Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Laying The Corner Stone Of St. Augustine's Church, Halifax.
LAYING THE CORNER STONE OF ST . AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH , HALIFAX .
The event of the week for the inhabitants of the north-westerly portion of the borough of Halifax was the laying of the corner stone of the intended new church of St . Augustine ' s , on Tuesday afternoon . It had been looked forward to with great interest , not only by those who
will form the future congregation , but by the whole of the churchmen of the town , as was fully evidenced by the large gathering that took place around the stone . A spacious gallery accommodated many hundreds of ladies and gentlemen , whilst thousands of others witnessed
the ceremony from the upper side of the ground and from various eminences adjacent . For more than five years services have been regularly held in the spacious schools , and efforts have been repeatedly made to secure a church that would be suitable for the requirements of one of the
most rapidly increasing districts in the borough . The incumbent designate , the Rev . S . W . Darwin Fox , since he took charge of the district , has laboured assiduously for the accomplishment of this object , and by the liberality of Colonel Akroyd , M . P .., and other churchmen , and the
contributions ofthe members of thecongregation , thc new church has at length been fairly inaugurated . The building has been designed by Mr . Richard Coad , architect , of London , and the style of architecture is to be Gothic ofthe latter part of the 13 th century . The nave of the
church will be 8 3 feet in length , and 27 feet in width ; and the aisles 11 feet 6 inches wide , with slightly projecting transepts , 21 feet wide . The church is to be 41 feet long , by 23 feet wide , with an apsidal east end , having chapels and vestry on either side . A tower , ai feet square ,
is to be placed on the south-west corner of the south aisle . The material of the bod y of the church will be of hammer-dressed stone , from the quarries of Northowram ; and the dressings will be of Ringby stone . The internal facings of the walls are to be lined with red and white
bricks , in patterns . The roof will be of stained deal , framed with panels . The vestry roof will also be of the same material , and all the seats will be open . It is proposed to have lofty windows in the clerestory , as beins ; suitable for a
town church , and to ensure sufficient li ght in the nave . The nave , aisles , and transepts are onl y proposed to be erected at present , at a cost of . £ 6 , 500 , leaving the chancel and tower until sufficient funds are received for their erection .
At a very short notice , the members of the local lodges of Freemasons consented to be present , and take part in the ceremony . They met in the Freemasons' Hall , soon after one o ' clock , and having assumed full regalia , marched in procession to St . Augustine ' s school . Mr . 1 . Fisher ,
P . M . of the Probity Lodge , directed the proceedings , antl there were present about 50 Masons , representing the Lodges of Probity rti , St . James ' s 448 , and De Warren 1 208 , Halifax ; the Saville Lodge 1321 , Elland ; the Ryburn Lotlge 1283 , Sowerby bridge ; and Prince George
30 S . At St . Augustine ' s school a procession was formed , consisting of all who were lo take part in the ceremony . Amongst those present were Col . Akroyd , ALP ., who had kindly consented to lay the stone , Col . Holdsworth , Major Waterhouse , Al . P . ; the Right Rev . Bishop Ryan ; the Rev .
W . J . Coghlan , Vicar of St . James ' s , Halifax ; the Rev . W . II . Wawn , of Coley ; the Rev . ] ' . Palmour , Holy Trinity ; the Rev * . S . W . D . Vox and the Rev . H . T . J . Lomax , St . Augustine ' s * the Rev . F . II . Roughton , St . James ' s ; the Rev ! C . R . Holmes , All Souls ; the Rev . G . Bagott ,
Lightchlle ; the Rev . J . Moore , St . Mary ' s ; the Rev . J . G . Rice , Bradford ; the Rev . K . P . Manners , Bradford ; the Rev . W . L . Morgan , Bradshaw ; and other clergymen ; Mr . W . 11 . Rawson , Mv . H . A . Norris , Mr . li . C . McCrea , Mr . J . R . Ingram , and others , 'i'he weather ,
which during the morning had been threatening , vas fortunately very fine during the proceedings , and the sun shone out brightly upon the very animated scene . The clergy having taken their . ¦ reats on the platform , aud all being in readiness , the usual . service of the Church of England for the laying of the foundation-stone ofa church was commenced by the Rev . S . W . D . Fox , uml continued b y the Rev . Bishop Ryan , after which
Laying The Corner Stone Of St. Augustine's Church, Halifax.
