1829.]

NEW CHURCHES.-No. XXII. TRINITY CHURCH, ISLINGTON.

TH

Architect, Barry.

HE second subject in our engraving of the Islington Churches, (see the Frontispiece to this Volume) is a north-west view of the new Church in Cloudesley Square, Liverpool Road. The style of architecture is the same as that of the two other Churches already described (see p. 9); but the design is pleasingly varied, the archi tect having taken as his model the chapel of a collegiate establishment, in preference to the usual parochial arrangement. In common with the others, this Church is built with brick, with stone dressings.

The plan consists of a nave, with side aisles, which fall short of the former at each extremity; in this respect the plan resembles the other designs; but the chancel is more ample in the present instance, and two lateral porches are added to the north and south sides.

The western elevation, in consequence of the absence of the steeple, is graced with a large window; which is made in breadth into five divisions by mullions, and divided horizontally by a transom stone; the upper range of lights thus formed have pointed heads, inclosing five sweeps, but the lower tier are finished square, the soffites enriched with half a quatrefoil; the head of the arch is occupied by smaller corresponding divisions, and is bounded by a weather cornice. Below the window is a handsome Pointed doorway, the weather cornice resting on busts. In the gable, just above the point of the window, is a small square panel inclosing a quatrefoil, and pierced for a light to the loft over the ceiling. On the point of the gable is a cross flory. The octagon towers at the angles of the design contain staircases; they rise plain to the spring of the gable, being broken into heights by horizontal mouldings. The two stories which are clear of the main building, are panelled with upright arched divisions, with cinquefoil heads, each alternate face pierced to admit light to the interior; an embattled cornice, surmounted by an octangular ogée-formed cupola, crocketted and crowned by a finial, finishes the elevation; the plain surfaces between the angles of the cupola, are enriched with roses, mitres, and crowns, in relief, alternating with each other. In one of these towers

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hangs the bell. The ensemble of this front is very imposing, the proportions are very fine, and the detail throughout in good keeping. The ends of the aisles have small Pointed windows.

The flanks are uniform. The aisle is made into five divisions by buttresses, the elevation finished by a parapet above a cornice. The central division is occupied by a porch, the design of which, viewed independently of the main building, is good; but in the present situation it cannot be regarded otherwise than as a blemish; a porch in the middle of the aisle being entirely out of character, such structures being always situated near one of the ends, generally the western. The entrance to the porch is by a handsome Pointed arch, bounded by a weather cornice, resting on corbels sculptured with angels holding shields. The elevation is finished with a gable, on the point of which is a fleur-de-lis, and at the angles are buttresses ending in pinnacles. The object of the porches is to obtain entrances in front of two streets which enter the square, opposite to the flanks of the Church, but as lateral entrances are seldom made in churches, and when used prove a constant source of interruption to the congregation, we cannot help expressing our wish that they had been either omitted, or moved nearer to the western extremity of the aisle. The other divisions of the aisle have simple but elegantly formed win dows, divided into two lights by a sin gle mullion. The head of the arch is occupied by upright divisions, and bounded by a weather cornice, resting on corbel busts, sculptured in a far better style than those we had occasion to notice in our last survey of Mr. Barry's designs. A clerestory rises above the aisle, having five divisions made by slender buttresses, ending in crocketted pinnacles; each division has a low arched window of two lights, exactly similar to those in the two former Churches. The elevation is finished with a cornice surmounted by a parapet.

The eastern elevation pleased us less than any portion of the building; in its outline it assimilates with the western, but the omission of the large towers at the angles greatly injures the design; the buttresses which supply their place are capped by small cupolas, in order to make them assimilate in some degree with the western front; but they make but a poor apology for

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the absence of the noble towers of that elevation. The architect appears to have been sensible of this, by his altering the pinnacles of the original design into the present cupolas, but they only serve to make a stronger contrast with the other elevation; and it is the more to be regretted as this front is seen from the high road, and being more exposed than the other, ought to have been, not only on the score of taste, but in compliance with ancient usage, equal at least in its general form to the western elevation.

The large window in the centre of this front is equal in dimensions and the number of its divisions with the western, but the ornamental portions are more numerous; the difference, however, is so trifling, that it would occupy too much time to particularize them. Above the point is a panel as before, and the gable and cross finish the whole, as in the other front. There is no entrance beneath the window; the extremities of the aisles have Pointed windows of one light.

The roof is covered with slates; and the ground in which the Church is situated, is inclosed with an iron railing.

THE INTERIOR more resembles the other Churches than the outside; it has still some varieties which do away with any unpleasing impressions, arising from a sameness of design. On each side of the nave are five arches, which in detail are the same as those particularized in our description of St. John's Church. The ceiling is of a similar design to that of St. Paul's Church. The chancel, which is separated from the Church by a bold Pointed arch, is groined in a simple style, in imitation of stone; the bosses are collections of foliage chastely executed. The galleries for the congregation, organ, and schools, are arranged similarly to the other Churches; the front of the former one is panelled with upright divisions.

