228

JOINT MEETING OF THE

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE AR

CHITECTURAL SOCIETY, AND THE WARWICKSHIRE ARCHEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

ON Wednesday, May 21, a meeting of the above Societies was held in S. Mary's Hall, Coventry, the chair being taken by C. H. Bracebridge, Esq., who in alluding to the place of meeting, called to their recollection the Earl Leofric and the Lady Godiva, as noble personages peculiarly connected with the history of the place, and claimed for them the position of historic character, and not to be mixed up with fabulous stories, or confounded with the myths of chivalric times, and quoted several chroniclers and historians in support of his assertion.

The first paper was read by M. H. Bloxam, Esq. of Rugby, on some ancient British, Roman, Romano-British, and Early Saxon Remains, mostly sepulchral, recently discovered in Warwickshire, and not hitherto noticed. These which were exhibited in the room, consisted of some drinking cups of British pottery of the period anterior to the Roman invasion; two heads of copper belonging to a Roman steelyard or balance; some fragments of embossed Coralline, or Samian ware; a small bronze hammer of the Romano-British era; and the handle of a bronze mirror, with part of the mirror attached; also some fragments of a sword and spear of Anglo-Saxon times, and a fibula of the same date.

The Rev. Wm. Staunton then read a paper entitled "Brief Notices of the Cathedral and Priory of Coventry;" and the Rev. G. Ayliffe Poole, a paper on "The Churches of Coventry."

Several relics of antiquity of great variety, value, and interest were laid on the table; some drawings of Mr. Poole, and rubbings of brasses. The churches of S. Michael and Trinity, and the picturesque building of Ford's Hospital were visited in the afternoon.

On Thursday an excursion was made by the members of the two Societies, and several others, to Kenilworth, where a lecture was delivered within the precincts of the castle by the Rev. C. H. Hartshorne, on the architectural character, and historical changes of the different portions of the building. Quotations were made from the pipe rolls and other documents, to show the additions and repairs which took place under the several possessors. The next visit was made to the museum at Warwick, which was greatly admired for the rich and curious specimens, of interest to the naturalist and antiquary. Then Warwick Castle received the company, which was thrown open by the liberality of Lord Warwick, including the magnificent doubleaisled Crypt, and the domestic apartments. Mr. Hartshorne again gave a lecture on the history of the castle, and assigned dates to the celebrated Cæsar and Beauchamp towers.

NEW YORK ECCLESIOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

THE regular Quarterly Meeting of the Society was holden in S. Paul's Sunday School Room, on the evening of Monday the 7th of April, 1851; the Rev. Dr. McVicar, President of the Society, being in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

The Quarterly Report of the Committee was then read by the Rev. Mr. Elmendorf. Besides the usual matters, it announced the election of Mr. Wm. H. Walter as a member of the Society, and that of the Rev. Solon W. Manney, of Milwaukie, Ill., as a life-member. The Committee have confided to one of their number the supervision of the manufacture of Church Plate; and all orders sent to him in that line, can be executed more economically, as well as more correctly, than in any other mode short of importation from England. They have taken measures to procure a large accession to their stock of designs from the Society in England. The Committee have determined to issue a Report, to be the first of an Annual Series and which will contain an address from the President, as well as a variety of other matter. They proposed a number of alterations in the laws, and requested the action of the Society thereon. They also announced that Mr. Charles Congdon had been added to the Committee.

On motion, the new members were confirmed.

An original paper was then read by Mr. George L. Duykinck, on The Plastic nature of Pointed Architecture. Mr. Duykinck began by alluding to the vivid and yet varied impression produced upon the tourist in Europe, by beholding such an infinite variety of detail and general expression in carrying out the same fundamental ideas which are embodied in every cathedral. One after another is passed in review, yet so distinct and peculiar is the character of each, that one could no more confound Westminster and York Minster, or Exeter and Salisbury, or Winchester and Gloucester, than we could mistake Napoleon Bonaparte and George Washington. Whence was all this variety? from whim, love of novelty, the trafficking spirit of composition? The reason was the same as that which caused the difference between Hamlet and Macbeth, Lear and Othello; the Fairy Queen and Paradise Lost. Men of mind were at work, whose genius was not exhausted by a single effort: uniting great originality, with great patience and enduring labour, and a thorough systematic education in their art. The sculpture of the Middle Ages would alone afford material for a volume, which had yet to be written. It had a distinct character of its own, tending to spiritualize, not sensualize, the feelings. It rose far above the sensual graces of nudity, such as the heathen Venus, to the perfect expression of Christian purity, as in Her, who was "Blessed among women." The endless variety of Pointed architecture was not only seen in the difference of building from building, but in rich profusion in the different parts of the same edifice. Nor was it only in cathedrals and great churches, but even the smallest and humblest had also their share. The reason of this was that machinery was not yet invented.

