The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-01-11 00:00:00

THE NEW CHURCH AT FAIRFIELD.

The ceremony of consecrating the new church at Fair-
field, situate midway between Edge-hill and the Old Swan,
about three minutes' walk from the Botanic Gardens, will
take place on Friday next, by the Lord Bishop of Chester.
It was originally intended that this ceremony should have
been performed on the sth of October last, but, after all
the preparations had been made, it was unavoidably post-
poned, owing to the sudden death of the Rev. John S.
Bushby, the founder and incumbent, taking place a few
days previous to that date. We published at the time a
full account of the melancholy circumstances attending
the death of Mr. Bushby, which threw a gloom over the
town.

The church, which is to be dedicated to St. John the
Divine, forms a feature in the scenery of the neighbour-
hood of great beauty. On reaching the summit of Edge-
hill, its lofty spire may be seen towering above the sur-
rounding villas ; and on passing the Bank Gardens as'
far as Beech-street into Holly-road, the body of the
church comes into view with the picturesque parsonage
house beyond, the whole surrounded by an ornamental
garden.
The church is of the pointed and decorated style of
English architecture, and is surmounted with a lofty spire
of good proportions, springing from a tower, the upper
corners of which are relieved by half-sized winged figures,
represented in a devotional attitude, with the faces look-
ing downwards. The interior consists of a nave and chan-
cel, with north and south aisles and chancel aisle, the
arches supported by pillars of black marble. It is de-
signed to accommodate 1050 persons. About 300 of the
seats will be free, and the rents of the remainder will pro-
vide the stipend for the incumbent.
The BAPTISMAL FoNT, which is the gift of Mrs.
Francis Anderson, of Fairfield, stands in the centre at
the entrance of the Nave. It is of Caen stone, richly
carved—the bason, which is of octagon form, having the
symbols of the Evangelists and other sacred emblems,
with the inscription, " I acknowledge one Baptism for the
Remission of Sins." It stands upon a carved stone
pedestal rising troop two steps of masonry and ornamented
with a tesselated pavement of beautiful design, and has the
following inscription round the base of the pedestal :
" Hoc Lavaicum Deo et Ecclesio dono dicavit Caroletta
Anderson, A.D., 1852." The whole is surmounted with
a cover of old oak, elaborately ornamented with iron of
antique patterns, and the handle, of polished steel em-
bellished with blue and gold, is a bold Latin cross of
beautiful design.
Over the inner entrance is the inscription : " This is
none other but the House of God" ; and on the chancel
arch is inscribed in illuminated characters, " Glory to
God in the highest, Peace on Earth,and Good-will towards
Men."

The COMMUNION place has in front a brass railing
highly ornamented with the corn and the vine, executed by
Mr. Wilson, brass-founder, of this town. The com-
munion table is of carved oak of appropriate design,
covered with rich blue silk velvet ornamented with gold
and with monogram of exquisite design, surmounted at
the back and side with a dorsel of rich damask drapery of
blue and gold. _ . . . _ _

Yl3eCHOitt, which is situate in the chancel, is of oak,
richly carved with poppy heads. It has book boards and
six candelabra, with stalls for twelve choristers on each
side for antiphonal singing. It was the intention of the
late Mr. Bushby to have full cathedral service,—several
gentlemen of the neighbourhood, who are good musicians,
having consented to take part in the service, and appear
with their surplices, as gentlemen choristers, assisted by
professional aid.
The ORGAN is placed in the chancel aisle, and is sur-
rounded by a Gothic screen, hung with rich blue damask,
ornamented with an ecclesiastical device, in gold colour.
It is a fine instrument, of magnificent tone and power,
and of a beautiful design, without case, the pipes richly
coloured in blue and gold, to suit the style of the church.
It is by Messrs. Gray and Davidson, of London, and will
no doubt lose none of its power in the hands of the organ-
ist, Mr. G. 11. Sudlow, nephew and pupil of Mr. William
Sudlow. founder of the Philharmonic Society, and organist
of the Philharmonic-hall, in this town.
The PULPIT, which is of Caen stone, is elaborately
carved with emblematical designs, representing the
preaching of the Gospel, with the inscription " Paul
planteth, Apollos watereth, but God giveth the increase."
It is placed on the north side of the chancel, about four
feet from the floor, sufficiently high for the preacher to
command the most distant part of the building without
. obstructing the full view of the Communion place. It is
considered a great improvement on the old-fashioned and
somewhat cumbrous triplex rostrum of pulpit, reading-
desk, and clerk's desk, which is here dispensed with.
The service will be read from a light and ornamental
stand placed on the south side, and the lessons from a
stand of similar construction, the sacred volume being
placed on the extended wings of an eagle before the
centre of the chancel.

The PEWS are open benches with low backs, and seats
of sufficient ease for an attentive hearer to sit, and width
and convenience for the supplicant to kneel. They are
furnished with cushions and hassocks of the same material
for the poor as well as the rich, without any distinction,
unless it be that the poor will have the best places, as
they will occupy the whole centre of the nave in front of
the chancel. This is a great improvement on the too
common practice of providing the poor with only bare
benches in the remotest corners of the church.
The CHANCEL WINDOW is of richly-stained glass, illus-
trative of "the Birth , Life, Death, Resurrection , and Ascen-
sion ofourSaviour," "the Good Shepherd," and "the Four
Evangelists," with emblems of each, and the symbol of
the Holy Spirit, with texts from Scripture explanatory of
each subject. The figures, which are well drawn, will
bear a close inspection, I,nd the window, from the entrance
at the western porch, has an imposing effect, from the
brilliancy of the colours. It was the gift of the founder
of the church, and was executed by Gibbs, of London.
The NORTHWEST WINDOW, near the font, is also of
richly-stained glass, of beautiful design, the subjects being
" Christ receiving little children," "the parable of the
ten virgins," and " the raising of Jairus's daughter,"
with appropriate texts of Scripture. It has also the arms
and monogram of the lady ofCapt. Franklin, R.A., late Miss
Heywood, of Edge-lane Hall, the donor of the window.
The CREDENCE WINDOW is illustrative of " the Last
Supper," with appropriate device, and is the gift of Raffles
Brown, Esq., of this town, the architect of the church.
The CHANCEL AISLE WINDOW, which is illustrative of
" Faith, Hope, and Charity," is the gift of Mr. M'Kin-
ney, of St. Paul's-square.
Of the small windows at each end of the nave the one
above the chancel arch contains the emblem of the Trinity,
the other a pelican feeding her young.
The seats throughout the church are provided with
cushions of blue morocco, and kneeling hassocks of blue
cloth, with gothic devices in gold colour ; and the floor is
covered with blue carpeting, of similar design, in gold co-
lour, the whole being uniform throughout the church.
The present incumbent is the Rev. W. Calder.

INCONSERVATIVE LAND SOCIETY.—A meeting of this
society was held on Saturday, to ballot for 100 rights of
choice of allotments on estates recently purchased at
Putney and Ealing. Mr. H. B. Ray, who presided,
stated that, having obtained from gentlemen of eminence
a decided opinion that the ballot was perfectly legal, they
had appointed that day for allotting the land by that
course of proceeding. It was announced that a further
drawing amongst the uncompleted shareholders for 50
rights of choice would take place on Saturday next.