Sir Christopher Wren And His Times.

venture a word or two as to St . Paul's . Wren ' s genius must not be judged of by the present building . His original idea was that of a noble edifice in the form of a Greek cross , with a grand dome fully as large as that of St . Peter ' s . The Duke of York , afterward James II ., had influence , howover , sufficient to force him to alter his plan ; and it is recorded when the expedient of the false screen wall was

forced on him , that he was so moved , though by no means an old man , that he sat down aud hurst into tears . It is a very curious fact , however , though but little known , that Westminster Abbey has also what closely resembles a screen wall . It was only a short time ago this fact was made known to Mm by the talented gentleman now engaged on the works of the Abbey . The meeting would remember over the

lower windows are a range of triangular windows : these give light to a sort of ambulatory over the groming of the aisles , but through this space the flying buttresses of the nave pass , showing ( to say the least of it ) , that the wall and triangular windows were an afterthought . It is curious that both our metropolitan cathedrals should have a sort of screen wall , and it is not improbable the arrangement at the Abbey may have suggested that at St . Paul ' s .

General Architectural Intelligence.

GENERAL ARCHITECTURAL INTELLIGENCE .

On Whit-Sunday , Tuddenham Church , Suffolk , was reopened . A new east memorial window has been erected . The subjects of the window are the following .- in the centre light are the Nativity and the Crucifixion ; in the left , Noah in the Ark , and St . Peter falling into the Sea , the Saviour taking him by the hand ; on the right , the Priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant over the Jordan into tho Promised

Land , and St . Paul taking leave of the Ephesian converts and elders on the sea-coast . The principal tracery-light contains the subject of the Resurrection of the Saviour : the two minor tracery-lights contain an angel each , with musical instruments . The ancient monuments in the church have been restored . An altar table has been placed upon a raised dais composed of tiles . Beneath the window is a

casing of stono and string course . The east gable has been adorned with stone coping , surmounted with a cross , and the cross on the east gable of the nave restored . The foundation-stone of a congregational chapel and school has been laid at Hove , near Brighton . The chapel will abut on North-place , which will form the direct approach to the suggested new railway station . Villas also

are to be erected to the north of the chapel ; so that , in time , it will become central . The style is Early English . Tho chapel is calculated to hold 800 persons ; but that will not be commenced just yet . The schools will consist of a

principal hall , or school-room , 60 feet by 30 feet , with an additional class-room , 30 feet in length . The parish church of Coates , Gloucestershire , has been reopened . The restorations , now completed , have not affected the general plan of the church . Tho works just completed consist of an internal restoration , the substitution of a chancel arch for the plain Norman arch , which has

been rebuilt iu the north wall , to give access to a vestry hereafter to be added . The chancel , which was formerly shut off from the greater portion of tho church , is thus opened . A change has been effected by the removal of a western gallery , which concealed from view the stone arch , aud by the removal of the old high pews which boxed up the arcade columns , and substituting for them opien benches

throughout . These are of stained deal , with oak cappings . The chancel has been rearranged , a raised sanctuary formed laid with tiles inclosed within bands of stone in ornamental patterns . The chancel has been re-roofed with an open arched timber roof , and a new east window , with tracery , replaces the debased window formerly existing . Tho roofs of tho aisles and chapel have been stripped of their plastered

ceilings , repaired and restored to their original condition ; but , on opening the nave roof , it was found that the timbers were too much decaved to allow restoration , and a new stained deal roof has been erected . The accommodation in the area of the church has been increased from 180 to 211 seats . The cost of the restoration has somewhat exceeded

£ ' 600 and an additional £ 200 will be needed to accomplish the entire restoration contemplated . The foundation-stone of a new church has been laid at Ehyl , Plintshire . -The proposed church is estimated to cost about £ 8000 . Of this sum £ 2000 only have been promised ; but so urgent is the need of the church , that the committee

resolved to commence at once ; and have , accordingly , entered into a contract for tho nave and the aisles , which will accommodate about SOOpersons . The works have been begun ; and , on Whit-Monday , the foundation-stone was laid . The church will be built in the early English style ; and , when complete , will consist of nave , north and south aisles , chancel and tower at tho east end of the north aislewith a north

, porch . The length of the nave will be 99 feet , and the total width of the church rather more than 63 feet : the chancel will be 40 feet 9 inches long by 30 feet wide . The height of the tower and spire to the top of the vane will be 193 feet , and the tower will be 24 feet square , built in three stages . The fittings inside will be of pitched rune , with open roofstained and varnished . The inside dressings will

, be of Bath stone , and the outside of Cefn stone , with intermediate surface of dressed limestone . The windows of the aisles are plain couplets : the east window will be a threelight -window , and the west a four .

The parish church of Prestwich has been reopened . During several months past various alterations and improvements have been in progress . The chancel has been extended and restored , and has had a new east window put in , with roofing to match the old portion . A new vestry has been built . A new stained-glass east window has been inserted . It is also intended to insert stained glass in a new window

west of the font , the gift of Mr . Pevcival , of Manchester . The whole of the ceiling of the nave , and the old portion of the chancel , have been restored , and decorated in colours and gilding , in a manner similar to ancient painting found on the old timbers . A portion of the chancel has been reseated with open oak benches , with carved ends ; and one of the recent improvements has been the reseating the na , ve

in a similar manner , the whole of which reseating is free . St . John's Servants' School , Paddington , instituted by the Hon . Arthur Kinnaird , M . P ., and his wife , was opened on the 16 th May , by a public meeting of its friends ; the Earl of Shaftesbury in the chair . The principal supporters of of this school are Mr . and Mrs . Kinnaird . Upwards of £ 6000 ou 1- of £ 9000 required have alreadbeen raised

y . The Bishop of Sodor and Man , in Ms address to the meeting , stated that the intention of the institution was to provide tho public with a class of superior and trustworthy servants , on whom all so greatly depended for their comforts .

The Committee of the British Schools , with the advice of the Committee of the Council of Education , are about to erect new school-rooms and a teacher ' s residence atAshford , Kent , towards the carrying out of which tho latter have offered a grant of £ 586 . The Committee have accordingly secured an eligible site , near Chart-terrace , and tho cost of erection , & c , will be from £ 1400 to £ 1600 .

Now schools have been opened at High Ercall , Salop . The buildings have been erected midway between the church and vicarage . The schools are intended for girls and also boys until old enough to go to the free grammar school in the village . The buildings are of brick and stone . The style is plain Middle Pointed . The school is surmounted with an oak bell-turret . The costincluding the fence walls

, , will be about £ 600 . The Town Hall at the Cross , Glasgow , erected so long ago as the year 1636 , but very much deserted and neglected , and applied to questionable purposes of late , is to have another chance of resuscitation , according to the local papers . It is proposed to convert it into a spacious library for the use of the citizens , and this is to be done through

tho instrumentality of a joint-stock company . A new Town Hall has just been erected in St . Andrew ' s , from the designs of Mr . James A . Hamilton . The structure is in the old Scotch Baronial style . The council hall is 38 feet in length by 2-1 feet in breadth , and 18 feet in height . The great hall is 75 feet- in length , 36 feet broad , and 28 feet high . The structure altogether measures about 130 feet by 90 _ feet . The external elevation is enriched with various shields , devices , and coats of arms , among which is that of