The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-08-23 00:00:00

ELLESMERE PORT CHURCH.

This church, pursuant to an advertisement in Friday's
STANDARD, was opened for divine service on Sunday last.
For several hours previous to the time appointed, (four
o'clock) large groups of persons were to be seen approaching
the church from Eastham, Poole, Whitby, Backford, and
other surrounding villages. Many persons also came from
Birkenhead, Tranmere, and Liverpool. Soon after three
o'clock the church was densely crowded, and some hundreds
being unable to obtain entrance even within the door, were
congregated outside, endeavouring through the opened win-
dows to take a part in the service, and hear the sermon.
Several clergymen were present, who occupied seats within
the communion rails, which, together with the vestry, was
crowded with ladies soon after the commencement of the
service.

The hymns and chaunts were sung with much taste and
judgment, and the music, both vocal and instrumental, was
such as is rarely to be heard in a country village, and bids
fair to attain a very high character. This, as well as the ar-
rangements of the day, is attributable to the exertions of
R. K. Shanklin, Esq., churchwarden, whose indefatigable
labors to promote the comfort of all parties, gave universal
satisfaction. The service commenced precisely at the
hour appointed. Prayers were read by the Venerable
Archdeacon Clarke, vicar of Eastham. The Reverend
Charles Maginiss, minister of the church, acting as clerk.
After which, a most appropriate and impressive sermon was
preached by the Rev. It Raikes, Chancellor of the Diocese,
taking his text from Luke x. 23, 24. He commenced his
discourse by a comprehensive sketch of the privileges of a
disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, and afterwards made a
most forcible and impressive application of the subject to the
occasion, reminding his hearers of the privileges as well as
the responsibilities of a people who were blessed with a
christian minister, and place of worship, and giving a striking
outline of the duties and responsibilities of a minister of the
church of Christ—duties and responsibilities which few feel,
and discharge with more zeal than the Reverend preacher
himself. After the sermon, a collection was made in aid of
the schools about to be erected, which amounted to £2B 10s.
The following hymn, composed by a sister of the respected
incumbent, for the occasion, was sung before the sermon :
We praise thy mercy, gracious Lord,
That view'd with pitying eyes,
The moral famine of thy word,
And bade this temple rise.
A heavenly storehouse, where our need
In Jesus meets supply ;
Manna, our hungry souls to feed,
Streams from the rock on high.
Though now around thy temples here,
No glory stands confect ;
Yet, if thy Spirit's light be near,
We shall be truly blest.
Tuhr,fTe;nri
tttOhh eet
askslairesthhouaf
preacher's at
thingslb ehtl prayertpdomi
shine,vreceive,ianye:
ggrace,
c e
wSilellaeso‘pwedill.
And make each darken'd heart believe,
g heeaarrst,s/
with salt," be found,
abo "withinnd .
whole we
Upon the 4.: Iri:ihinagve seldom witnessed a more gratify.
this place,
ing scene, and we heartily
wish the estimable and amiable
incumbent every success
In his Pastoral labours.