THE 



CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S 



JOURNAL. 



PRESBYTERIAN (UNITARIAN) CHAPEL AT DUKINFIELD. 

 Mr. R. Tattersall, Architect. 



l«M 



ECCLESIASTICAL EDIFICES. 



It is our intention under tins title to give illustrations and descrip- 

 tions of such new edifices dedicated to religious purposes, respecting 

 which we can obtain information. We hope that this may serve as a 

 stimulant in directing public attention to this now neglected subject, 

 and particularly in rousing the self-esteem of members of the esta- 

 blishment. At present those entrusted with the erection of churches 

 seem to consider it their first object to make as much pew room as 

 possible, regardless of all otlier objects, on much the same principle 

 as they would construct sheep pens — crowd the animals in, and care 

 nothing for their comfort. Why does the church appeal so powerfully 

 to the beautiful monuments built by our ancestors, why does she de- 

 pend on that devotional feeling which the contemplation of our hal- 

 lowed sites suggests, if she hei-self thinks it beneath her to keep up 

 thediguity of tlie estate she has inherited. Oh! how eloquently can 

 her ministers dwell on the solemn thoughts inspired by the long drawn 

 aisles of our ancient cathedrals, how energetically can they remind us 

 of our childish preddection for the ivy covered spire ! but when it 

 comes to the expenditure of the vast sums under their control, how 

 totally do they neglect their favoured dogmas, how selfishly do they^ 

 consult their own interests at the expense of the establishment of 

 which they are members ! Empirics are employed, the men who can 

 do the dirty work cheapest, nothing is allowed for architecture, nothing 

 for the decorative arts— the worthy pastors think they best consult 

 the wishes of their flocks by making the sheep pens as numerous as 

 possible. They totally forget that it is not their own money they are 

 expending, but the produce of public grants or private benefactions ; 

 that they are only trustees, and that they are not to look to their own 

 interests only, but pay some regard to the purposes for which the sums 

 were received, for surely it is more gratifying to the donors to see a 

 handsome edifice rather than the barn-like structures with which the 

 public have been of late so abundantly annoyed. A Union Workhouse 

 would beat most of the new churches hollow in almost every point of 

 its construction. We can only say that unless the members of the 

 establishment reform their system, they will be beaten by the other 

 religions, Jews, Catholics and Dissenters all surpass them ni elegance 

 and costliness of construction, and surely their necessities are not less, 

 nor their revenues more abundant. We regret indeed that one of our 

 first examples, the Unitarian Church at Dukintield, should be the 

 work of Dissenters, and a shame to the dispensers of the public money. 

 Sure without any parliamentary funds, without any rich endowments, 

 and with but a "small portion of the wealth of the nation, first rate 

 talent has been employed, and a noble monument erected. 



No. 28.— Vol. III.— January, 1840. 