We have here to notice the mode of lighting the principal galleries. The division of a window into two portions by the gallery of a Church has always an awkward appearance internally, and the introduction of two ranges of windows being out of all character, a difficulty arises not easily overcome. In Chelsea Church, the portion of the aisles beneath the galleries derive no light from the windows, which only open above the galleries; in conse

[May,

quence the lower parts are deficient in this essential quality. In the present the window is only made to give light to the space beneath the gallery, and the upper part derives a cross light from the windows in the clerestory. This is peculiar to the present Church; but as far as we are able to judge from a casual inspection, the experiment appears to have succeeded.

The altar is remarkable for the magnitude as well as propriety of its decorations,-a merit which Mr. Barry's works possess in an eminent degree. The screen is oak, and masks the ves try, which occupies a part of the chancel. The screen is in breadth made by buttresses into upright panels, having arched heads, and crowned with a cornice, above which the buttresses terminate in pinnacles, except the central one, which, being immediately over the altar, most appropriately finishes with a cross, the design of which is similar to those on the external gables; two panels have low arched doors, about midway of their height, communicating with the vestry. The five panels immediately above the altar are entirely gilt, and inscribed with the Decalogue, Creed, and Pater Noster; the character is black letter, the capitals red, in the style of ancient MSS.; and to us it appeared even more excellent than Ball's Pond. The east window is filled with painted glass of antique character and design, in perfect accordance with the building. The lower tier of compartments have the Royal arms in the centre light, encircled with the garter, and surmounted by the regal crown; the lateral compartments are filled with a mosaic pattern of fretwork, inclosed in a light blue border, enriched with white crockets; in these compartments are respectively the red and white rose, and the thistle, in roundles. The central compartment of the upper tier of lights is occupied with a portrait of a gentleman in the costume of the 16th century, kneeling, and surmounted by a semi-hexagonal canopy, similar to that above Wolsey's statue at Christ Church; the dress is a purple gown lined with green, and turned up with yellow; the hair auburn, hanging in long curled locks on each side of the head. Beneath is the following inscription:

"RICHARD CLOUDYSLEY,

"A parishioner of Islington, of pious memory, gave to this parish by will dated the 13th of January, 1517, a certain parcel of

ground, called Stony Field, comprising about 16 acres, upon part of which this Church was built, by the assistance of his Majesty's Commissioners for building Churches, and dedicated to the service of Almighty God on the 19th day of March, in the year of our Lord 1829.

"To perpetuate the memory of so great a Benefactor to the Parish, the feoffees of the said estate have caused this window to be thus embellished."

In the compartments on each side are the letters R.C. The glazing of the other compartiments are in the style of the lower ones, the minute divisions in the head of the arch are filled with elegant and appropriate ornaments; in the centre are four compartments, the arched heads of which intersect; in the two lower the Greek characters AN; in the upper, angels with censers the other lights have an elegant sprig of foliage. The window and the inscriptions, as well as those at Ball's Pond, and the arms at Upper Holloway, were executed by Mr. Willement, the author of "Regal Heraldry." All these subjects are in the most superior style, and in exact keeping with the building, a merit which modern stained glass seldom or ever possesses. It was fortunate for Mr. Barry that an artist existed possessed of sufficient antiquarian knowledge to execute such decorations in a correct style. The works of Gibbons are great embellishments to the buildings of Wren, and in an equal degree would the decorations of Mr. Willement add a grace to any buildings in the Pointed style. As the ecclesiastical authorities persist in retaining the inscriptions at the altar,* how absurd do Roman characters appear in a design in the Pointed style; and the introduction of figures in nondescript costume on stained glass, are an injury rather than an ornament in such

a structure.

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design of the two is similar to Ball's Pond, and consequently inferior to the beautiful pulpits of Upper Holloway.

The font, which stands in a pew near the west entrance, as well as the organ case, are similar in design to those in the other Churches. The organ is deemed by judges a fine instrument; it was built by Russell.