The endless forms were all to be cut honestly in stone, not moulded in plaister; and the workman relieved the monotony of his labour by varying it according to his fancy. This brought out the creative faculty of the soul, gave lightness and strength to the arm, and stamped a living character on the result, which no tame copying can ever reach. Notwithstanding the lavish outlay of funds, yet there was a woeful falling short of the ancient models, in our modern attempts. What was the reason of this? It was because copying, not creating, was the order of the day. Careless of the immense difference between stone and painted pine-(even although sanded,) we had copied old buildings in dwarfed proportions, and now, in search of originality, had begun to select different scraps from various old buildings, and so combine them to form a new design. This was but eclecticism, and eclecticism had never produced genius, nor been produced by it. What should we say of a sculptor who borrowed the nose of his Ideal from one antique cast, the brow from a second, the mouth from a third? What better was it to be always taking scraps from Mr. Pugin's quartcs? All these must be studied, of course, with much else. But it would be of little use to read, mark and learn, if we did not inwardly digest. Nationality was to be sought-not a mere reproduction of English ideas. The living American Church must have her own American characteristics, to distinguish her architecture; and these peculiarities should be founded on the actual differences existing between the nations and countries. The only scope for such variations would of course be merely in detail; but though small, they would not be trifling, if they embodied the principle. A number of points was then suggested, where there might be an opportunity to introduce the principle advocated, such as foliage, where the oak might be largely replaced by the Maple, Elm, Locust, and other more American trees; the corn and cotton plants, also, as well as others, might be introduced in particular sections of the country. The use of symbols, the Mitre and the Crown, armorial bearings, &c., was also enlarged on. Special occurrences, of importance in the history of a Parish, might be embodied, and the carved heads on corbels and door jambs might be made historical. The whole subject of memorials of the dead admitted of vast change for the better among us, and would furnish rich materials, not only for adorning and enriching churches by monuments, windows, inscriptions, &c., but for developing and strengthening that individuality of churches which would most surely enchain the affections and promote originality of design. The subject of roodscreens was adverted to, with notices of the objections to that arrangement, as carried out on the continent. Representations of the Crucifixion were treated of in the same connexion. The adaptation of ancient seats to modern ideas of convenience was recommended, and the least objectionable construction of galleries, where they were held to be indispensable for the accommodation of the congregation. Sunday school rooms, pulpits, iron works, gas-lights, mosaics and frescoes, altar-hangings, &c., were all passed in review. The paper concluded with an earnest and glowing anticipation of the triumphs yet to be accomplished in the further advance of Christian art--especially in our land.

On motion, the thanks of the Society were returned to Mr. Duykinck for his interesting paper, and a copy was requested for future use.

Mr. Congdon was requested to read a paper before the next Quarterly Meeting, on the subject of orientation.

Mr. Upjohn was requested to favour the Society, at the Annual Meeting in May, with the results of his ecclesiological observations during his recent tour in Europe.

The proposed alterations in the laws were then discussed at considerable length, and with sundry amendments, were passed.

Several letters were read; among which was one from Mr. Butterfield (one of the highest names among living English architects,) to a member of the committee, in which he expressed some very interesting views as to the use of brick for church architecture in cities.

Hackett's Epitaphs, a rare and curious work, in two volumes 12mo. was presented to the Society by Mr. E. M. Peck, of the General Theological Seminary; and the thanks of the Society were returned.

