Architecture And Archæology.

something more or less -ranting in the tone , as compared to an organ , ifc is quite sufficient to lead the singers . I have UOAV taken a slig ht and hasty survey of our modern wants and requirements , and fche influence they should and must ultimately exercise on our church architecture ; and I must beg yon to excuse me if I seem to have expressed auy opinion too strongly , or if I have dwelt too long on any points ivhich may appear trite , commonplace , or trivial .

GENERAL ARCHITECTURAL INTELLIGENCE . On Thursday , Dec . 27 ( St . John ' s-day ) , St . John's Church , Maidstone , Avhich is situate iu the Mote Park , the seat ofthe Earl of Romney , was consecrated by his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury . It consists of nave , chancel , vestry , organ chamber , north porch , and bell-turret at west end for is Earl

three bells . The style of architecture adopted y English , slightly approaching the Decorated period , and the principal materials employed in its construction are Kentish rag stone for the outer walls , ivith dressings of Bath stone —the interior face of the walls being entirely of fair hassock in regular courses , relieved by dressings of Bath stone . The roofs are open timbered , that to tho nave having six

pair of curved principals with traceried spandrels , and that to the chancel being groined throughout . The curved ribs , both in the nave and chancel , spring from stone columns with carved capitals and bases , and the Avhole surface of roof is simply varnished , the principals and carved ribs alone being stained . The windows of the nave are glazed with amber-tinted lassancl fitted with patent ventilators

ing , stead of the oi-dinary opening casements ; and the chancel windows are filled with polished plate glass . The floors are laid with Maw's encaustic tiles of appropriate pattern . The seats are unusually large ancl commodious , and are arranged to give accommodation for upwards of 200 people . Tho communion rail is of polished brass , with foliated standards . The pulpit and font are of Caen stone , with carved panels in

the sides , while the eight columns to the font arc of i-cd serpentine marble . The church is warmed very effectively by a simple apparatus , consisting of several small fire-holes in the floor , with horizontal flues from each , meeting at the east end in one upright flue , which is carried up in the wall to the apex of the gable , ivhere the products of combustion ( for the smoke is consumed ) escape Avithout any chimne 3 ' being visible . The sacred edifice has altogether a very neat

and elegant appearance . The now church ivhich has just been built at Quernmore , near Lancaster , was consecrated a few days ago . The bnilding has been erected at the sole expense of AV . Garnett , Esq ., of Quernmore Park ( father ofthe M . P . for Lancaster ) , and in solidity and interior fittings will stand comparison with any church in the county . The total cost is about

£ 3000 . "With regard to tho architectural character of tho new church ( the foundation-stone of which was laid in February last ) , it may be described as ofthe early parfc of the fourteenth century , and consists of nave , 48 feet long b 3 * 22 fcetjwide , divided by an arcade of three richly moulded stone arohes from a north aisle , 18 feet by 48 feet . A massive tower , 23 feet square and 60 feet high , is placed at the west end , aucl

opens into the nave through a remarkably bold ancl effective archway . The church , 2-4 feet by 18 feet , is separated from the nave bj * an elegantly designed and highly ornamented arch , having the capitals carved with foliage , " & c . The east window , of geometric pattern , is placed a considerable height above the floor , so as to give room for a stone " reredos , " on each side of which are placed the creed , Lord ' s ancl ten commandments

Prayer , , illuminated on tablets . In the centre compartment is a rich relief han"ino \ The arches , windows , door-frames—every part excepting the plain surface of the walls—are done m hewn stone '" ; ancl instead of plaster , ' smooth red brick is used , ancl by its colour adds considerably to the ensemble of the interior . The church of South CarltonLincolnshireivhich has

