The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-07-27

est which attaches to the church itself
this steeple has an individual history OF
its own, for on the night OF April 10,
1775, the two lanterns which started
Paul Revere on his famous ride to Lex
ington were displayed from It's upper
windows. Christ Church was the Sec
ond to be erected in the city, being
built six years before the famous olo
South, and its architectural beauty was
highly praised, being regarded as one OF
the ornamental structures OF the Nortn
end. 1t was erected in 1928, the archl-
lecture being of the type common
throughout New England at thatperiod.
Both interior and exterior are severely
plain and monotonous, the tower alone
possessing any claim to architectural
beauty.
The original steeple, 1872 feet in
height, was built after designs by one
Charles Bul6nch, but it toppled over in
the great gale of 1904, falling upon
wooden building on Tileston street,
through which it crashed, fortunately
without injury to the inmates Inc
new tower, sixteen feet less in height,
was erected by Joseph Tucker.
The superb chime Of eight bells was
from the foundry of Abel Rudhall, OF
Gloucester, whose bells are heard through
out England, and were the first chimes
sent to America from this celebrated
foundry. The subscription for these
chimes was started by John Hammock
and Robert Temple, wardens OF the
church, in 1743, and was completed oy
Robert jenkins and John Gould, also
wardens, the following year. The chime
was obtained by DR.. Cutler and conse-
Grated in England. Popular slpersti.
ton at the time invested the bells with
the power to drive away evil spirits.
The largest bell weighs 1545 and the
smallest $40 pounds, the aggregate
weight being 7272 pounds. The bells
were hung in the old steeple in l744'
and were the first to be heard in Boston.
Each bell has unique inscription as
follows:
FIRST BELL.
This peal OF eight bells is the gift OF a
number of generous persons to Christ Chuch,
In Boston, n. E. Ammo 1744. a. X.
SECOND BELL.
This church was founded in the year 1923.
Timothy Cutler, D. D. the first rector. A.
r. 1723.
THIRD BELL.
We are the first ring Of bells cast for the
British Empire in North America. A. 4.
1744.
God preserve the Church Of England.
1744.
William Shirley, Esq, Governor OF Mas
sachusetts Bay, in New England. ammo
1744.
The subscriptiou for these bells was begun
by John Hammock and Robert Temple,
church wardens ammo 1143; completed by
Robert Jenkins and John Gould, church
wardens, ammo 1144
SEVENTH BELL.
Since generosity has opened our mouths,
our tongues shall ring alou its praise. li44.
EIGHTH BELL.
Abel Rudhall, Of Gloucester, cast us all.
Ammo 1744.
These bells have been rung at certain
hours on week days, according to pro-
vincial custom, the hours for Christ
Church being S, and o'clock. John
Roulstone rang the old South bells at 5,
1 and 9; the new South bells were rung
BY John Ranstead at II, and y.
Everything about the old church IS
stately, stiff aud solemn; the pews are
high, straight backed and uncomfortable.
Around the pulpit is gilded cluster OF
feathers, like Corinthian capital. The
walls are unusually solid, being two and
q half feet thick, and the bricks are laid
in the Epglish bond style, of which few
examples remain. Some alterations have
been made in the interior, but the many
distinctive features which make Christ
Church notable example of early
church architecture remain.
The ancient chandeliers were pre-.
sented by Captain Gruchy, and were
trophies of war taken from French ves-
sci conveying them to a foreign cathe-
>~dral. This Captain Gruchy was native
of the Island of Jersey. During the war
between England and France his priva-
teers captured stray merchantmen, which
were either sent to Boston and sold or
destroyed at sea, while the booty was car
ried to the Captains mansion through
an arch of brick leading up from the
wharf in front of the residence. The
entrance to this tunnel and the boats
lying there were cleverly concealed bya
dock built over the entrance, and the