with any other intellectual order of men, an awakening of interest in the architectural antiquities of our churches is becoming perceptible among all ranks; and the technical terms pertaining to the details of Gothic structures, are beginning to be heard, and even understood, in drawing

rooms.

The example set by Oxford and Cambridge, and the increasing fondness of the public for ecclesiological and antiquarian studies, has led to the formation, in various parts of England, of other societies, with objects similar to those stated above; of which, that immediately in connection with our own purposes, "The Bristol and West of England Architectural and Heraldic Society," was established about two years since. It gives us much satisfaction to be able to state that the number of the members of this society augments in an accelerating ratio, and that an increased degree of ardor is beginning to manifest itself in its proceedings. Of course, as the labourers and funds augment, the transactions of the society are likely to assume a more extended field and a more interesting character; and one of the leading objects of "The Bristol and West of England Archæological Magazine" will be, to make its existence and objects more generally known, and to furnish it with a medium of communication with the public. Our aim will be one with that of this, and of the parent societies,-to promote the love and study of English Antiquities; to increase the feelings of reverence with which the venerable houses devoted to the worship of God should be regarded, and the care bestowed upon their conservation; to preserve memorials of the beautiful and interesting structures of former ages, whether civil, military, or ecclesiastical; and to spread more generally a knowledge of the laws and principles which guided the architects by whom they were erected, in their arrangement and embellishment, so as to conduce to a more widely-diffused taste, and a more systematic application of precedents and principles, to direct in modern imitations.

We are fortunate, certainly, in the field over which we range. Somersetshire has always stood in the first rank among the English counties, for the number and beauty of its churches. Those of Gloucestershire are scarcely inferior, in the one respect or in the other. The lavish display of carved work, both in wood and stone, in those of Devon, attaches a particular value to the interiors of that county. Monmouthshire and South Wales supply an inexhaustible source of attraction in their castellated remains; whilst their churches, which, though small and simple, possess many interesting peculiarities, have hitherto been little examined. These, with the counties of Worcester, Hereford, Wilts, Dorset, and Cornwall, all rich in architectural an

tiquities, constitute the particular region to which our labors will be devoted.

To illustrate with the pencil and the pen the more beautiful or singular features of the structures of the olden day, contained within these bounds, will be our leading object. But we shall not confine ourselves to this :-it is our purpose to admit papers relating to general questions connected with christian architecture, and the collateral studies that may tend to its illustration; and, perhaps, as it is probable that a considerable proportion of our readers may have devoted but little attention previously to these matters, and may not have opportunities of reference to works that would explain the difficulties that must sometimes occur to them, we may give such outlines of the beforementioned subjects, as may render more intelligible, descriptions, necessarily technical, of objects of antiquity; but this is for future consideration.

The notice of books, relating to those matters with which we are engaged, and of engraved representations of ancient buildings, will form part of our plan; and we shall devote some space, occcasionally, to retrospective criticism.

We include, also, in our scheme, announcements of the destruction, or alteration, contemplated, or carried into effect, of old buildings, possessed of interest. We stated in our Prospectus that we should notice, likewise, new buildings, if in imitation of the styles of our ancient edifices: but this we can do only to a limited extent, as motives of delicacy must often restrain us from a free expression of opinion upon the works of our brother masons; and this will, of course, be more particularly the case, with regard to those of our own city.

We believe we have now pretty fully explained the intended scope of our proposed publication: we do not, however, engage to confine ourselves strictly within the limits above marked out;-any interesting particulars, but little known, connected with the antiquities of our own country, of Ireland, or of foreign lands, will be welcome to ourselves, and, we trust, will prove so to our readers: but our chief aim of course will be to illustrate the more remarkable objects within the bounds at first mentioned.

There is one point connected with the manner in which the Magazine will be issued, to which we must particularly advert. The Prospectus has stated that it will be continued monthly: but, at present, we feel rather undecided upon this point; much must depend upon the support we obtain, as well in literary communications as in subscriptions to the work. The president of our society has suggested, that in a provincial district where an interest in the subject of antiquities is hardly yet fully

awakened, it might be more advisable "to feel the pulse of the public by commencing with a quarterly publication. The principal objections to such a course would be, that a quarterly publication, unless at an increased size and price, would hardly form an annual volume; and that it might be a source of dissatisfaction to many, if, having begun with a quarterly pecuniary demand, we should hereafter attempt to make the call more frequent; but the opposite course would be less likely to excite complaint. We are far from being fixed in the intention to issue the work monthly; but having tried two or three numbers, we shall be better able to come to a decision as to which will be the more advisable plan. In the meanwhile, should we finally determine to bring out the Magazine quarterly, or on alternate months, we shall, by publishing two or three numbers in consecutive months, render the volume for the current year equal in bulk to those which are to follow. We invite the opinions of our readers on this subject.

THE BRISTOL ARCHITECTURAL SOCIETY.

"THE Bristol and West of England Architectural and Heraldic Society," was formed, as appears from its first Report, in consequence of a suggestion of the Oxford Society; and a preliminary meeting, to draw up a code of rules by which it should be governed, took place on the 20th of January, 1841.

The 9th of the rules established at this meeting, announces the purposes of the association, in the following terms :

That the objects of the Society be to promote the study of English Gothic Architecture, and of Mediæval Archæology, by the use of all means within the reach of the Society :

I. By personal observations and by manuscript surveys of old Churches, and other Ecclesiastical Buildings; as well as of Baronial Edifices.