After some interesting conversational remarks on the use of colour, and the relations of the primary colours, as learned from the spectrum, the usual concluding prayers were said by the President, and the Society adjourned.

NEW CHURCHES.

Holy Trinity, Westminster.-This church, the munificent offering of the Archdeacon of Westminster, and situated close to Vauxhall Bridge, is approaching completion from the designs of Mr. Pearson. The style is Middle-Pointed, and the ground plan is cruciform, with central tower and spires. This has unfortunately necessitated lantern piers of such a bulk as seriously to impede sight between the chancel and the nave. The former is divided into two parts at the spring of the arches of the one bayed aisles projecting chapel-wise from the transepts, and at the division a considerable rise is indicated. This has unfortunately brought the east and two side sanctuary windows which are very long far too low. Under that to the south are the sedilia, three in number, simply and well treated, by being recessed in the thickness of the wall with stone elbows, and on the opposite side of the chancel is placed a credence bracketing out. The choral arrangements we had no opportunity of ascertaining. The chancel roof is too thin, and striving too much after ornament. The pillars of the nave are alternately octagonal, and clustered of four larger and four smaller shafts, with a complexity too great for their size. Indeed the whole aspect of the nave was that of an attempt after an effect not to be attained with the given dimensions. The aisle windows of three lights are rather too short. The clerestory of three lights likewise is externally injured by the roof overhanging, as no ancient roof of any church of so large and ornate a character ever did. The stone carving inside is far

too finely and thinly done, and we could detect many traces of Perpendicular feeling in the mouldings. Mr. Pearson will excuse these remarks upon a church which we could not but regard with pleasure, indicative as it is of the great revival which has taken place in our church architecture, and which he has so laudably seconded in the present instance. His treatment of the vestry of two stories, as a semi-circular pile attached to the south side of the chancel, is very felicitous, and he has given it a very pretty and well-placed chimney. The porches in the second bay from the west face each other. The east window is of seven, the west of six, and the two transept ones of five lights. There is a good deal of carved stone work in pinnacles, buttresses, and niches about the exterior of the chancel. The priest's door is not wanting, but how will it be used? for on the opposite side is the vestry with an external entrance.

S. Mark, Albert Road, Regent's Park, London.-We cannot much congratulate Mr. T. Little, on the published drawing (from the S.W.) of this Church. It is a First-Pointed, with nave, and isles, chancel, engaged S.W. tower and spire, and S.W. porch. The west window is a pretentious quintuplet of trefoiled lancets; and the façade of the south aisle displays, above a monotonous range of lights, an equally monotonous range of spherical triangles-(meant to be a clerestory)-in an upper row. The effect is very bad, and very clumsy. The tower wants breadth and mass; its buttresses are conceived after a later type. The belfry is ostentatiously arcaded, and there is a broach spire, very hungry in its look, with a spirelet (which has no visible purpose) at its south-west angle.

S. James, Stoke Damerel, Devon.-A south-west view of this design has been published. The style is Middle-Pointed, and the architect (we believe) Mr. St. Aubyn. The plan consists of a clerestoried nave with aisles, chancel with aisles to its western part, and a south-western porch with a tower and spire over it. Judging from the engraving the design is rather commonplace, the detail being very uniform. The clerestory appears to be of the East Anglian type, couplets of lights placed very close together. A small rose window shows itself above the west window. The tower is not well treated as to its stages and their respective lights, and this is more unsatisfactory in a tower, standing, as this does, almost detached over a porch, than if it were engaged at the west end of the nave. The spire is an octagonal broach, with spire-lights on alternate faces and spire-bands. This is not unpleasing, from its fair outline and great simplicity.

Philanthropic Farm Chapel, Reigate.-Many of our readers who may have travelled on the Dover line must have noticed the chapel attached to the Philanthropic establishment on the left hand side, just after passing Reigate. It consists of chancel and nave, with a small kind of campanile, forming also a south porch at their junction. The style is Middle-Pointed, but the details are terribly starved: in particular, the external string is perfectly disgraceful. The east window is of three lights, a trefoil over the side ones, a circle with three trefoils crowning the centre light. The stained glass here, executed by one Cartissier, of Paris, is almost the very worst we ever saw. The