situation, on the very spot where formerly stood a small chapel, dedicated to St. David, which had no other ornaments than green moss and ivy. It is a situation fit for the exercise of religion; and a religious edifice was first founded in this sequestered retreat, to the honour of a solitary life, by two hermits, remote from the noise of the world, upon the banks of the river Hondy, which winds through the midst of the valley. The rains, which mountainous countries usually produce, are here very frequent, the winds exceedingly tempestuous, and the winters almost continually dark; yet the air of the valley is so happily tempered as scarcely to be the cause of any diseases. The monks sitting in the cloisters of the abbey, when they choose for a momentary refreshment to cast their eyes abroad, have, on every side, a pleasing prospect of mountains ascending to an immense height, with numerous herds of deer feeding aloft on the highest extremity of this lofty horizon. The body of the sun is not visible above the hills till after the meridian hour, even when the air is most clear."-Itinerarium Cambria.

[Written about the year 1187, when Giraldus accompanied Baldwin, the Archbishop of Canterbury, into Wales, to preach the Crusade.]

CHURCH NEWS.

The

WE are glad to learn that the vicar and parishioners of St. Mary's parish, Taunton, are about to effect extensive and judicious repairs and restorations in their noble church. A large sum, amounting we believe to nearly two thousand pounds, has already been subscribed for this object; but much more will be required to carry it out to the extent contemplated. alterations will be conducted under the superintendance of the judicious architect, Mr. Ferrey. We have received the following circular, which we transfer to our pages, in the hope of being instrumental in the good work proposed.

ST. MARY MAGDALENE'S CHURCH, TAUNTON.

THE church of St. Mary Magdalene, Taunton, was built about the end of the fifteenth century. It is a very magnificent structure, and peculiarly interesting in its plan, having a nave and four aisles. The west tower is a splendid example of the richest Perpendicular period. The church is now, unhappily, through age and neglect, in a state of great dilapidation, with the exception of the nave, which was carefully restored by the parish in 1839, at an expense of £1,000. The vicar, on his own responsibility, feeling confident that an appeal to the christian public in so necessitous a case will not be in vain, proposes (the parish having kindly met his wishes by granting a rate for the substantial repairs,) to remove the present irregular pewing, with the incongruous west gallery, &c., and to reseat the church throughout, upon an improved arrangement, by which 450 additional sittings will be obtained, an accommodation much needed for the increasing schools; endeavouring, also, as far as circumstances will permit, to restore the ancient character of the seats, with their enrichments carved in solid wainscot. The expense attending these works will exceed FOUR THOUSAND POUNDS.

The cordial support of the public in this arduous undertaking will be the means of preserving this splendid fabric from ruin; will advance the spiritual interests of a large and populous parish; increase the welfare of our church; and, above all, it is hoped, promote the divine glory.

Contributions will be thankfully received at the Banks in Taunton; by the Churchwardens; or by the Rev. Dr. Cottle, Vicarage.

[Since the above was written, we have visited the church in question, and been much gratified by the progress of repairs. Those of the two north aisles are now completed; and great advance has been made with the nave. The external south aisle is at present walled off from the church, and roofless, but in due time that too will be restored. The whole of the pews have been removed, and open seats, with carved ends and poppy-heads, substituted; most of these appear to be executed by Brathwaite's mechanical process; but some portions have been cut at Taunton, (by Mr. Perry, of

Northtown, if we are correctly informed,) which are of very great merit. The fronts of the seats are elaborately paneled; and there are stalls on each side of the chancel towards its western part. The pulpit is less satisfactory, and the reading pew in the vulgar taste of the Gotico Moderno. A stone font of pretty good design has been placed against the second pier from the west, on the north side of the nave.

The angel corbels, which support the springers of the wooden roofs over the aisles, have been cleaned or restored, their shields blazoned, portions of the figures gilt, and texts, in old English letters, inscribed on the scrolls. The painted glass in the north windows, partly new and partly old, is not quite satisfactory; but on the whole we repeat that the alterations have been made judiciously, and on a scale, as regards cost, highly creditable to the zeal of the parish, and its vicar.

It is with much pleasure we find that a series of illustrative drawings of this singularly beautiful church, to be accompanied by an account which will comprise a description and the history of the building, is in course of preparation, and to be published as soon as a sufficient number of subscribers is obtained to defray the expenses. The proceeds that may afterwards arise from additional sale of the work, will be applied, as we understand, to meet a portion of the expense incurred in restoring the church.]

THE new church at Clifton is nearly completed.

THE tower of St. Werburgh's church, Bristol, has been repaired, the stonework having been in a very decayed state.

A LARGE church, with two western towers, and a deeply-recessed doorway and wheel-window in the western front, has lately been completed at Cardiff, from the designs of Mr. Forster. It is in the Norman Style.

A HANDSOME church, in the Early English style, is nearly completed at Bridgwater, from a design by Mr. Brown, of London. It has a good tower of three stories at the west end, and is intended to have a spire; a very elegant south porch, and a vestry on the north side;—this last is the most objectionable part of the whole, being a Lilliputian representative of a cathedral chapter-house, an octagon, with a high-pointed roof. A three-light, opening from the tower, in the beautiful transitional style which ripened into Decorated, gives good effect to the west end of the nave, though we question whether an authority could be quoted for a similar feature so located in a building of similar scale, and of the date to which, in style, this is intended to correspond. The roof is of steep pitch, and boldly arched in wood; it rises from corbels, and produces a striking effect.