a hymn was sung . Bro . W . Tasker , P . M ., Probity , then placed in a cavity under the cornerstone a bottle containing the local papers , the Yorkshire Post , and some documents relating to the Church , with coins of the realm . Over this was placed a brass plate on which was very
neatly engraved the following inscription : — " This corner-stone of St . Agustine ' s Church was laid on the 3 rd day of June , 1873 , in the name of the holy , blessed , and glorious Trinity , by Edward Akroyd , of Bank Field , Halifax , Esq ., AI . P ., merchant and worsted manufacturer ,
Honorary Colonel of the 4 th West York Rifle Volunteers , and Deputy-Lieutenant and a Justice of the Peace of the West Riding of the County of York ; S . W . D . Fox , ALA ., incumbent , Richard Coad , architect . " A silver trowel , supplied by Bro . Manoah Rhodes , of Bradford , and
bearing the inscription , " Presented to Colonel Akroyd , ALP ., on the occasion of laying the foundation-stone of St . Augustine ' s Church , Halifax , Whit Tuesday , June 3 rd 1873 , " and a handsome mallet , were then presented b y Mr . Hitchen and handed by Mr . Coad , the architect ,
to the gallant colonel , who spread the mortar , and the stone being lowered into its place , he said , " Thus and thus , and thus , in the faith of Jesus Christ , we place this corner-stone , in the name of God the Father , God the Son , and God the Holy Ghost . " The Masonic ceremonies then followed : —Bro .
Menzies , J . W . ol Probity , tested the stone with the plumb-rule ; Bro . Dyson , W . M ., of the Savile Lotlge , proved the stone with the level ; Bro . Frank Crossley , P . M ., ofthe Ryburn Lodge , proved the stone with the square . Bro . Wilkinson , P . M ., St . James ' s Lodge , presented the
mallet to Bro . John Fisher , P . M ., Probity , who declared the stone duly laid . Bro . Jessop , W . M ., St . James ' s , then scattered the corn ; Bro . Marshall , W . M ., Ryburn Lodge , the wine ; after which the Rev . J . Hope , P . M ., Probity , received the cup containing the oil from Bro . F .
Whitaker , P . M ., De Warren ( who had carried it in the procession ) , and poured the liquid upon the stone , and , in accordance with the rites and usages of the ancient fraternity , the following words were spoken : — " These elements we have used as emblems of abundance and plenty , and
may it please the all-bounteous Creator of the universe to pour down continually on this place and neighbourhood abundance of every spiritual and temporal blessing . * ' Bro . Fisher then striking the stone three times , said , " May the liberal founders of this building witness its completion
in joy ; and may this work of charity and love redound to the honour and happiness of themselves and all near and dear to them . And , finally , may the work thus favourabl y begun be continued in peace—without accident or injury to life or limb of any one engaged in its
construction : and may the cape-stone be speedily added in place , and the fabric itself become to all who worship within its hallowed walls the House of God , the Gate of Heaven . The Chaplain ( the Rev . B . Town , of Pellon ) , then offered prayer .
