The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-06-09 00:00:00

NEW CHURCH AT SEACOMBE.

We have great gratification in stating, that the founds..
tion stone of a new church, to be built by subscription, to
be called St. Paul's, and attached as a chapel-of-ease to
Wallasey Church, was laid on Saturday, at Seacombe, a
locality which, from its rapidly increasing population and
importance as a township, has for some years been greatly
in want of a place of worship under the Establishment.
The site selected is most convenient and appropriate, be-
ing at the top of the lane, or private road, leading from
behind the Seacombe Hotel, to another private road on
the eminence, running about north and south, so that,
though yet su.rounded by fields, it will be almost in the
midst of the inhabitants, who will have easy access to it
by three different ways. We have been favoured by the
architect, Mr. Hay, of St. George's Chambers, with a
sight of the plans, and perspective views of the building,
as it will appear when finished ; and we consider it ex-
tremely neat and suitable for a country church. It is a
good specimen of the early middle pointed, and the ma-
sonry is to be done with neatly squared rubble, of a Yel-
lowish colour. The walls are low, and divided into bays
by buttresses, not merely ornamental, but chiefly useful
in resisting the pressure of the open roof The roof is
formed of a series of Gothic ribs, supporting the other
timbers, which are all to be dressed and varnished. The
construction is similar to that of the Holy Trinity, now
erecting at Cabbage Hall, from the designs and under the
superintendence of the same architect, and which has
been much and justly admired by persons of taste in eccle-
siastical structures. There is a south porch, and at the
north-west angle stands the tower, terminated with On-
naeles and graceful tapering spire. Over the terminations
to the moulding. at the western entrance, are to be cut
the likenesses of her Majesty the Queen and the Lord
Bishop of Chester. As nothing gives a more ecclesiasti-
cal appearance to a church than a deep chancel, we would
recommend that this ought to be carefully studied. In
this church the chancel is 22 by 19 feet, which, though
deeper than many of our modern buildings, might yet be
made more perfect by an extension of 8 or 10 feet.
In several parts of the building we see a clear apprecia-
tion of the symbolism found in our more ancient buildings
—for example, the lowly doorways, teaching and typifying
Christian humility—the lofty roof, showing the faith and
heaven-aspiring hopes of the believer.
Upon the whole we are extremely pleased with it. The
interior view conveys a strong impression of ample air and
ventilation, and it will be, without elaborate decoration, a
small but solemn temple, in which the rich and poor may,
with comfort, offer up their united adorations to the
author of all good. The building is expected to cost about
£2,000, and will seat about 800 persons.

Shortly after twelve o'clock the clergy, and others
interested in the ceremony, walked, the former in
theit owns, from the hotel to the site, where the stone
was already poised from sheers, ready to be deposited. A
large number of the respectable inhabitants of Seacombe
and the neighbouring townships, as well as many parties
from this side of the water, had congregated round the
spot, where a sloping platform had been erected for the
accomodation of the subscribers, many of whom, to their
honour be it said, reside in other townships, and have no
property in Seacombe, so that their liberality is of a truly
disinterested and philanthropic character. Several elegant
carriages drove up to the ground, and amongst the com-
pany was a considerable number of ladies and gentlemen
of the vicinity.

Amongst the latter were—the Rev. Thos. Byrth, D.D.,
rector of Wallasey, who was to lay the stone ; the Rev;
John Tobin, NI.A , the Rev. A. M'Conkey, T. Sands,
Esq.. H. Winch, Esq., George Hamilton Crump, Esq ,
T. K. Hassall, Esq., (clerk of the commissioners,) T.
Ripley, Esq., Richard Parry, Esq., George and James
Atherton, Esqrs., (of New Brighton,) John Crosthwaite,
Eq., John Mowdsley, Esq., Daniel Buchanan, Esq.,
John Halliday, Esq., 0. Edwards, Esq , Geo. Searight,
Esq., Adrian Lowe, Esq., Augustus Woodward, Esq.,
&c., &c.

In the lower stone, on which " the" foundation stone,
par exc,,llence, was to be deposited, a hole was perfora-
ted, and covered with a plate of copper bearing the follow-
ing inscription :—" This stone was laid on June the 6th,
1816, by Thomas Byrn, D.D., Rector of Wallasey.—
George Grant and Richard Parry, Churchwardens. '—
Coins of the realm, enclosed in a bottle, were deposited
in the lower stone.