THE church of All Saints, Dorchester (Dorsetshire), has been taken down, and is about to be rebuilt.

THE REV. G. A. Montgomery, M. A., late Rector of Bishopstone, Wilts, has bequeathed the sum of £1000 to the parish church of Bishopstone, a moiety thereof to be laid out immediately in restoring, releading, repewing, and repairing the church; the interest of the other moiety to be appropriated towards repairing the painted glass windows of the chancel, and in beautifying the church in other respects.

THE little chapel proposed to be erected at Westport, Somersetshire, is an unaffected design, and has much of the genuine character of our ancient village churches. The plan contains a chancel, nave, and low square western tower. The whole cost of the erection will not exceed £800. We could have wished to see a small southern porch, which is an almost indispensable feature, and would add very greatly to its appearance, at a very small increase of cost. The walls seem somewhat too high for the proportion of the roof. We are not informed who is the architect.-Ecclesiologist.

Persons residing in the Country, who may experience difficulty in obtaining their copies of the Magazine, are informed that they may receive them direct, by Post, prepaid, from the Office of the "Great Western Advertiser," at a charge of 1s. 9d. each copy.

Literary communications, Advertisements, and Books for Review, to be addressed to the Editor, at his Office, 8, Bridge-street, Bristol.

NOTICES OF THE FORMER NUMBERS.

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ONE of the many manifestations of the increasing attention paid to Archæological inquiries; and so far as such inquiries tend to cultivate and refine the public taste, they are most commendable. The work before us promises to be interesting, and by its local influence to do good, if only by discountenancing the barbarous mutilations which have disfigured so many of our fine old ecclesiastical buildings.-Athenæum.

ARCHEOLOGICAL research, as proposed to be carried on and promoted by works of the class we are now contemplating, and by societies such as "The Bristol and West of England Architectural Society," with which this publication is connected, under its Editor, Mr. T. H. Sealy, will lead to such a collection of facts concerning the old workings of the professors of the arts of design and construction, as to imbue the moderns with a clearer sense of the way of imitating or emulating them. We want the key to the great secret of intelligence that lit up the minds of those giants, which when possessed of, we may, without irreverence, assume to enter upon the vocation of duty which they so fitly and worthily discharged. That key must be forged out of the half-rusted, and too long neglected fragments, which the great storehouse of Archæology contains; they yield the best and soundest metal, and the gatherings of this Magazine are valuable and most welcome.-Builder.

THE object of the present publication, as explained in the Preliminary Address, is to give an impetus to the already awakened feeling on these subjects (church restoration, and the general preservation of architectural antiquities), by pointing out those edifices, which, from the knowledge and talents displayed in their design and construction, contribute to the triumph of art; and by examining the principles that guided their erection, impart a feeling and spirit to the architectural genius of the age, more in accordance with those of ancient times. That the Editor possesses the requisite qualifications for such a task, is sufficiently apparent from the number before

us.

Besides a report of the meetings of the Bristol and West of England Architectural Society, the Magazine contains an original article on "Mural Tablets," "A Chapter on Church Building," and "Notices of Old Buildings," amongst which, "A Descriptive Account of St. James's Church," and "St. Catherine's Hospital, at Bedminster," will be read with much pleasure by all who feel interested in our local antiquities. There are also some able Reviews on architectural publications, and a variety of information respecting ecclesiastical buildings now in progress. The illustrations are wellexecuted, and tend materially to enhance the value of the publication. We heartily wish success to a work that must eventually become the repository of much valuable information, and contribute, in no small degree, to promote and extend the pleasure to be derived from Archæological pursuits.-Bristol Mirror.

WE hail with much pleasure the appearance of this periodical. The growing importance of the subject of sacred architecture, and the popular impetus which it has received from associations such as that to which we allude (The Bristol Architectural Society), makes such a work particularly desirable; and, in every respect, the Editor and his contributors have performed their part with ability, and in a style and form at once attractive and instructive.-Bristol Times.

WE have been much pleased with this specimen of the new Magazine, and it is our earnest wish that the reception it meets with, may be such as to ensure its regular appearance. Among many valuable papers which enrich its pages, we find a very interesting sketch of the history and present condition of the venerable church of St. James, in this city; and we hope that this is only the first of a series, which shall include all the ancient churches of Bristol. We cordially wish well to the Bristol Architectural Society, and we rejoice at the appearance of their Magazine, which is a proof of the spirit that animates their proceedings, and the ability with which they are conducted.-Bristol Mercury.

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WE are glad to see the first number of an "Archæological Magazine," in connection with the Bristol and West of England Architectural and Heraldic Society, which appears to contain sound criticism and valuable information, with some very good wood-cut illustrations.-British Critic.

London: R. Bentley, 8, New Burlington Street.

"The witty Author of this Volume was content that his pagoda should have for its basis the ludicrous and amusingly clever mixed up with significant hints and satirical suggestions to the wise of the present generation. Thoroughly imbued with the manners and customs of the Chinese, he has made excellent use of their peculiarities; and the illustration by Leech are admirable.

"The prose stories are perfectly Chinese as to exterior manifestation, though a stratum of real English piquant satire runs beneath."-Smallwood's Magazine.

J. L.

MARCKE,

ENCRAVER ON WOOD,

RICHMOND VILLA,

MONTPELIER.

Zoological, Botanical, Topographical, Historical, and Heraldic subjects, executed in the most finished style, and on such terms as will ensure satisfaction. Specimens forwarded on application,

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