Bishop Ryan was then called upon , and said that , in the absence of the Venerable Archdeacon Musgrave , he had been asked to make a fewremarks . He believed that all who engaged in a work like that had reason to feel strong encouragement . There never vvas a period in the
history of England when there had been such a wave of chinch building as had been for the last quarter of a century , and was passing over the country at present , and he hoped that if St . Augustine ' s Clr . reh did not have the full flood of the movements , manv little wavelets would
flow towards it . ( Applause ) . In this thev * had encouragement , and another point of encouragement vvas that when they got to the position of progress at which they were that day , they could look back and see from what small beginnings they had arisen , from what he knew of the parish , he understood that two devoted
curates had tried hard to do something in a small cottage , then Mr . fox was appointed , and a little larger building was procured . Then they erected the large and fine schools , and now they had arrived at that point—that was the laying the foundation stone of the church . He was sure that from the spirit of the Churchmen of Halifax they would not let the matter rest
Laying The Corner Stone Of St. Augustine's Church, Halifax.
there , but would go on ri ght to the end . As to the church not being finished at once , as he had heard some talk about , he hoped that the Bishop of the diocese wonld soon have come to Halifax to consecrate the finished building . Halifax vvas increasing in that direction , and since the
present minister was appointed 2 , 000 persons had been added to the population of the district . He hoped that the spirit of those who had to do with the building would be stirred up to do work in the cause and the house of God . ( Applause . ) In conclsision , he said that although
their worthy Archdeacon was not present with with them in person , he knew from what he had said to him that morning that he was heartily vvith them in spirit . Col . Akroyd , ALP ., said that although he had prepared a few observations to offer on that
occasions ; yet for many reasons his heart had been too full to say anything . As one of the promoters of the schools and church , however , he had been prevailed upon to say a few words . He vvas sure they would all agree with him that they were greatly indebted to the Freemasons for the
imposing effect ofthe ceremony of that day . Freemasons , he believed , were always in the right places when laying the foundation-stones of public buildings ; but especially were they in the right place when laying the first stone in the erection of a temple dedicated to the living God .
Alluding to the history of Freemasonry , they could not forget that they were originally a guild of architects , and that we were indebted for those glorious architectural beauties of the Middle Ages to a wandering body of Freemasons , who were really members of the Craft , until in
the time of Sir Christopher Wren they first became a friendly society . He was grateful to them for their presence on that occasion , and though he was not himself a Mason , he could on that account perhaps speak more freely in their favour than if he had been a member of
the Order . Referring to the immediate object of their assembling there that day , he congratulated his friend , the Rev . S . W . D . Fox , on that auspicious day . He could not forget that for more than five years that gentleman had been working uphill , trying as it were to build up the
foundation of that congregation . More than five years had elapsed since these schools , which they had before them , had been opened for public services . These schools were onl y the first ofa series of ecclesiastical buildings intended to be erected by the congregation ofthe church , of which they
now laid the first stone . The promoters , of whom he was glad to reckon himself as onc were delighted to arrive at that stage of their proceedings . The parish of St . Augustine coultl not be formed until the church of which the first stone vvas now laid vvas opened for public services ,
and appealing to those he saw around him—the future parishioners of St . Augustine ' s—he hoped they would agree with him that it vvas a great day for the inhabitants of that locality . Without seeking to raise in the slightest degree any feelings of rivalry between the various bodies of
Christians—he must say that the great advantage of the Church of England vvas that it supplemented the voluntary efforts of all othet bodies . In the able charge recentl y delivered by the Bishop of Ripon his lordship made an allusion to the parochial system , and said : —¦ " I
believe there never has been a system better contrived to promote the interests of true reli gion and the best welfare of the community than the parochial system of the Church of England . " " i'he truth of that remark had been illustrated in a neighbouring church—the parish of St .
Mary ' s . They all knew that in about two years the Kev . Mr . Judd , contrived to attract all the people to him iu a manner which he did not think was equalled in auy other parish in this neighbourhood ( applause ) . The secret of that success was due to the cordial and kindly union
which subsisted between the clergy and laity . If from any cause that union vvas wanting , then the parochial system or any other system must be a complete failure ( "hear , hear ) . In the same charge the bishop remarked that the parochial
system needed developenient . His lordship vvas against very large parishes being left in the hands of one incumbent , and vvas in favour of overgrown parishes being subdivided , so as to put an end to the anomaly ol their being only one
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Laying The Corner Stone Of St. Augustine's Church, Halifax.
