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EF BARNABAS CHAPEL, ST LUZES, CLD STREET.

Or the father of physic-should you judge by his look, [a book. Or his words as they come-like words from With any or all of such men as I've nam'd, Take the oldest or youngest they're all of them fam'd,

"Cum aliis multis," who for science and learning, [ing, And the "modus medendi" acutely discernLeaves us only to wonder, that with Doctors

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Architect, Edwards.

T is pleasing to witness the erection of new Churches in neighbourhoods in which, at the same time that great noise is eternally made about the " spread of the Gospel," every obstacle is raised to impede the exertions of the members of the Establishment in disseminating rational piety and sound religion. It is the more pleasing to witness such Churches when built, attended by numerous and respectable congregations, and when such an event occurs it ought to be hailed as a triumph of intellectual religion and good sense over cant and fanaticism.

The Church, which forms the first subject in the accompanying engraving (see Plate II.) has been erected by the Commissioners in a piece of ground at the south-east extremity of the New North Road, for the inhabitants of this ancient hamlet, which, although it once had a market, was until very lately destitute of a Church. It is to be regretted that the want of a spirit of liberality in the parish has not allowed of a more splendid building, for, if the steeple were taken away, it would present in all its features the appearance of a large meeting-house, -a circumstance, however, which may have the effect of rendering the new building less odious in the eyes of many of the Hoxton people, than if it had a more decided Church-like character.

The view here given shews the whole of the south side and the western front of the edifice, and when it is added that the walls are built of brick, it will be seen that the meeting house character I have given to it is strictly correct. The western front is in three divisions. The central is GENT. MAG. March, 1827.

faced with stone, and contains two attached columns of the Ionic order; the shafts are fluted, and the capitals are columns is a doorway bounded by from Grecian examples. Between the dow of a corresponding character. The an architrave. Above this is a winstone work is marked by horizontal lines, the modern substitute for rustic work. The remaining two divisions contain four windows in two series : the lower are slightly arched, and bounded by stone architraves; the upper, which rise from a plain course of stone dividing the elevation into two stories, are long, with semicircular heads, and are destitute of architraves. The divisions, as well as the angles of the buildings, are guarded by antæ; an entablature and parapet broken above the central division finish the elevation. A flight of steps of equal height with the stone plinth which surrounds the building, are placed in front of the doorway.

The south side, seen in the view, is made by ante into three divisions, the centre considerably larger than the lateral ones, and the whole is again divided into two stories by a plain course of stone corresponding with the west front. The central division contains two series of windows of the same character as those which occupy the la teral divisions of the west front. In each of the smaller divisions is a doorway bounded by an architrave of stone and finished by a cornice. Above this is a window, the circular head of which is bounded by an architrave resting on an impost moulding. The elevation finishes with the entablature and parapet continued from the west front, and brought out above the lateral divisions.

The east front is also in three divisions, the central projecting. It contains the eastern window, and one beneath, which, singularly enough, is not seen from the interior. The general architectural character of this front is the sanie as described. In the north front the entablature and other architectural ornaments requisite to render it correspondent with the southern, are omitted in the centre division; the elevation" in consequence shews a plain brick wall, with windows in number and form resembling the opposite front of the building, but destitute even of the poverty of decoration which has been

bestowed upon that portion. The roof is slated, and rises to a ridge considerably above the parapet, in the true meeting-house style.

The steeple may be considered as a redeeming feature. The defects, however, it is but fair to add, are not chargeable on the architect; on the contrary, great praise is due to him for doing what he has done. It is the pitiful spirit of parsimony on the part of the parish which alone deserves reproof. The steeple rises in three stories in the centre of the western end of the building. The first story is square, the angles strengthened by buttresses, and each face is pierced by a window, which, however, differs from the majority of those in the Church, inasmuch as it is lintelled, and, like the windows in Grecian buildings, is in the form of a truncated pyramid. It is surrounded by an architrave. The next story takes a circular form, and consists of a plinth which has four tablets corresponding with the sides of the square basement, to receive the clock dials, when the libe. rality of the parish may bestow such an adjunct upon the tower; and it supports a circular story enriched with eight antæ sustaining an entablature and parapet; the frieze enriched with chap lets of myrtle, and the cornice with Grecian tiles. The spaces between the antæ are pierced with semicircular headed windows. A graduated plinth sustains the next story, which is also circular, with eight coupled Ionic columns placed at intervals corresponding with the angles of the square basement, and sustaining the entablature of the order brought out above each pair of the columns; the elevation is crowned with a hemispherical cupola, on the apex of which is a Corinthian capital sustaining a small gilt cross. The steeple, upon the whole, possesses great merit; it is well shewn in the engraving, and, whatever may be the defects of the building, it will be seen that they are not to be charged on the architect, who has shewn by the design of the steeple what might have been done. It is true it too much resembles the generality of modern steeples, but among them it is entitled to the highest rank; it would be difficult to find any one in the various new Churches, which, for symmetry in the proportions, and elegance in the design, can surpass it.