On the front of the western gallery is a copy in Roman characters of the inscription under Richard Cloudesley's effigy, and another recording the consecration of the Church, and the name of the architect.t

The east window, as the inscription records, was glazed at the expence of the trustees of a parish estate called "the Fourteen Acres, or Stone Field," (on a portion of which the Church is built,) for the purpose of commemorating the donor of the land, which a few years since was valued at 22,8001. and that before the numerous buildings now upon it had been erected. This considerable property was preserved from the general wreck of charitable endowments, in the reign of Henry VIII. and from the rapacity of the guardians of his youthful successor, in all probability, by its then inconsiderable value, being only let at 71. per annum. The donor, Richard Cloudysley, by his will dated 13 Jan. 1517, 9 Hen. VIII. devised and bequeathed this and other property to various charitable uses, and others which at the Reformation were deemed superstitious; the latter consisted in directions for numerous masses to be said for the repose of his soul, and the foundation of a fraternity in Islington Church, called by the Commissioners for dissolving Colleges and Chantries, the "Brotherhedd of Jesus." How long the testator survived the date of his will, is not recorded; thirty years afterwards, the fraternity was visited by these Commissioners, but by some means it eluded the insatiate grasp of the successive plunderers of church property. Almost before the numerous which the testator deemed necessary to the repose of his soul were sung, the

masses

+ If the Commissioners were to insist on such inscriptions in all the new Churches, they would make a rule of more utility than many of their regulations. It is singular that only one Church in London records the name of Sir C. Wren as the architect.

Nelson's Islington, 2d edit. 4to, page 294. The will is given at length, but the original orthography is not preserved.

1829.]

Mr. URBAN,

YOUR

Muirtown, March 30, 1829.

YOUR Supplement for the end of 1828 contains two papers, which I think of very great interest. I shall first notice that signed S. B., p. 603, which gives very important information regarding the origin of the collar called SS, which were in general use for several centuries after the reign of Henry IV. and are still continued. The extreme facility with which the unpopular government of Richard II. was put down, even although that Prince was at the head of an army, shows that his deposer must have had a strong hidden party in the kingdom; and the very circumstance of Henry having, previously to his banishment upon the accusation of high treason by the Duke of Norfolk, established an order, or mot de partie, so expressive as Souvenir, or Souvenez, or Souveniez, shows that the Duke's accusations had just grounds, however little able to trace them out the feeble Richard and his friends seem to have been. In fact, old "time-honoured Lancaster," the father of Henry, seems to have had a constant view to the Throne; and this secret watch-word had probably been set on foot many years before the deposition of Richard, and the happy adventure of Henry of Bolingbroke. It may be compared to the very similar plan which the Buonapartists resorted to, when they adopted the badge of the violet. When this badge was shown to one in the secret, the answer, "elle reviendra au printemps," at once discovered to the wearer of the violet the sentiments and co-operation of the person addressed. When the house of Lancaster became peaceably seated upon the Throne, of course the badge of SS would be a favourite of the victorious party, and has probably been used as a general ornament, without reference to its origin, till the period of the decay of the House of Lancaster, when so many years (half a century) had elapsed, that the cause of its first use had been obscured by time and original secrecy. In short, it is plain that Richard followed the plan of all weak men: he scotched the serpent instead of killing him; and, though he had suspicions of his guilt, he had not the wisdom to crush, in place of exasperating his enemy. GENT. MAG. May, 1829.

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He feared him as well as suspected him, and by his half measures lost his Crown and his life, as many other Kings have done.

The other Letter to which I allude, is that signed N-м, p. 585, and, as I have already been honoured by the insertion of many papers on the same subject, viz. upon Comets, I have only our Scotch Law plea of "Res noviter veniens ad notitiam" to plead, for being again heard upon this subject. N-M has, with much more learning than I brought forward, strongly shown that the Egyptians, by the type or fable of the Phoenix, which signifies inundation, and destruction, and renovation, in fact merely stated the perihelion return of a comet, whose period is, by the type of the Phoenix, stated at from 540 to 600 years; the mean of which I have shown is about 575 x6 years, the very period of the great comet of 1680, which was in perihelion, the exact year to which the great Deluge is attributed; and to the two next returns of which to perihelion, the deluge of Ogyges, and that mentioned in the 12th book of Homer, may be seen to correspond; as, likewise, those which subsequently took place about 1100, by which the Goodwin and Moray Sands were formed, and many prodigious damages done to the coast of Great Britain; a coinet being, even at that dark period, stated as the cause, and certainly the concomitant of the Deluges. From the sculp tures of the Loros, taken by Belzoni from the Valley of Kings, it seemed to me that the dish in the claws of a scarabeus, or scorpion, suspended over the element Water, in which several figures were drowning, would allude to nothing but the Great Deluge, as the Scorpion is the sign of the months, Tisri, the first, and Marcheslan, the second month, on the 17th day of which the Bible states the Deluge to have commenced.

Now, Sir, I find that it is stated in Buckingham's Travels, that he found the winged globe a common symbol in the most ancient ruins in Persia; and not only so, but a winged crescent, or half-globe, in the claws of what he does not seem well to know whether to regard as a scarabeus or dragon, but which may well be taken for the sign Scorpio; and if so, it will much tend to establish my view, that