, , recently been restored , has been reopened . A few months since it was found that tbe roof was very defective , and it was thought necessary to rebuild tho greater part of the church . The greater portion of the nave and chancel has been rebuilt : the south aisle has been rebuilt to the church ; and the north aisle has also been rebuilt , the work having

been badly executed in 1851 . The whole work will cost about £ 1000 . On AVednesday , the 18 fch ult , the ancient parish church ol Sfc . Mary IVeston Turville ( Buckinghamshire ) was reopened , haA'ing been partially restored outside , and entirely repaired and reseated internally . The whole of the seats have been replaced by others of a more suitable character ; the gallery the

in the tower removed ; all the piers and arches dii'iding nave from the aisles , some of ivhich were found to be in a dangerous state , have been thoroughly repaired ancl restored . The chancel has been repaired at the cost of the rector . The south and east walls have been rebuilt : a new east window has been introduced ; and the three windows on the south side , against ivhich heavy brick buttresses hacl been built , also has been

brave been reopened and restored . The ceiling removed , to show the timbers of a very handsome roof , and cornices of the fifteenth century . By the re-arrangement of the pews , accommodation is afforded for 250 adult persons and 110 children . The church possesses a handsome font of early date in excellent preservation ; and some very interestingrelics of an earldatesome being Normanwhich were

y , , found in rebuilding the walls , afford , evidence of an earlier church having once stood upon the site . The church of Ufton , "Warwickshire , is being restored . The chief work of the present year- has been the erection of a new roof , chancel arch , and porch , and rebuilding of south aisle . A cross , in red Kenilworfch stone , has been introduced afc the point of the archTho north aisle is now decorated

. with three stained-glass AvindoAvs , the gift of the churchwarden . The several compartments represent the prominent events in our Lord ' s histozy , —tho Birth , Adoration of the Magi , the Triumphal Entiy , Bearing the Cross , the Crucifixion , and the Resurrection . Messrs . Hardman were the artists . In the opposite aisle are four windows representing

the Annunciation , the Ascension , the raising of the AVidow ' s son , the Healing of the Diseases , and the Acts of Mercy . The west window contains the patron Saint after Guido . The wiutluiv near the font represents our Saviour sending forth his disciples to teach ancl baptize all nations . Through the liberality of Mr . Ambrose Hussey , of " The Close , " Salisbury , according to the Wilts Standard , the

chancel of Highivorth Church , "Wilts , is undergoing repair . Its old windows are to be taken out and neAV ones put in . The parishioners , too , have unanimously resolved " that it is desirable to restore , improve , and reseat the parish church . " The sum already collected is nearly £ 700 . A correspondent of the paper just named calls attention to an alleged objection to the substantial leaden roof of fche

church , —that " in frost 3 Aveafcher , Avhen the sun shines out and melts the frozen particles on the roof , the water into Avbich they are transformed penetrates through the lead , and subjects many ladies ancl gentlemen to great inconvenience by dropping upon their dresses and coats . " He explains that , in all probabilit }* , " the damp air in fche interior having become frozen to the inner part of the roof , becomes melted bi * the action of fche sun on the lead , and , of course ,

drops , in its liquified state , from the roof on to the dresses of the ladies and on the coats of the gentlemen ; and that a builder could , at no very great expense , provide a remedy for such a casualty without removing the enduring roof . More efficient ventilation beneath thereof may be all that is wanted . The tower ancl spire of Sfc . "Paul ' s Church , Chippenham ,

are now nearly finished . The height of the whole from the ground is 172 feet , viz ., the height of the tower , 74 feet ; of the spire , 92 feet ; and thence to the top of the weathercock , 6 feet . The ancient parish church of AVidcombe has undergone restoration , and been reopened by tho Bishop of Bath and AVells . In addition to two memorial windows recenth' put

up , a third has been placed in the old staircase to the roodloft . It bears the inscription " Preach tho Word . Be constant , iu season and out of season . " The ceiling of the tower has been raised ten feet ; but tho stained glass west window beloiv it , which , is in a good state of preservation , remains as before . The parish church of Loivdham , in Nottinghamshire , and nearly eqni-distant between Nottingham and Southwell , has recently undergone extensive restoration and repair ,