Architecture And Archæloogy.

The restoration of the old priory church of Christchureh , Hants , is making progress under the superintendence of Mr . Fevrey . The north porch has been completed , and its groining restored : a lozenge tiling , red and black , has been laid doAvn , butthe open ironwork gates remained to be added . The interior of the north transept , also the Norman arcade , and series of Decorated windows in the south aisle of the

nave , and the windoAV in the apsidal chapel of the south transept have been restored . The large east AvindoAv of the north choir-aisle has been filled Avith stained glass , the gift of Admiral Walcott , M . P . for the borough . It is now proposed to make use of the large triforia of the nave for congregational accommodation ; to remove the flat ceiling of the lantern and expose the old timber roof , and , at thesame time ,

open the roof of the south transept , and throw down the block of masonry which divides the latter from its chapels . £ 2 , 000 haA e already been spent upon the works , but external help is desired for their completion , as the population is neither lai'ge nor affluent . Thelittleparish church of'Crosscombe , nearA \ eHs , Somersetshire , Avhich has been for some time past closed for repairs

and restoration , has been re-opened . The alterations consist principally in the removal of a gallery Avhich formerly stood at the western end of the church . The organ has been removed to the north side of the chancel and , in preparing a place for it , it was found necessary to make some alterations , which brought out an arch that had been previously filled up , the vestry being behind it . The removal of the gallery has exposed to view the Avestern arch of the church , and a windoAV has been placed above the

entrance . This window is plain , but is to be replaced as soon as possible by stained glass . The belfry , which was on a level Avith the floor of the church , has been removed to the next floor above . The removal of the belfry and gallery has made the western entrance available for use . The hi ghbacked peAvs and the carved Avood screen andpulpithave been cleaned and varnished , as also has tho carved Avooden roof .

The roof and theAvindows h .-rve been repaired . The cost is . about £ 100 , besides £ 100 for improvement of the organ St . John ' s Church , Bishop ' s Castle , Bridgnorth , " having become deeply buried by the soil of tho surrounding graveyard , the Avails untrustworthy , and the accommodation for ivorship insufficient , it was considered desirable that something should be done to improve it . The parishoners

accordingly borrowed £ 1 , 000 from the Public Works Loan Commissioners , on security of the parish rate ; and £ 1 , 000 was raised in the parish from voluntary contributions : the Earl of Powis , patron and impropriator , contributed £ 1 , 000 and Beriah Botfield , Esq ., M . P ., £ 500 . The Diocesan Church Building Society A-oted , £ 350 ; the Incorporated Church Building Society , £ 250 ; and a remainder Avas given by friends . The HCAV church contains sittings for 750 persons on the ground floor . It has been re-opened for " divine service .

Ihe parish church of Wolstanton , one of the oldest , it is believed , in North Staffordshire , has been rebuilt and re-opened . The stone Avas brought from Alton , and corresponds with the former red sandstone of the church and the existing stone of the steeple . The church has been restored on its original foundations . The roofs have also been restored . The steeple has been added to the church internally bthe throA \ of the

y dng open tower arch . The exterior has been repaired and pointed , the Avindow tracery restored , the former parapet replaced by one in keeping with the rest of the church , having pinnacles at the corners , and the staircase carried up as a spirelet . Tho spire itself , which had been struck by lightning and was defective and unfinished at the top , has been taken down some distance , and then carried

up higher , and surmounted , as Avell as the sjiirelet and pinnacles , with iron crosses and vanes . The moulded pillars and arches inside have been reproduced from the ofd ones , of Avhich the stone was found to be too friable to re-ivork . The church is fitted up throughout with long pews , having standard and carved poppy-heads and Joyv doors . It is paved Avith Minton's tilesand the Avhole

, of thc pillars , arches , vrindows , and doors internally are executed in clean stoneivork . The chancel arch has been widened several feet , still preserving the original mouldings , & c . The entire building is Avarmed by a hot-Avater apparatus .

