Apertures in the ceiling may also be made to open and close by means of luffer boards.

All ventilation provided in the original construction of the building to be carefully preserved and kept open.

All doors to be opened for one hour before service and one hour after, except the winter evening service, and also except where warm air is used during the time of its being used in winter.

All windows, casements, &c. to be set open for some hours every fine day, both in winter and summer.

WARMTH. Is best provided by introducing warm air through the floor from chambers of air placed in the vaults under it, which are heated by means of stoves or furnaces, and the heat, whether from a stove or otherwise, ought to be introduced near the door, whereby the heat will be carried into the church by the draft from the door.

VOICE. Echo and circulation of sound to be avoided, therefore stucco on batten, domes and coved ceilings (except of the wagon form), to be avoided; so also circular walls, except only at the back of the preacher and reader. Ceilings of wood preferable to plaster; all wood work is favourable to the voice.

The

ACCOMMODATIONS. The most favourable position for the minister is near an end wall, or in a semicircular recess under a half dome. congregation should all see as well as hear him, therefore no square, or round or double pews should be allowed, and as few pews as may be. The rest of the seats, open benches with backs. A narrow shelf fixed behind the back-rail will serve at once to strengthen it and to support the prayer-book; under the shelf may be placed pegs, or other conveniences for great-coats and cloaks, sticks and umbrellas; about half-way under the seats may be fixed a shelf for receiving hats. Kneeling-boards should in all cases be provided.

SEATS. The seats should all be placed so as to face the preacher, as far as possible. Where the pulpit is placed at the west end, the benches, whether pewed or not, ought to run from east to west, so that no part of the congregation may turn their backs upon the altar. The pulpit also should be placed so as to intercept the view of it as little as possible.

GALLERY. With a view of wasting as little space as possible, the galleries may be fitted up with benches and back-railings for children and others entitled to the use of free seats; and the eastern end of them, if they lie nearest to the pulpit or reading desk, may afford the best accommodation to the aged and infirm. In adapting the front seat of a gallery to the use of children, it is advantageous to carry the front wainscot but little higher than the knee, and to surmount it with an open railing, which may be made of cast iron, through which the children may be seen whilst kneeling and sitting. Pillars of cast iron to support a gallery will give least obstruction to sight and hearing, and are not unfit for chapels, though in large churches they may want grandeur.

DIMENSIONS. When the congregation is mixed of children and adults,

from 17 to 20 inches, by from 28 to 35 inches, may be allowed for each sitting, and from 4 to 5 square feet on the floor not too much for every individual, allowing for gangways, communion table, &c. Hence a floor, to accommodate from 1,000 to 1,200 persons, should contain from 4,500 to 5,500 square feet, and so in proportion. An average of less than 18 by 30 inches has been found insufficient for the accommodation of each person.

FORM. The most approved forms are a parallelogram and an octagon ; but a polygon or a semi-polygon, or a figure of three straight sides and one polygonal, would bring a large congregation nearer to the preacher than any other, except a circle, which is objectionable, as confounding articulate sounds.

ORNAMENT. Internal. Neat, simple, never gaudy or trifling. Woollen linings and cushions are apt to harbour dust, damp, and vermin. Wood is most easily kept clean and dry; yet movable cushions, if wanted, may be allowed.

External. Pure and simple, yet venerable, and having the character of a church or chapel; none preferable to the simplest Gothic. The Grecian Doric is also eligible.

MATERIALS. For walls, stone preferable, laid as in the quarry, in large blocks, and all well grouted or dowelled; and if brick, the lowest course to be laid dry, and the rest in cement, to the second or third course above ground; or lay a horizontal course of slate in cement quite through the wall, just above the level of the outer ground, in order to prevent the rising of the damp up the wall. For the beams and other timber, iron may often be substituted; but it requires to be carefully examined, for a flaw in the casting has already been the cause of tremendous and most expensive accidents: and wherever the ends of timbers are lodged in the walls, they will be liable to rot, by imbibing the damp, unless they are exposed to a circulation of air. No American timber to be used.