LAYING THE CORNER STONE OF ST . AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH , HALIFAX .
The event of the week for the inhabitants of the north-westerly portion of the borough of Halifax was the laying of the corner stone of the intended new church of St . Augustine ' s , on Tuesday afternoon . It had been looked forward to with great interest , not only by those who
will form the future congregation , but by the whole of the churchmen of the town , as was fully evidenced by the large gathering that took place around the stone . A spacious gallery accommodated many hundreds of ladies and gentlemen , whilst thousands of others witnessed
the ceremony from the upper side of the ground and from various eminences adjacent . For more than five years services have been regularly held in the spacious schools , and efforts have been repeatedly made to secure a church that would be suitable for the requirements of one of the
most rapidly increasing districts in the borough . The incumbent designate , the Rev . S . W . Darwin Fox , since he took charge of the district , has laboured assiduously for the accomplishment of this object , and by the liberality of Colonel Akroyd , M . P .., and other churchmen , and the
contributions ofthe members of thecongregation , thc new church has at length been fairly inaugurated . The building has been designed by Mr . Richard Coad , architect , of London , and the style of architecture is to be Gothic ofthe latter part of the 13 th century . The nave of the
church will be 8 3 feet in length , and 27 feet in width ; and the aisles 11 feet 6 inches wide , with slightly projecting transepts , 21 feet wide . The church is to be 41 feet long , by 23 feet wide , with an apsidal east end , having chapels and vestry on either side . A tower , ai feet square ,
is to be placed on the south-west corner of the south aisle . The material of the bod y of the church will be of hammer-dressed stone , from the quarries of Northowram ; and the dressings will be of Ringby stone . The internal facings of the walls are to be lined with red and white
bricks , in patterns . The roof will be of stained deal , framed with panels . The vestry roof will also be of the same material , and all the seats will be open . It is proposed to have lofty windows in the clerestory , as beins ; suitable for a
town church , and to ensure sufficient li ght in the nave . The nave , aisles , and transepts are onl y proposed to be erected at present , at a cost of . £ 6 , 500 , leaving the chancel and tower until sufficient funds are received for their erection .
At a very short notice , the members of the local lodges of Freemasons consented to be present , and take part in the ceremony . They met in the Freemasons' Hall , soon after one o ' clock , and having assumed full regalia , marched in procession to St . Augustine ' s school . Mr . 1 . Fisher ,
P . M . of the Probity Lodge , directed the proceedings , antl there were present about 50 Masons , representing the Lodges of Probity rti , St . James ' s 448 , and De Warren 1 208 , Halifax ; the Saville Lodge 1321 , Elland ; the Ryburn Lotlge 1283 , Sowerby bridge ; and Prince George
30 S . At St . Augustine ' s school a procession was formed , consisting of all who were lo take part in the ceremony . Amongst those present were Col . Akroyd , ALP ., who had kindly consented to lay the stone , Col . Holdsworth , Major Waterhouse , Al . P . ; the Right Rev . Bishop Ryan ; the Rev .
W . J . Coghlan , Vicar of St . James ' s , Halifax ; the Rev . W . II . Wawn , of Coley ; the Rev . ] ' . Palmour , Holy Trinity ; the Rev * . S . W . D . Vox and the Rev . H . T . J . Lomax , St . Augustine ' s * the Rev . F . II . Roughton , St . James ' s ; the Rev ! C . R . Holmes , All Souls ; the Rev . G . Bagott ,
Lightchlle ; the Rev . J . Moore , St . Mary ' s ; the Rev . J . G . Rice , Bradford ; the Rev . K . P . Manners , Bradford ; the Rev . W . L . Morgan , Bradshaw ; and other clergymen ; Mr . W . 11 . Rawson , Mv . H . A . Norris , Mr . li . C . McCrea , Mr . J . R . Ingram , and others , 'i'he weather ,
which during the morning had been threatening , vas fortunately very fine during the proceedings , and the sun shone out brightly upon the very animated scene . The clergy having taken their . ¦ reats on the platform , aud all being in readiness , the usual . service of the Church of England for the laying of the foundation-stone ofa church was commenced by the Rev . S . W . D . Fox , uml continued b y the Rev . Bishop Ryan , after which
Laying The Corner Stone Of St. Augustine's Church, Halifax.
