NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL. - Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844) - 3 Nov 1840 (original) (raw)

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Tue 3 Nov 1840 - Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844)
Page 3 - NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL.

NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL.

On Sunday last, the above neat and elegant

structure, situated in Freeman-street, was

opened for public worship. On entering the

edifice, for the first lime, since its completion,

we were struck with its perfect coutrast to the

old and incommodious building on North

terrace, with which this respectable and influ-

ential body of christians, for some time past,

have heen compelled to put up.

The new erection is of stone, and, in its

form, an oblong - measuring 60 feet

in length, by 40 feet in breadth, and 25 teet

in height. Its front faces Freeman-street,

and, of course, the building runs from east to

west; the pulpit, a singularly elegant struc-

ture, octagonal in its form, richly carved in its

pannels, and supported on a fluted pillow of

about eight feet tn height, being placed at the

west end. At present there are no galleries,

the body of the chapel, capable oí seating

comfortably about five hundred individuals,

beiug thought sufficiently large to accommo-

date the present congregation.; but from the

height of the building, a reserve has been

made for the erection of galleries whenever

their introduction shall be felt necessary or

desirable. The interior, as it at present

stands, ts fitted up in a style of great neatness

and comfort. A range of pews, composed of

cedar, with reclining backs-one of the latest

modern improvements, occupies the centre

between the two aisles, on either side of

which, again, are two smaller but similar

ranges, running the whole length of the

chanel. The ceiling is finished in a style of

great neatness and taste-a deep and hand

some cornice running round the whole build-

ing, and six centre pieces being worked at

appropriate distances, from which a similar

number of chandeliers are suspended, by

which the chapel is lighted up ia the evening.

Upon the whole, the erection is one that would

do .no discredit to any provincial town in

England, or, in fact, to any congregation of a

similar size in the metropolis of the British

The services ol Sunday, as previously

announced, were conducted by the Rev. T. Q.

Stow, the respected minister of the chapel,

the Rev. J. B. Eggleston, the esteemed and

talented minister of the Wesleyan body in

ibis city, and the Rev. Mr. Newland, of

Encounter Bay, and the congregations, on

each of these occasions were highly numerous

and respectable.. In the morning, the Rev.

T, Q Stow preached a very suitable and im-

pressive sermon from Ephesians, the 2nd

chapter and 20th to 23rd verses inclusive :

"And are built upon the foundation of the

apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ himself

tving ihe chief corner stone; in whom all the

building fitlv framed together growth into

an holy temple in the Lord ; in whom ye also

are builded together fiir an habitation of

God through the Spirit."-In the afternoon,

the Rev. J. Engleston preached from Isaiah,

the GOth chapter and 7th verse I will

glorify the house of ray glory."-And in the

evening, the Rev. Mr Newland addressed

a large and attentive audience from the last

verse of the 48th Psalm :-«'This God is our

God for ever and ever ; he will be our guide

even unto death." The singing was such as

to do great credit to those to whom the arrange

ment and conducting of it were entrusted.

After each of the services a collection wa»

made, the whole proceeds joi which amounted

to about £108, but some additions

to (Iiis wfre, we understand, made in the

course of yesierday. The whole expense of

the-building has been near £3000 :-of which

between £700 or £800 have been subscribed

on die spot ;-£350 have been remitted from

England;-and between £1700 and £1800

remains as a debt, which, it is hoped, how

ever, will be shortly liquidated.

lt would be wrong to eloe this article

without complimenting Mr G. S. Kingston,

the Architect, upon the talent he has displayed

in his plan, and upon the diligence he has

manifested in its superintendence; nor ought

we to pass over in silence the exertions ol

; the Builders. Messrs Burrow and Goodier,

in carrying out their contract,-these gentle

men having, willi the view of rendering the

building more complete, made se vet al i m por t

taat additions at their own personal pecuniary

loss. At thesame time, we congratulate the

respected Minister of the 'chapel, and the

¡ colonists generally, upon this important addi

j tionto the accommodation hitherto afforded fo:

an attendance upon public worship.

Very few sittings, we understand, remain

un taken, so that an early application should

be made to Mr Barclay, to whom the letting