration. The choir from Seacombe church also con-
tributed their valuable services on the occasion.

The Bishop chose his text from the gospel for the day,
" What think you of Christ ?" 21 Matt. and part of the
42d v. Having referred to the circumstance attending
our Saviour's putting this question, and remarking that
his hearers could have readily answered the proposition
which staggered those to whom it was addressed, his lord-
ship pointed out the necessity of their consistently demon-
strating their knowledge of the Christian faith by contri-
buting of their substance to the spread of the gospel, and
contrasted the easy service that was demanded from them
as compared with that rendered by the founders of Chris-
tianity, and even at a late date by our fathers. In refer-
ence to the church in which they were assembled, be re-
marked that it was one of thi ee which about three years
ago were designed by a number of benevolent individuals
to meet, in some degree, the crying spiritual destitution
which existed in that locality ; that church had heen com-
pleted, and it was thought that it should not remain use-
lass ; he (the bishop) had therefore taken the only cour
Gpen to him ; he had granted a temporary license in the
hope that before the expiration of the term of that license
the charitably disposed will have furnished such a sum
as might be required for the permanent endowment of the
church, without which it could not be consecrated. The
discourse was of au order seldom listened to, and told with
thrilling effect on every one present. There can only be
one opinion of the talents and piety of our excellent bishop.
In the evening the church was again crowded to excess,
the majority of the congregation being composed of the
humbler classes. The sum of £45 was collected. We
understand that a piece of land at the corner of Hill-street
and Berkeley-street has been purchased on very advan-
tageous terms. the erection of a second church, the
building of which will be proceeded with as soon as the
committee are placed in funds to enable them prudently
to commence operations.

ST. ANNE'SICHURCH,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,—I have been informed that the Health Committee
have made a report that interments take place within St.
Anne's Church. I shall be obliged to you if you will be
kind enough to contradict it. Interments never have
ta :e: Glace within St. Anne's Church, and they never will,
for it is expressly forbidden in the act of parliament under
which the church was erected. I have the honour to be,
your obedient servant, WM. WHEELER.
Incumbent of St. Anne's.
28, Gildart-street, sth October, 1849.

BEACOMIS--E FERRY.