CONTENTS. PAGE Slimbridge Church, Gloucestershire Church of St. Augustine-the-Less, Bristol - Minehead Church, Somersetshire THE BRISTOL AND WEST OF ENGLAND Archaeological Magazine; IN CONNEXION WITH THE BRISTOL AND WEST OF ENGLAND ARCHITECTURAL AND HERALDIC SOCIETY. No. III. JANUARY 13, 1844. VOL. I. REPORT OF THE TENTH GENERAL MEETING OF THE BRISTOL ARCHITECTURAL SOCIETY.* A GENERAL Meeting of the Members of the Society took place in the Theatre of the Institution, Park Street, on Tuesday, the 19th of December. The Venerable Archdeacon Thorp, the President of the Cambridge Camden Society, in the Chair. The President observed, that the present meeting might be considered an Anniversary Meeting, as the Report of what had been done by the Society during the year would be read, and a statement of the accounts be brought forward. This Society had been established in accordance with the principles of the Cambridge Camden Society, over which he had the honour to preside, and it was gratifying to find that the principles contended for by that Society were rapidly gaining ground. Although they had not at the present moment to report the formation of new societies, they had to congratulate the friends of that to which he had alluded, on its making a steady progress; there had been an increase of members, such as was hardly to have been expected after the novelty of the Society had ceased to excite. The Chairman alluded to the rule of this and similar societies, by which a member of one was also a member of the others, and said that much benefit had been the result. In carrying out the principles of the Society they were mainly endeavouring to promote the welfare of the Church. It was not merely for the sake of promoting the elegancies of art that they were concerned, but in all their proceedings they were anxious to bring all the aid that art or science could afford into the service of the Church. It was peculiarly gratifying to him to observe that they were not looked upon any longer with suspicion by a large and influential body of gentlemen who were professionally devoted to architectural pursuits, but that instead of being deemed *We are indebted for the basis of this Report to Felix Farley's Bristol Journal of December 30th. H 82 Report of the Tenth General Meeting of the intruders into the profession, they were considered as amongst its ablest promoters. The principles of Church Architecture and Restoration, for the encouragement of which these societies were formed, were a very few years ago unknown or unacknowledged. Churches were built and restored without considering who were the persons to be engaged in worship, or what the manner in which that worship was to be celebrated. The service of the Church had not been in accordance with its ritual. Churches had been built without regard to the duties to be performed in them, rather for the worship_of Mussulmans, Indians, or Egyptians, than that of Christians. But now a better state of things had obtained, and he confidently believed that many of the heartburnings which prevailed in the Church would be subdued in proportion as the Church principles of Architecture were more understood. Persons who were formerly greatly averse to the Camden Society, had now, after seeing its principles carried out, become friendly to it. He might particularly advert to the subject of pews, and the war that had lately, under the auspices of that Society, been so successfully carried on against them. It could not but be admitted that distinctions between the worshipers in the Church had been made where God never intended such to exist, and persons had been excluded from its service for whom the Church was specially bound to provide. The hostility, however, evinced by some to pews, he had himself, at one time, thought too great; but he now believed the time was approaching when pews would altogether be abolished. After the numerous examples which had been set, it would no longer be deemed necessary to have them fitted up with every convenience for domestic comfort; and persons, instead of being driven to Dissent, from the want of Church accommodation, for which they were unable to pay, would find the internal accommodation of the Church consistent with its ritual. The Venerable Archdeacon concluded by observing that the interests of that and kindred societies were favourably progressing, and that great practical beneficial results had been effected; he instanced the Church of St. Sepulchre, at Cambridge, which, from a state that would have disgraced a cattle-pen, had now become one of the most beautiful Churches in the kingdom. The Rev. J. R. Woodford, the Secretary, then read the Report, which stated that the Bristol Society had concurred in several undertakings such as seemed calculated to advance the ends in view-the restoration of the ecclesiastical edifices in the diocese, and the prevention of the introduction of architectural improprieties in the new buildings which were rising around them. They had forwarded a memorial to the Commissioners for building additional Chapels and Churches, with reference to certain objectionable points in their rules, viz., the introduction of galleries, the toleration of pews, and the position and materials of the font. The Committee had undertaken the restoration of the South Porch of Slimbridge Church. A grant of money had been made towards the repairs of the Tower of Bitton Church. A Font of the Norman period had been erected under the superintendence of the Committee, in All Saints' Church, in this city, the cost of which was defrayed by the Vicar. The vote made by the Society towards the expenses of the Archæological Magazine was named, and the work was recommended to the notice and support of the Members. The Report concluded by proposing four gentlemen for election as Vice-Presidents, but it was determined to postpone their appointment until the next meeting. The following gentlemen were elected to constitute a Committee for the ensuing year: and it was resolved that the Committee in future should consist only of twelve persons, besides the ex-officio members:- The Rev. E. CARTER. The Rev. D. M. CLERK. The Rev. E. YOUNG. S. C. FRIPP, Esq. J. LEECH, Esq. C. LOSCOMBE, Esq. The Rev. R. WOODFORD, and T. S. WAYTE, Esq., were reappointed to the honorary offices of Secretary and Treasurer respectively. A paper was then read by the Rev. ECCLES CARTER, on the Church of Slimbridge, in Gloucestershire; it will be found in the present number of the Magazine. A conversation ensued, upon various subjects connected with Church Architecture, in which the Chairman observed that an instrument had been invented for determining the direction in which Churches were built. It was frequently observed that Churches were not built due east, which had been accounted for by supposing that respect had been had to the point of the sun's rising on the Festival of the Saint to whom the Church was dedicated. The Orientator was accompanied by a calendar, by which the sun's rising on the Festival days. could readily be ascertained. The Venerable Chairman also observed that much more good would ultimately be effected by building one Church at a cost of £20,000, than four at £5000 each, inasmuch as men's minds would be called to the due distinction and honour which ought to be given to a building dedicated to the service of God. A Service of Communion Plate, of superior design and workmanship, intended for Kimerton Church, was exhibited by the Venerable Archdeacon, who remarked, that plate intended for the service of the altar should be of characteristic design, such as might distinguish it from the tankards of an alehouse. The Chalice, Patera, and two Alms-basins, which he presented to the notice of the meeting, were formed out of the materials of the old communion plate belonging to the same church; and had been made by persons in London who devoted their time exclusively to the manufacture of communion plate according to ancient models. He strongly recommended that, in every instance in which the communion plate was of inappropriate design, the proper authorities should have it remelted and remodeled. The thanks of the Meeting were voted to the President, and to Mr. Carter, and the Members separated about eleven o'clock. |