The ceremony commenced by the Rev. Mr. Tobin
rending consecutively the 67th, the 132 d, and 133 d Psalms.
The Rev. Dr. Byrth then read and pronounced prayers
appropriate to the undertaking. The 100th Psalm was
then sung; after which.
HENRY MEADOWS, Esq., on presenting a silver trowel
to the rev, rector, said the land on which the church was
to be built was kindly presented by Mr. Smith, the lord
of the manor ; and the site, which he had himself selected
as the most eligible, was approved by the Rev. Dr. Byrth.
The erection of the church would, he doubted not, be a
blessing to the inhabitants, and especially to the poor,
who, with their children, would be taught the truths of
religion. He believed that in fifteen months the church
would be completed, and the Word of God promulgated
within its walls. He concluded by presenting the trowel
to the rev. rector, to whom the square and plummet,
made of polished rosewood, were also handed.
The stone was then lowered to its place, and after
squaring and plirntning it in the usual manner,

The Rev. Dr. Byrth said in effect that he could not
suffer the present opportunity to pass without giving
utterance to a few words on the occasion of their
assembling at that place, and he trusted it would be the
commencement of many happy days to the inhabitants of
the township, and be the means of introducing them to
that endless day to which they would hereafter be called.
Had they laid the foundation stone of a building for the
promotion and accommdation of commerce, they would
have breathed many a wish and aspiration that it would
be all sufficient for the purpose for which it was intended.
If a structure for the amusement of the people were to
be constructed, (he did not mean one of those from which
he believed vice derived her most attractive influences),
they would feel an anxiety for its success. Had they to
build a school of sc ence, or a museum, they had a right
to devote to its completion their best services. Or if the
building were to be for the assistance of persons in bodily
distress—an hospital or a dispensaf y—who would not wish
that there should be a concentration of skill and energy
exerted upon it ? But there was something far beyond
these and the passing joy which their establishment ex-
cited. There was something after these and their effect
had passed away. The noblest of these objects were only
secular, temporary, and fleeting. Men might be rich,
and not necessarily better men. They might be wealthy,
and not necessarily wiser or more virtuous. He saw
around him men who had contributed most munificently
to the object before them; and this was, therefore, not
the place to prolong such reflections : but it was evident
to him that mere scientific and literary attainments were
frequently co-existent with the lowest state of morality.
If a place were wanted for the relief of distress, they
would. he felt assured, contribute to its promotion. But
here there was a wider scope for their Christian benevo-
lence, bearing upon the moral character of man, and
tending to qualify him for that future state of existence
for which he is destined, when this world has passed away,

"And, like the baseless fabric of a vision,

Lett not a wreck behind''
The laying of this inundation-stone was a witness for
God. This stone, Eted those to be placed upon it, would
be a testimony to the truths of Chrisrianity. The build-
ing would not be of great size, but it might remind them
of the twelve apostles, when they preached in an upper
chamber. The rev. speaker then gave a solomn pledge to
his hearers, that he would prefer no man to be the offici-
ating pastor of the congregation of the church, who was
not a person of known piety, of sound theological know-
ledge, educated in the church, and of the requisite persua-
sive eloquence to impress his hearers with the valuable
truths of Scripture. I-1 e concluded by imploring a bles-
sing on all present, and on the good work so auspiciously
I begun.

Mr. 11. WYNCII read from a parchment the particulars
relative to the building of the church, the handsome dona-
tion of the land by R. Smith, Esq., lord of the manor, the
inscription on the foundation plate, &c. He begged leave
to tender to the Rev. Rector the thanks of those present
for the great services he had that day rendered, and the
pains and exertions he had taken to raise the holy struc-
ture. It was to him ('he Rector) to whom they were in-
debted, in a great measure, for their success. He con-
gratulated the parish, and particularly the township, in
seeing the commencement of a building to be devoted to
the worship of Almighty God. Such a temple bad long
been wanted in the locality. It would, however, be im-
perfect in itself without the addition of a school. The
walk, though liberally begun, could not be considered
finished untt

'don were t•u

that when they met again, the crowning stone would be
put to the undertaking by the establi-hment of a school.
The Rev. Dr. BVRTII said they bad already supplicated
the Di‘ine aid in behalf of the church, and they bad b,en
heard with favour. tie could assure the lost speaker
'e that`nat►' ‘,l give'

.ring wouti, mm greater pleasure than in as-
sisting Mr. WNtich, as he had that day as,isted him (Di;
Byrth) in hying the toundation stone a a school to be
attached to the church. ( Hear ) He augured from what
that gentleman had stated that the day would not be very
far distant, and concluded by the scriptural quotation of
" How delightful it was for brethren to dwell together in
unity."

The Lord's Prayer was then offered up, and after the
blessing, a doxology bring sung by all present, the as-
semblage dispersed, deeply impressed by the nature and
aoleumity of the proceedings.