THE INTERIOR

will not occupy long in the description. At the west end are three lobbies, the centre forming a vestibule to the body of the Church, the others containing stairs to the galleries, and doorways to the side ailes. Upon entering the body of the Church the meeting-house air is the most striking feature. A gallery is erected along three sides, sustained on iron columns, which viewed, in connexion with the whitened fronts of the superstructure, have prodigiously the look of a conventicle. The naked walls of the tower protruding into the Church in consequence of the upper part of the side lobbies being occupied by galleries for the charity children, is another deformity. The ceiling is slightly curved at its sides; it rests on an architrave, and the cove is furnished with a cornice; all the remainder is flat, and without ornament, except a small space above the altar, which is panelled. The pulpit and reading desk are similar in design and dimensions, according to the modern practice; they are varnished, to imitate oak, and have nothing striking in their appearance. The altar screen is composed of four fluted Ionic columns, supporting their entablature, above which is a square frontispiece, containing a broad ornamental arch surrounding the eastern window, the whole being executed in imitation of veined marble. In the intercolouring of the screen, on slabs of grey veined marble, are inscribed the commandments, &c. in gilt letters, so small as to require a very near view to be able to read them. A small portion of the ailes is parted off at the east end, at one side for a vestry, at the other for a lobby. A temporary organ is set up in the western gallery. On the architrave beneath is the following inscription: "This Church was built by his Majesty's Commissioners, and consecrated by William Lord Bishop of London, to the service of Almighty God, on the 22d of June, A.D. 1826;" with the names of the Vicar and Churchwardens.

The estimated expense of this Church is stated in the reports of the Commissioners to be 14,500l. and the congregation accommodated are in the same authority said to be 1,732, but the actual number I should judge to be greater.

ST. BARNABAS'S CHAPEL, KING-SQUARE, ST. LUKE, OLD-STREET.

Architect, Hardwick.

AN immense delay has occurred between the completion and consecration of this Chapel. The erection of new Churches was perhaps an unwel come subject with the worthies composing the vestry of this populous parish, in which the Ws and select vestrymen have become as important in themselves, as the Demagogue (whose fortune it was to be of the same name as the parochial Cicero,) and his Middlesex freeholders ever were. The present of the Commissioners was not, I fear, received with much thankfulness by these gentry, though I cannot suppose they omitted to make an expression of gratitude to the donors for assimilating the structure, as far as appearance

went, to their favourite conventicles.

The west front, ranging with the houses forming the east side of Kingsquare, is the only portion of the building visible, and this elevation forms the second subject in the engraving. It will be seen that the central division is recessed and fronted by four Roman Ionic columns sustaining the entablature of the order, and resting upon a flight of steps. The lateral divisions, which are brick, contain false windows, as if Churches were taxed like private houses for the enjoyment of light and air. The upright

is finished with a frieze and cornice

and a parapet, the portion of which is above the central division having a balustrade. Immediately at the back of the Ionic pillars are others of a square form, the intention of which secondary supporters is to uphold the superincunbent wall with its spire, which, curtailed as it is of fair proportions, required some support, the four columns only sustaining the balustrade. In the centre of the wall, at the back of the recess, is an entrance to the body of the Chapel, and there are two other entrances in the side walls opening into lobbies, which contain the gallery stairs and entrances to the ailes, The little square tower, with its diminutive spire, a portion of which at the upper part of metal, upon the whole resembling a lengthened mile-stone, are sufficiently made out in the view to render a detailed description unnecessary, were there any thing either in their design or embellishments worthy

of criticism. These are the chief features of the western front. The north and south sides are uniforın, and, with the exception of the first division, in each of which is a repetition of the lateral portions of the west front, are mere brick walls pierced with two series of arched windows, and finished with a dwelling-house coping. The east end is of the same character; in the centre is a semi-octagon projection brought out for the altar, the extreme wall of which contains a window.

THE INTERIOR,

like the last described building, has

more the air of a conventicle than a Chapel of the Establishment. A gallery sustained by slender iron coTumns occupies the south-west and north sides of the building. The stone the plain gallery fronts, all have a cold colour tint thrown over the walls, with meeting-house appearance, and indeed there is nothing in the interior to induce a contrary idea. The altar is formed of four pilasters, with an architrave and cornice, in imitation of veined marble, between which, on dark red pannels, this a large uncomfortable looking winare the commandments, &c. and above dow. The ceiling is quite flat, and is entirely surrounded with a border, enriched with a series of square pan. nels; the remainder being entirely destitute of ornament. The pulpit and reading-desk differ in form and height, a circumstance worthy of notice, as it forms an exception to the absurd practice of setting up two pulpits. In the western gallery is a small temporary

organ.

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