II. By the collection of Books, Prints and Drawings; Models, Casts, and other Architectural specimens.

III. By collections of Monumental remains; and by Historical Notices of Founders, Dates of Erection, and other details appropriate to the Architecture, Archæology, or Heraldry of the Middle Ages. IV. By encouraging and aiding in the printing and disseminating of Works tending to promote the diffusion of Architectural knowledge. V. In making grants from the funds of the Society towards the Restoration or Building of Churches.

The first general meeting was held on the 15th of April, 1841; and shortly after, letters were received from the Oxford and Cambridge Societies, acknowledging it as a kindred association, and requesting the acceptance of copies of all their publications.

Other general meetings were held on the 3rd of June, and on the 29th of December, in the same year; but since that, the réunions of the society have been more frequent, and it is proposed that, in future, one shall take place in every alternate month.

The Society now includes among its members a large number of the more respectable and influential of the inhabitants of Bristol and its vicinity; of course, among these, many of the clergy. It has not been idle; but has endeavoured to carry out, to some extent, the objects for which it was instituted, by manuscript surveys of churches and other ecclesiastical antiquities in its immediate district, and by the collection of books, prints, models, and other architectural specimens. It has obtained accounts of very many of the churches of the neighbourhood; and to make its labours in this department more generally useful, proposes to publish a selection from these at the close of the current year. Its attention has been directed, too, to the subject of monumental brasses, and other sepulchral memorials; and it has obtained a considerable collection of rubbings from the former, mounted on cloth. Mr. Butterworth, the late lamented secretary, presented the Society with copies of all those existing in Bristol.

The influence of the Society has been beneficially exerted in several instances, to prevent unseemly innovations in church arrangement, and to promote the improvement of old buildings. Hitherto, of course, its ability to be useful in this way has been very limited; but it begins now, through its enlarged influence and increasing treasury, to feel itself in a position to work more effectively in pursuance of these objects, and the opportunities thus gained will not be neglected.

It may be as well, however, to observe (since a mistaken notion seems to have entered the minds of some of its members, that it consists already of a sufficiently numerous body), that its ability to aid in restorations by pecuniary grants must depend mainly upon its numerical strength; and that no limit should be assigned to the number of its members, as, the more numerous they are, the more useful is the society likely to become.

One of the causes assigned by Mr. Bloxham for the great falling-off in christian architecture which took place in the middle of the sixteenth century, was the devastation of religious houses, "in which," he says, the study of ecclesiastical architecture had been much followed;" and if this be the real secret of the decline, we may hope much from the formation of societies, which, though not partaking of the holy character of those to whose munificence we owe many of the splendid buildings which, according to their present state, are the glory or disgrace of our land, have yet for their object the study of ecclesiastical architecture, as a distinct art, and whose leading principle is to pursue such study with a view to the honour of the church, and a close attention to the models which have been left us by the mighty though nameless architects of olden time. We do not aim (as has been sometimes asserted) at raising structures utterly unfit for the performance of the present service of the Anglican church. Our position is, that the arrangements of modern churches prevent the due observance of the rubric, for the acting up to the letter of which it is expedient that every facility be afforded. conversely, we may venture to assume it as an axiom, that where a

Or,

church is built with the ritual for a guide, we shall obtain an edifice, which, if not perfectly correct in detail, shall present none of those miserable features, so prominent in the efforts of modern church building. The spirit, if not the words of the ritual, will ensure us a well developed chancel, a font of stone, credence, sedilia, and if not an open area, a freedom from the puritanic device of pews.

But we are bound to aim at more than this; and there is no reason save in ourselves why, in process of time, we should be one whit behind our ancestors in greatness of conception or in accuracy of detail. We say that the only impediment to such a consummation is in ourselves; but we do not forget that it is no easy path along which we have to travel. We have to get rid of many feelings which are at work within us and around us; which would represent a noble dedication of our substance to the honor of God's church as a superstitious waste, and an adherence to ancient rules as an index of our own poverty of mind. And when this difficulty has been surmounted, we must be content to spend much toil and time in an unintermitted study of existing models. Unfortunately, a taste for classical architecture arose soon after the Reformation; and prevailing for more than two centuries, left the knowledge of christian architecture to decay. We have now, therefore, to learn an art, and in doing so, to act on the saying of Plato, "that all knowledge is remembrance, and all ignorance forgetfulness." In other words, we have not to endeavour to strike out new combinations and new principles, but to recover an accurate insight into those adopted by our forefathers. And in this task, societies such as those of late established appear likely to do good service, and may therefore fairly claim the support of all who are interested in the revival of correct feeling on such subjects. They are to be regarded as associations which may collect, by means peculiar to public bodies, information most valuable to the professed architect; while by the dissemination of sound principles, they tend to insure him a due appreciation of good designs. We cannot refrain from adducing, on this point, the testimony of one whose declaration will have more weight than any thing we can say, and with whose words we shall conclude :"It was obviously essential to the due execution of such a design (viz. of securing in all things propriety of ecclesiastical detail, and the general restoration of the churches in the archdeaconry of Bristol), that time should be allowed for the acquirement of competent knowledge of the true principles of ecclesiastical architecture; I might even add, for the formation of a sufficient number of architects, adequately imbued with those principles. To the attainment of this preliminary I rejoice to think how much service has been rendered by the institution of those societies for the restoration of ecclesiastical architecture, of which I made mention on a former occasion, and which have been followed by others, in different parts of the country, amongst which it is gratifying to know that one was very early instituted in our diocesan city, and will, I hope, prove an useful handmaid of the church."

W.

*Archdeacon Thorpe's Charge, delivered at a visit of the Archdeaconry of Bristol, 1842; p. 25.