The whole of the windows are rilled with stained glass . The Avork of rebuilding the church commenced in the month of January , 1860 , and is just completed . The chancel is enriched Avith three pahited AvindoAvs , the gift of Mr . Edward Wood , as indeed are all the other windoAvs in the church , with one exception . The large window at the east end is figurative of the Ascension of Christ , the two

others in the chancei being designed as memorials . That to the memory of Mrs . Wood has two principal figures—one of John the Baptist , illustrative of the passage of Scripture , "After me cometh a man which is preferred before me , " and the other of " St . Margaret , " to whom the church is dedicated ; the loAver compartment being filled Avith representaions of the Baptism , of Christ and the Crucifixion . The

other , to the memory of Mr . Wood's daughter , has twoprincipal figures , expressive of the passage , "He shall gather the lambs in his arms , " and " Behold I stand at the door and knock ; " the loAver portion representing the adoration of the shepherds , and the Saviour's command to Peter , " Feed my lambs . " A AvindoAv in the body of the church , the gift of Mrs . Stanierillustrates the texts of Scripture . " I was

, an hungered and ye gave me meat ; " " I Avas naked and ye clothed me ; " "I Avas sick , and ye visited me ; " "I ivas a stranger , and ye took me in . " The total cost including the chancel will , it is supposed , be about £ 4 , 500 , towards Avhich , coupled Avith the painted Avindoivs , the stalls in the chancel , and many of the fittings and ornamentations of the interior , Mr . AYood has contributed more than one-half . The

expenditure of Mr . R . Sneyd , who , in addition to rebuildingthe chancel , has assisted the general . building fund , must have exceeded £ 750 , The restoration of St . Mary ' s Church , Leicester , is now completed . Within the last twelve months , alterations , additions , and improvements haA-e been made , at , if Ave are

rightly informed , the sole cost of Mr . Nevinson . The works have been carried out , under the direction of Mr . Scott , by Mr . B . Broadbent . The north arcade of the nave is rebuilt , and moulded arches are substituted for the old dilapidated plain ones . There is also a neAv clerestory upon the model of the ancient one , taken from the portion of the old arcade found remaining at tho Avest end , Avith lancet , lights of the

Early English period , and a carved neAv corbelled parapet . Carved oak doors , copies of the original Perpendicular doors , have been hung tothe Norman doorway on the north side , and the west-end doorway , formerly blocked up , has been thrown open , and a new oak door hung . Carved oak doors , similar to those at the northern entrance , are to be hung to the south doorAvay , and the porch doors are to be ornamented

Avith foliated ironwork , The parishioners , it is said , purpose filling in with stained glass one of the east windoAvs in the chancel . The organ is of carved oak , in keeping Avith the style of the church , and the cost , which will be defrayed by voluntary subscription , is between £ 500 and £ 600 . It has three rows of keys , thirty-three registers , thirty notes of German pedals , and four composition pedals . The HCAV church at Bamford , Derbyshire , dedicated to St .

John the Baptist , has been consecrated by the Bishop of Lichfield . The style of architecture is the Early English Decorated , and thc edifice contains a chancel , nave , and north aisle . The floor is laid Avith encaustic tiles ; the part within the chancel Avith tiles and Derbyshire marble , the steps being marble ; and the wall at the back of the communion-table is also inlaid Avith marble . The AvindoAvs are

filled AA'ith stained glass . The seats are all free . The tower and spire are each 54 feet—together 108 feet high—and there are six bells of steel . St . Barnabas ' s Church , Birmingham , Avhich has just been completed , and is situated in Ryland-street , North , has IIOAV been consecrated . The front of the building is surmounted by a decorated spire . The church is fitted AA'ith

IOAV deal peAvs , and paved Avith Broseley quarries of red and black . A gallery rims round three sides of the building . The roof of the nave is high-pitched , boarded , and supported on laminated principals . The building , including the gallery , Avill accommodate nearly 900 persons , the dimensions being , length , 80 feet ; Avidth , 44 feet 4 inches ; height , 50 feet ; and side Avails , 20 feet . The cost of erection exceeds £ 3000 . The chief stone of ancAV Unitarian chapel at Upperthorpe ,