65 
=P) 
RURAL CHURCHES. 
chance of doing as he would—he must simply do the best 
he can under existing conditions; and this is what I have 
endeavoured to do. q 
I do not intend to dilate at length on the subject of the 
planning of small timber churches. The limits of variation 
are not large, yet it is surprising how many shades of dif- 
ference are possible within circumscribed limits. 
Generally speaking, the plans of a wooden church do not 
differ from the plans of a similar structure in brick or 
stone, except so far as may be necessitated by the altered 
character of the material employed. As churches, like all 
other buildings, are erected primarily from a utilitarian 
point of view, it should be the first care of architects to 
see that the ground plan is so arranged that all matters 
affecting the comfort and convenience of the congregation 
and clergy shall be perfect, and the suitability of the build- 
ing for public worship shall leave nothing to be desired. 
This I take it for granted must be accepted as an 
essential matter, but as the needs and possibilities of dif- 
ferent districts differ so essentially, it is not possible to 
discuss their various requirements within the limits of a 
short paper lke the one I am now reading. 
There are, however, some points of general application. 
and I now propose to bring a few of them under your 
notice. To commence:—A true artist will always en- 
deavour to so arrange his ground plan, that when the 
building is completed, its outline shall be appropriate, and 
pleasing to the eye. 
Gothic architecture is essentially a monumental style, 
that is, its success depends largely on the symmetry and 
beauty of its outlines or sky-line. for its perfections—no 
amount of beautiful detail fully compensates for an ill- 
formed building. 
It is also well to bear in mind that the more clearly and 
simply a finished building expresses the purposes for which 
it is used, in every feature, the more nearly it conforms to 
the highest ideals of constructive art. 
Further, it is well to bear in mind, that a small country 
church should not attempt to look hke a miniature 
cathedral. What appears appropriate and sublime on a 
large scale, becomes mean and ridiculous when reduced 
to the scale of a toy. Few things indeed more keenly 
offend my eye than those gabled excresences, about six 
feet square and serving as vestries, which one so often sees 
protruding from the sides of small country churches, which 
look as though they would like to be mistaken for majestic 
minster-transepts. 
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