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Article ALLHALLOWS, BREAD STREET. ← Page 2 of 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Allhallows, Bread Street.
The church of Allhallows ' , as we see it at present , does not at all bear out Milton ' s idea of what a reli gious edifice should be like . We look in vain for the high emhower'd roof , With antique pillars massy proof , And storied Avindowsrichly dight
, , Casting a dim , religious light . It is possible that these may have existed in the church of Milton ' s time , hat that building was destroyed in the Great Fire in 1666 , and the present one Avas erected a few years
later from a design by Sir Christopher Wren . Though not by any means one of that great architect ' s best Avorks , it is well designed and splendidly constructed . The exterior is of Portland stone ; the only portion of the building upon which the architect lavished any amount of ornament is the towerand even here it is
, confined to the top story , which is a not altogether unsuccessful attempt to combine the features of a Gothic tower Avith that of the Italian campanile , although the ^ rest of the ' church with the exception of the west doorway , is thoroughly plain . Yet it is solidsimpleand
, , manly , without any of that pimping prettiness which disfigures some of our modern Gothic churches . There are no bits of coloured marble stuck about " without either rhyme or reason , " no glass nobs or metalfinials , but good common sense stone ashlar work . Unfortunately this
church is doomed shortly to share the fate of so many of Wren ' s interesting churches , and we strongly recommend some of the younger members of the architectural profession to make plans and measured drawings of these structures before they are entirely swept away . For although Ave don ' t claim the gift of prophecy , even in matters of art , yet we can foretell the fact that the time will come when the
destruction of these churches will be looked upon Avith great regret from an art point of view . Already the adaptation of the " free classic , " or Queen Anne ' s style , " for houses has proved that that style is far more suited to our domestic uses than Gothic , and it is far from impossible that we may many of us live to see the same movement extend itself to ecclesiastical works . We will just mention the fact that this church has undergone the usual religious farce of being deconsecrated , whatever that may mean . Bishop Claughton ,
Avhom we suppose we may Avithout disrespect call the " . Deconsecrator in ordinary , " recentl y held this peculiar service within its walls , when he held out a kind of promise that the church was to be removed , or rather replaced , by a neAV church in some other part of London ; Avhen this substitute church is opened we suppose the service will be described as a con- desecration . We are glad to see that this deconsecration did not pass ° ff without a protestfor merelit isto speak in the mildest waya rank absurdity to cad
, y , , God to bless the destmction of a temple once erected and consecrated to His honour . If necessity compels the destruction of a church destroy it , but to try aud give a complexion pf piety or religion to such an act is either pure hypocrisy or nonsensical twaddle , and it .16 quite time that this absurdity ( if it is no worse ) was given up . II . W . B
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Allhallows, Bread Street.
The church of Allhallows ' , as we see it at present , does not at all bear out Milton ' s idea of what a reli gious edifice should be like . We look in vain for the high emhower'd roof , With antique pillars massy proof , And storied Avindowsrichly dight
, , Casting a dim , religious light . It is possible that these may have existed in the church of Milton ' s time , hat that building was destroyed in the Great Fire in 1666 , and the present one Avas erected a few years
later from a design by Sir Christopher Wren . Though not by any means one of that great architect ' s best Avorks , it is well designed and splendidly constructed . The exterior is of Portland stone ; the only portion of the building upon which the architect lavished any amount of ornament is the towerand even here it is
, confined to the top story , which is a not altogether unsuccessful attempt to combine the features of a Gothic tower Avith that of the Italian campanile , although the ^ rest of the ' church with the exception of the west doorway , is thoroughly plain . Yet it is solidsimpleand
, , manly , without any of that pimping prettiness which disfigures some of our modern Gothic churches . There are no bits of coloured marble stuck about " without either rhyme or reason , " no glass nobs or metalfinials , but good common sense stone ashlar work . Unfortunately this
church is doomed shortly to share the fate of so many of Wren ' s interesting churches , and we strongly recommend some of the younger members of the architectural profession to make plans and measured drawings of these structures before they are entirely swept away . For although Ave don ' t claim the gift of prophecy , even in matters of art , yet we can foretell the fact that the time will come when the
destruction of these churches will be looked upon Avith great regret from an art point of view . Already the adaptation of the " free classic , " or Queen Anne ' s style , " for houses has proved that that style is far more suited to our domestic uses than Gothic , and it is far from impossible that we may many of us live to see the same movement extend itself to ecclesiastical works . We will just mention the fact that this church has undergone the usual religious farce of being deconsecrated , whatever that may mean . Bishop Claughton ,
Avhom we suppose we may Avithout disrespect call the " . Deconsecrator in ordinary , " recentl y held this peculiar service within its walls , when he held out a kind of promise that the church was to be removed , or rather replaced , by a neAV church in some other part of London ; Avhen this substitute church is opened we suppose the service will be described as a con- desecration . We are glad to see that this deconsecration did not pass ° ff without a protestfor merelit isto speak in the mildest waya rank absurdity to cad
, y , , God to bless the destmction of a temple once erected and consecrated to His honour . If necessity compels the destruction of a church destroy it , but to try aud give a complexion pf piety or religion to such an act is either pure hypocrisy or nonsensical twaddle , and it .16 quite time that this absurdity ( if it is no worse ) was given up . II . W . B