VESTRY. It is most convenient when placed near the reading desk or pulpit.

FINISHINGS. Wall wainscoting, or wood linings to walls, to be avoided wherever convenient. Wood linings to walls confine the damp, and frequently occasion dry rot. For the same reason cement skirtings are to be preferred to wood, particularly on the ground floor.

the linings to the walls are of wood, holes should be perforated under the seats to allow the circulation of air.*

* Shortly will be published, Designs and detailed Estimates for Churches, with an Introduction on Church Architecture, by J. Fawcett, M.A., incumbent of Wibsey, Bradford, Yorkshire. The Designs and Estimates by Samuel Sharp, M. I. B. A., Leeds.

The present has been styled "an age of church building." To a certain extent the observation is correct, but we hope only partially so; and that the rapid and speedy advance in this work, will prove that present efforts compared with the future, are but as the seed-time compared with the harvest.

It will perhaps be said, that in consideration of the numerous volumes on the present subject already published, another is superfluous. We beg leave to

THE INCORPORATED SOCIETY,

FOR PROMOTIng the Enlargement, BuildING, AND REPAIRING OF CHURCHES AND CHApels.

Constitution of the Society,

(As settled by the Act of Incorporation, 9 Geo. IV. cap. 42.)

I. The name of the society is "The Incorporated Society for Promoting the Enlargement, Building, and Repairing of Churches and Chapels."

II. The archbishop of Canterbury, for the time being, is the president of the society; and the archbishop of York, for the the time being, and the bishops of the two provinces, for the time being, together with twenty-five lay peers and commoners, are vice-presidents thereof. All vacancies which may, from time to time, occur in the number of the lay vice-presidents, are to be filled up from the lay members of the society by the committee.

III. The society is governed by a committee, which consists of the president, vice-presidents, and treasurer, and of thirty-six members elected from the society, one half at least of whom are to be laymen. The treasurer, and one-fourth of the thirty-six elected members of the committee (in rotation) vacate their offices at the annual general court, but are capable of immediate re-election.

IV. All persons who contribute ten guineas in one donation, or one guinea annually, are members of the said society, and have a right to vote at general courts, and are eligible to the committee, provided their annual subscriptions shall not be in arrear.

V. A general court is to be holden annually in May, and oftener if the committee shall think it expedient. At the annual general court, three auditors are to be appointed for the year ensuing; a treasurer elected; and the vacancies in the committee filled up. All such

think otherwise for whilst we are prepared to allow due credit and value to those which are before the public, we conceive that there is a peculiarity of feature in our design, which is calculated to give it a peculiar interest. Our wish is to see church architecture considered in its true light, to call attention to ancient principles, and to revive as far as is desirable, the forms and appearance of early examples. Our work is designed to be practical. In order that this may be the case, in addition to perspective views and sections of churches, there will be tables of estimates which by the alteration of prices, may be adapted to any part of the country. These estimates will shew in detail the amount for which each division of the work can be executed; and at one glance the total sum required for the completion of the building. On each plan will be stated the accommodation afforded.

To these will be added, tables of cost for bells, giving their key note, weight, &c.,—organs, their dimensions, &c.,-communion plate,-painted windows, &c., -digest of church building acts, suggestions of the incorporated church building society, &c. &c., and in short, every information requisite on the subject of church building.

The work will be illustrated with numerous engravings. London, Rivington.

elections are to be by ballot from a double list prepared by the president and vice-presidents.

VI. Every order made and act done by the committee, for the time being, of the society, is to be made and done with the consent of the majority of the members present at any meeting of the committee, such meeting to consist of not less than five; and the committee, or the major part of them at any such meeting, have full power and authority to make all such laws and regulations (not being repugnant to the express provisions of the 9 Geo. IV. cap. 42), as to them shall from time to time seem expedient, for the management and government of the society, and for carrying its designs into effect. The committee have the sole management, control, and disposal of the estates, funds, revenues, and other property, which do now, or may hereafter, belong to the said society; and have the power of affixing the common seal of the society, or directing it to be affixed to such instruments as the said committee, or such major part of them, shall think fit. The committee have also the sole control over, and appointment of all officers, agents, or servants, whom it may be thought expedient to employ in the service of the said society, or in any of the concerns relating thereto. But it is provided that no laws and regulations made by the committee shall be of any force or effect, unless the same shall be confirmed by the members of the committee, or the major part of them, who shall be present at the next meeting of the said committee after the same shall have been first made, such next meeting to consist of not less than five.

