II 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[January, 



blessed with the ability and the desire to aid in such objects as that 

 for which this appeal is intended ; and upon those of our own locality 

 who have been so favoured by providence, they repeat their confi- 

 dence, that an appeal will not be made in vain for the restoration of a 

 fabric, which, if not wholly the work of a Bristol Merchant, is to be 

 ascribed principally to one of that class. Their confidence is strength- 

 ened bv the able and energetic support they have received from 

 many and influential quarters, and especially from our local press, by 

 one of whose editors it has been well and eloquently said, that "the 

 question for the public — for the church-going public in particular — to 

 answer, is, — Shall decay be suffered to proceed until restoration shall 

 have become impossible? The amount required (£40,000) for the 

 complete repair of the fabric is certainly great, but when we recollect 

 the large sums which have, been raised for the restoration of Hereford 

 Cathedral, and of York Minster, we cannot doubt that the nobility, 

 gentry, and wealthy commoners of Gloucestershire, Somersetshire, 

 and the neighbouring counties will evince equal liberality in worthily 

 upholding — 



•' The pride of Bristowe and the western land." 

 The parish authorities, whilst they feel that they cannot, with pro- 

 priety, divest themselves of the responsibility of carrying out, so far 

 as they shall be enabled to do, the repair and restoration contem- 

 plated, feel sensibly that the public, from whom the means of accom- 

 plishment is so largely to be drawn, are entitled to every reasonable 

 security for the due appropriation of the sums contributed, and it is 

 therefore the desire of the parish authorities, at an early period after 

 any considerable subscription shall be obtained, to convene a meeting 

 of the subscribers, by the majority of whom, subscribing not less than 

 £10 each, six contributors of not less than £50 each shall be chosen, 

 who, with the members of the vestry for the time being, shall form a 

 committee for carrying out such repair and restoration, and for con- 

 trolling the monies received, and the expenditure thereof. 



The parish authorities in aid of the object intended, propose to 

 anticipate, as far as they possibly can be advised to do, the revenues 

 of the estates vested in them for the repair and support of the 

 church, and by means of which, that object has been hitherto (how- 

 ever inadequately) accomplished without the parish having been ever 

 burdened by a church rate, and from this source they will apply the 

 sum of £2000, to be paid, as they propose the individual contribu- 

 tions shall be paid, by five equal and successive yearly instalments, to 

 meet the expenditure as it will probably annually progress. 



In conclusion, the vicar, churchwardens and vestry, of St. Mary, 

 Redclifife, venture to quote and apply to their church, the language 

 used by the learned and Very Reverend the Dean of Hereford, in re- 

 ference to his own cathedral, which at the present moment is in a 

 dangerous state ; but which is likely to be preserved and renovated 

 by the united efforts of the benevolent friends of the church and of 

 Archeology. — " Restoration, is the grand object to be achieved, not 

 mending and patching." * * * * * "I earnestly 

 intreat that restoration may be regarded as the one thing sought — 

 sound and legitimate restoration, for which there is sufficient au- 

 thority." 



To the preceding appeal the parish authorities append the fol- 

 lowing remarks and suggestions by their senior architect, who, as an 

 antiquary and author, has laboured nearly half a century to elucidate 

 and illustrate the ecclesiastical architecture of Great Britain. 

 M. R. Whish, near. 



J" 03 - Paoctok, ) Churchwarden*. 

 John Farler, J 



Extracts from the Remarks and Suggestions by Mr. Britto.n. 

 To those persons who are. not acquainted with Redcliffe Church, it 

 may be both interesting and useful to give a short account of its pe- 

 culiarities, beauties, and historic annals. — As a parochial Christian 

 temple it is acknowledged to rank, if not the first, at least in the first 



class, amongst the many fine sacred edifices of our country. As com- 

 pared with the cathedral and conventual churches of England, it sur« 

 passes most in symmetry of design — in harmony and unity of charac- 

 ter — in rich and elaborate adornments — in the picturesque composi- 

 tion of exterior forms and parts — and in the fascinating combination 

 of clustered pillars, mullioued windows, panelled walls, and groin- 

 ribbed ceilings of the interior. I know of no building, to compare 

 with it in all these features, in Great Britain, and I feel assured that 

 there is none superior in graceful design, and beauty of detail, in all 

 civilized Europe. Except the cathedral of Salisbury, which is nearly 

 of one age and design throughout, the other cathedrals, and indeed 

 most of the large parish and conventual churches, consist of hetero- 

 genous parts, of varied and discordant dates and styles. 



The accompanying views of Redcliffe Church, though on a small 

 scale, cannot fail to impress every eye that can see, and every mind 

 that can appreciate the beauties and merits of architectural design, 

 that the church, now fast approaching ruin, was once, as it may again 

 be made, a splendid edifice; a temple eminently adapted for the 

 soothing and sublime demotions of Christian worship, and also calcu- 

 lated to impress every spectator with wonder, delight, and admira- 

 tion. 



The' architect and the antiquary who read plans and sections of 

 buildings, as the musician reads notes, will instantly perceive, that 

 the church referred to is systematically and beautifully arranged ; that 

 its interior abounds with clustered pillars, and richly-ornamented 

 ceilings ; that its walls are pierced with large windows, divided by 

 mullions, and strengthened with buttresses toresist the thrust of the 

 arched ceilings ; that it has a transept of unusual design, being di- 

 vided into three nearly equal parts; that there is a presbytery, or 

 chance!, with ailes, divided from it by richly-devised screens ; that 

 there is a lady-chapel, east of the chancel, separated by another open 

 screen ; that there are two small apartments, for a resident chantry- 

 priest, north of the chancel-aile, in one of which is a fire-place, 

 showing it to have been a dwelling, the whole being of unusual oc- 

 currence; that there is a double porch on the north flank of the 

 church, manifesting in form, style of walls, ribs, and stairs, different 

 ages of erection ; also a porch on the south side, differing, again, from 

 the double north porch in every respect ; that the wider and stronger 

 walls at the north-west angle of the plan, show the foundation of a 

 tower; that there is a doorway for entrauce at the west-end, central 

 to the nave ; and that different flights of steps, from north to south, 

 traverse the west-end, and show that the ground ascends, quickly, in 

 that direction. Aided by the accompanying engravings, of a view of 

 the church from the north-east, and interior ; any person may readily 

 understand the architectural characteristics of the church referred to ; 

 and those who have studied Christian architecture will immediately 

 perceive its peculiarities of form and arrangement, as well as the 

 chaste profusion of its ornamental details. 



Although essential and substantial repairs and restoration be the 

 main objects in the contemplated works, these will be applied to the 

 interior even more than to the exterior of the building; for if the 

 latter may be regarded as the shell, the former is the kernel — if the 

 last be the case, the first is the jewel intended to be preserved. In- 

 deed, as the inside of Redcliffe Church was in its original and finished 

 state an architectural design of pre-eminent richness aud beauty — as 

 it was destined by its founder and architect to surpass all its neigh- 

 bours in originality of composition and elaborate finish, so was it 

 adapted to satisfy the wants and wishes of those for whose devotions 

 it was intended — the present architects, emulous to follow such ex- 

 ample, propose to render it fully and completely adapted for the rites, 

 as well as the habits, of its protestant occupants. In doing this, they 

 consider it material to provide accommodation for the many, rather 

 than merely to please the few ; they think the clergyman and his 

 congregation should be in such close communion, that the former may 

 be seen, as well as heard by the latter. If the numerous shafted 