a hymn was sung . Bro . W . Tasker , P . M ., Probity , then placed in a cavity under the cornerstone a bottle containing the local papers , the Yorkshire Post , and some documents relating to the Church , with coins of the realm . Over this was placed a brass plate on which was very
neatly engraved the following inscription : — " This corner-stone of St . Agustine ' s Church was laid on the 3 rd day of June , 1873 , in the name of the holy , blessed , and glorious Trinity , by Edward Akroyd , of Bank Field , Halifax , Esq ., AI . P ., merchant and worsted manufacturer ,
Honorary Colonel of the 4 th West York Rifle Volunteers , and Deputy-Lieutenant and a Justice of the Peace of the West Riding of the County of York ; S . W . D . Fox , ALA ., incumbent , Richard Coad , architect . " A silver trowel , supplied by Bro . Manoah Rhodes , of Bradford , and
bearing the inscription , " Presented to Colonel Akroyd , ALP ., on the occasion of laying the foundation-stone of St . Augustine ' s Church , Halifax , Whit Tuesday , June 3 rd 1873 , " and a handsome mallet , were then presented b y Mr . Hitchen and handed by Mr . Coad , the architect ,
to the gallant colonel , who spread the mortar , and the stone being lowered into its place , he said , " Thus and thus , and thus , in the faith of Jesus Christ , we place this corner-stone , in the name of God the Father , God the Son , and God the Holy Ghost . " The Masonic ceremonies then followed : —Bro .
Menzies , J . W . ol Probity , tested the stone with the plumb-rule ; Bro . Dyson , W . M ., of the Savile Lotlge , proved the stone with the level ; Bro . Frank Crossley , P . M ., ofthe Ryburn Lodge , proved the stone with the square . Bro . Wilkinson , P . M ., St . James ' s Lodge , presented the
mallet to Bro . John Fisher , P . M ., Probity , who declared the stone duly laid . Bro . Jessop , W . M ., St . James ' s , then scattered the corn ; Bro . Marshall , W . M ., Ryburn Lodge , the wine ; after which the Rev . J . Hope , P . M ., Probity , received the cup containing the oil from Bro . F .
Whitaker , P . M ., De Warren ( who had carried it in the procession ) , and poured the liquid upon the stone , and , in accordance with the rites and usages of the ancient fraternity , the following words were spoken : — " These elements we have used as emblems of abundance and plenty , and
may it please the all-bounteous Creator of the universe to pour down continually on this place and neighbourhood abundance of every spiritual and temporal blessing . * ' Bro . Fisher then striking the stone three times , said , " May the liberal founders of this building witness its completion
in joy ; and may this work of charity and love redound to the honour and happiness of themselves and all near and dear to them . And , finally , may the work thus favourabl y begun be continued in peace—without accident or injury to life or limb of any one engaged in its
construction : and may the cape-stone be speedily added in place , and the fabric itself become to all who worship within its hallowed walls the House of God , the Gate of Heaven . The Chaplain ( the Rev . B . Town , of Pellon ) , then offered prayer .