VII. In the selection of parishes and extra-parochial places to which the committee shall grant any part of their funds towards the enlarging or building of any churches or chapels, they are to have regard to the amount of the population, and also to the disproportion between the number of inhabitants, and present accommodation for attendance upon divine service; and a preference is to be given to such parishes and extra-parochial places as, with reference to the pecuniary ability of the inhabitants thereof, shall propose to raise the greatest proportion of the expense which shall be required for effecting the enlargement or building of churches or chapels therein.

VIII. The committee are at liberty to grant aid towards the repairs of churches and chapels, which have fallen into a state of great dilapidation without the neglect or fault of the existing parishioners, and the entire expense of repairing which, the parishioners shall prove, to the satisfaction of the committee, that they are unable to defray; but in all such cases, reference shall be had to the amount of money raised by the parishioners by rates or subscription, and to the improvement or increase which it may be proposed to effect in the accommodation for the poor. IX. The committee shall annually present to her majesty, an account of the progress made by the society in the execution of its designs, stating the number of churches or chapels enlarged, built, rebuilt, or repaired, or in the course of being so, the sums expended, and for what purposes, and such other particulars, as shall be necessary for explaining the progress made by the said society, together with a list of all officers, agents, and servants, employed by the said society, and a statement of their respective salaries.

Laws and Regulations of the Society.

1. That the president, vice-presidents, and treasurer, be members of all sub-committees, in virtue of their several offices.

2. That all annual subscriptions become due on the first day of January in each year.

3. That all moneys received in donations, subscriptions, bequests or otherwise, be paid into the bank of England, in the name of four trustees to be appointed by the committee and all sums, not immediately wanted, to be invested in government securities in the names of the said trustees.

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4. That at the annual general court, a report of the society's proceedings be made by the committee, together with a statement of its receipts and payments.

5. That all applications for aid be made according to the society's printed forms, and be signed by the archdeacon, or where there is no acting archdeacon, by the chancellor or rural dean of the district, unless the dispensing with such signature be recommended by the bishop of the diocese.

6. That no grant be made towards the enlarging, building, or repairing any church or chapel, in any parish or place, without previous application to the ordinary, patron, and incumbent of the church or chapel already existing therein, (if any such there be,) for their consent to such enlarging, building, or repairing.

7. That in all cases, the consent, in writing, of the ordinary, and in case of an exempt, or peculiar, not being a bishop's peculiar, the consent also of the bishop, in whose diocese the place is locally situate, is indispensable. And that in case the patron and incumbent, or either of them, be incapable of assenting, or withhold assent, no grant shall be made, until the reasons for withholding such assent shall have been considered by the committee, and the dispensing with such consent shall have been expressly recommended by the bishop of the diocese, or other episcopal ordinary, as the case may require.

8. That no grant be made, unless one-half, at least, of the increased area and accommodation proposed, be secured for additional free and unappropriated sittings for ever.

9. That no grant exceeding £500. shall be made, unless approved by at least two-thirds of the members present at a meeting of the committee, and confirmed by a majority of the members present at a subsequent meeting of the committee, notice of such grant being inserted in the usual summons.

10. That the society shall not themselves engage in building or enlarging any church or chapel; nor shall they, in any case, unless for some special reason, to be made out to the satisfaction of the committee, advance a greater proportion than one-fourth of the estimated expense.

11. That it be a condition in every grant, that no expense shall be incurred for ornamental architecture, beyond what shall, by the committee, be deemed essential to give to the buildings to be erected, or