Laying The Foundation Stone Of The Church Of The Holy Innocents, Fallowfield, East Lancashire.

from the ground to the ridge . On each side of the nave are aisles about 13 ft . wide . This portion of the church is lighted by a two-light -window , having ornamental heads in each bay of the aisles , and by a large window of bold design in the west end of the nave . The clerestory consists of lofty coupled single-lights , with cusped heads in each bay , the pier between supporting the

intermediate roof principals . Prom the moulded corbels , at foot of hood moulds to nave arches , rise tail and graceful wall shafts , with moulded caps and bases , which support the roof principals . The chancel is about 38 t ' b . long and 22 ft . wide , and is raised above the floor of the nave by several steps which occur in the centre of the chancel wall . The chancel is lighted by three clerestory

windows on each side , and five in the apse , which is oil plain a semi-duagon below and a semicircle above . On the south of the chancel are two graceful and moulded arches , opening into a side chapel or aisle , which is also connected with the south aisle of the nave by a single arch . On the opposite side of the chancel are tbe vestrya lofty chamberwith arches opening into

, organ , both chancel and north side of nave , and having a slanting roof over to reflect forward the sound ( the player sitting immediately behind the choir ) aud the choristers ' vestry , the heating chamber being underneath . The church will be heated with hot air on an improved system . The pulpit is placed at the north-east corner of the nave , touching the foundation stone . The front is

near the south porch , at the west end of the south aisle . The tower , which forms a second porch , and spire are at the east end of the south aisle , next to the chapel , and have been most carefully designed with reference to their appearance when executed . The lower portion of the tower is very severe and -simple , the richness of this portion being reserved for the belfry stage , which is composed of coupled windows under canopy moulds , with small niches between the canopies . The buttresses at this stao-e are also ornamented . The above nortion and

the broach of the spire , which rises boldly and gracefully from the tower to tho height of about 150 ft . from the ground , arc amongst the real successes of this line design , with which must also be numbered the exterior and interior elevations of the chancel apse , with its fine beautiful buttresses clustering round the east end and forming a well balanced pile , the whole being crowned by

a slender belcote surmounting the east gable of tho nave , over the chancel arch . The exterior of the building will be executed en pierre point , with stone dressings to windows , & c ., and the window tracery may be of Berlin red terra cotta . The main internal columns and arches to be worked in red Runcorn stone , with white stone 'for caps and bases . The church will accommodate about 700 .

The builders are Messrs . Ellis and Hinchliife , and the architects are Messrs . Price and Liuklater . On the procession arriving at the stor . e the Masonic ceremonial , which was an exceedingly interesting and impressive one , was commenced by the singing of tho 271 sfc hymn , after which the Rev . AV . H . Strong read tho 122 nd Psalm and offered up prayer . ' The Hon . AVilbraham

Egerton was then requested by Mr . Cullender to lay the corner stone in accordance with the Masonic ritual . Previous to the stoue being lowered to its base a bottle was inserted in a cavity underneath , containing a copy of the three local daily and other newspapers , and an inscription on vellum , on whieh it was set forth that the foundation stone of the Church of tho Holy Innocents ,

Fallowfield , was laid by Bro . tho Hon . AVilbraham Egerton , M . P ., P . Prov . S . G . W . of Cheshire , in the presence of the Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire , on the 4 th of June , 1870 , iu the thirty-fifth year of the reign of her Majesty , and in the first year of the episcopate of the present Bishop of Manchester ; that the site was given by Lory Egerton of Tatton ; and that the new parish would include the parish of St . Paul ' s , Withington , and a small portion of the parish of Birch . The stone was lowered to its base while the Mason ' s

glee , "When the temple ' s first stone was slowly descending , " was sung . The various Craftsmen who had been appointed to fulfil the duty then proceeded to test whether the stone had been duly laid , and having favourably reported to the chief Mason , the corn , the emblem of plenty , wine , the emblem of cheerfulness and brotherly love , and oil , the emblem of comfort and

consolation , were placed on tli 3 stone , and the Honourable AVilbraham Egerton , having personally dulv tested the stone , declared it to ba well laid , and thanked the Craftsmen for their skill . Rev . W . H . Strong , rector of Withington , then proceeded to deliver an address . He said that the ceremony which they had taken part in that day was an event of

interest nob only to that immediate neighbourhood , but also lo persons living at a distance . There never was a time when greater efforts were being made for theiucrease of church accommodation , the education of the children of the poorer classes , and the establishment of institutions for the alleviation of tbe bodily sufferings of their fellow-creatures—and he was glad to that nowhere

say were such good works more vigorously carried on than in Lancashire . During the last six years the population of the parish iu which the new church was about to be erected had increased in a marvellous manner , and as further church accommodation was required , Lord Egerton , with his accustomed liberality , had given thetn that site for the erection of a church , and also

sufficient land on which to erect a school aud parsonage house , in addition to the handsome subscription of £ 1 , 000 . The proposal to erect a new church in that district had been instantly taken up by Mr . Hugh Birley , M . P ., who he believed , was present on that occasion , who was always ready to take part in a'l good works in Manchester , and who , with other mombei-s of his family , had done more for the Church in Lancashire than any other gentleman in the country . The Venerable Archdeacon Anson , who was most

heartily cheered , said he had always taken the deepest interest in that neighbourhood . Twenty-five years aga he had been present at the laying of the foundation-stone of Birch Church , and he trusted that the church now about to be erected might be as useful , and the congregation as united , as that over which he now presided . He was thankful for the kindly feeling and the brotherly

charity which existed between the inhabitants of the two parishes of Withington and Birch , and he trusted that the erection of the now church would not sever that excellent feeling , but would rather be a link to bind them more closely together . Tho Hon . AVilbraham Egerton , M . P ., who was received with cheers , said he could not leave that ground without

thanking the committee for their courtesy in asking him to lay the foundation stone of that church . II' it had been the case of laying the foundation stone of any church , to bo erected for the Church of England ' s worship , he would most gladly have accepted their invitation ; bub when it was not only for that purpose , but ic was to bo erected on the property with which he was connectedhe felt the

, deepest interest in a work of that kind , a'id in expressing his own feelings as to the duty laid on those who had property to come forward to further the objects of the Church wherever it was necessary , ho was sure he might say that for many years past such had been the feelings entertained by his father , and grandfather , and by himself . He was sure that his father would see with the

greatest satisfaction this new church rising up in the corner of his estate . It was with tbe greatest satisfaction that Lord Egerton had acceded to the wishes of the committee , who had been so active in getting up this new church , and had granted this small portion of land on the estate , and he was quite sure that Lord Egerton ' s wish was that the work so well begun that day might be brought before long to a successful issue . He understood that the funds were not altogether forthcoming fortius work—about half of them yeb remained to be raised .