Bishop Ryan was then called upon , and said that , in the absence of the Venerable Archdeacon Musgrave , he had been asked to make a fewremarks . He believed that all who engaged in a work like that had reason to feel strong encouragement . There never vvas a period in the
history of England when there had been such a wave of chinch building as had been for the last quarter of a century , and was passing over the country at present , and he hoped that if St . Augustine ' s Clr . reh did not have the full flood of the movements , manv little wavelets would
flow towards it . ( Applause ) . In this thev * had encouragement , and another point of encouragement vvas that when they got to the position of progress at which they were that day , they could look back and see from what small beginnings they had arisen , from what he knew of the parish , he understood that two devoted
curates had tried hard to do something in a small cottage , then Mr . fox was appointed , and a little larger building was procured . Then they erected the large and fine schools , and now they had arrived at that point—that was the laying the foundation stone of the church . He was sure that from the spirit of the Churchmen of Halifax they would not let the matter rest
Laying The Corner Stone Of St. Augustine's Church, Halifax.
there , but would go on ri ght to the end . As to the church not being finished at once , as he had heard some talk about , he hoped that the Bishop of the diocese wonld soon have come to Halifax to consecrate the finished building . Halifax vvas increasing in that direction , and since the
present minister was appointed 2 , 000 persons had been added to the population of the district . He hoped that the spirit of those who had to do with the building would be stirred up to do work in the cause and the house of God . ( Applause . ) In conclsision , he said that although
their worthy Archdeacon was not present with with them in person , he knew from what he had said to him that morning that he was heartily vvith them in spirit . Col . Akroyd , ALP ., said that although he had prepared a few observations to offer on that
occasions ; yet for many reasons his heart had been too full to say anything . As one of the promoters of the schools and church , however , he had been prevailed upon to say a few words . He vvas sure they would all agree with him that they were greatly indebted to the Freemasons for the
imposing effect ofthe ceremony of that day . Freemasons , he believed , were always in the right places when laying the foundation-stones of public buildings ; but especially were they in the right place when laying the first stone in the erection of a temple dedicated to the living God .
Alluding to the history of Freemasonry , they could not forget that they were originally a guild of architects , and that we were indebted for those glorious architectural beauties of the Middle Ages to a wandering body of Freemasons , who were really members of the Craft , until in
the time of Sir Christopher Wren they first became a friendly society . He was grateful to them for their presence on that occasion , and though he was not himself a Mason , he could on that account perhaps speak more freely in their favour than if he had been a member of
the Order . Referring to the immediate object of their assembling there that day , he congratulated his friend , the Rev . S . W . D . Fox , on that auspicious day . He could not forget that for more than five years that gentleman had been working uphill , trying as it were to build up the
foundation of that congregation . More than five years had elapsed since these schools , which they had before them , had been opened for public services . These schools were onl y the first ofa series of ecclesiastical buildings intended to be erected by the congregation ofthe church , of which they
now laid the first stone . The promoters , of whom he was glad to reckon himself as onc were delighted to arrive at that stage of their proceedings . The parish of St . Augustine coultl not be formed until the church of which the first stone vvas now laid vvas opened for public services ,
and appealing to those he saw around him—the future parishioners of St . Augustine ' s—he hoped they would agree with him that it vvas a great day for the inhabitants of that locality . Without seeking to raise in the slightest degree any feelings of rivalry between the various bodies of
Christians—he must say that the great advantage of the Church of England vvas that it supplemented the voluntary efforts of all othet bodies . In the able charge recentl y delivered by the Bishop of Ripon his lordship made an allusion to the parochial system , and said : —¦ " I
believe there never has been a system better contrived to promote the interests of true reli gion and the best welfare of the community than the parochial system of the Church of England . " " i'he truth of that remark had been illustrated in a neighbouring church—the parish of St .
Mary ' s . They all knew that in about two years the Kev . Mr . Judd , contrived to attract all the people to him iu a manner which he did not think was equalled in auy other parish in this neighbourhood ( applause ) . The secret of that success was due to the cordial and kindly union
which subsisted between the clergy and laity . If from any cause that union vvas wanting , then the parochial system or any other system must be a complete failure ( "hear , hear ) . In the same charge the bishop remarked that the parochial
system needed developenient . His lordship vvas against very large parishes being left in the hands of one incumbent , and vvas in favour of overgrown parishes being subdivided , so as to put an end to the anomaly ol their being only one