ECCLESIOLOGICAL PROGRESS IN THE UNITED STATES.

We have the pleasure of offering the most satisfactory evidence of the progress of ecclesiology in the United States in the description of three churches recently erected in important localities under decided ecclesiological influence. We extract the descriptions of the two first from recent numbers of the Churchman, (New York) and the third from the Church Journal (New York). The latter church (S. Mary, Burlington, New Jersey,) is one of peculiar importance, being the virtual cathedral of its diocese. It will be recollected that we extracted, some few years since, a notice of it, as originally designed, from an American paper. Since that period it has been much improved in its detail, although it was impossible to rectify the original error,-for so we must think it,—of its ground plan. We must echo our contemporary in the hope that painted glass, of more appropriate design, may adorn the east window of a structure, in which every particular is of so much importance as an example. We must also deplore the position of the font, "just outside the chancel arch," and not at the west end. Our readers will remember that the canon of our Church, re-enacting the traditional Catholic position of the font, is not in force in the American Church. But we have a right to look to the leading friends of the Church movement there to show the same individual respect to so venerable an usage, that they do to other ecclesiological proprieties. In the case of the second church, we have to protest against the dedication. "Zion church" is not the name which should be given to a place of worship of the better covenant. Other criticisms we forbear from making upon buildings with which we are acquainted by description alone.

I. Holy Innocents, New York.

"The church consists of nave and chancel, so placed that aisles may be added whenever they shall be found necessary. These can be built of the most substantial character, and the present building thus converted into a permanent church; the general plan being to erect a wooden church, as nearly as possible of the standard proportions.

The ground plan shows a nave 62 feet 6 inches, by 30 feet, in the clear, with sittings for about 325, but by using all the room 375 can be comfortably accommodated. The church is orientated as nearly as circumstances would allow. The pulpit is in the north-east corner of the nave; the lectern in the nave just south of the chancel gate; a porch occupies the second bay from the west end; a font of the largest size (2 feet 6 inches across the bowl) stands in the nave near the porch it is an octagon of Caen stone; the alternate panels being filled with bas-reliefs of appropriate subjects, (Baptism of CHRIST, CHRIST blessing children, the Holy Family, and the Presentation in the Temple,) presented by Edward Seibert, sculptor. The nave is lighted by single narrow lancets on the sides, and also by three of equal height at the west end; (a violation of architectural rules it might be hard to justify.) There is a simple triangular window in the western gable filled with a beautifully designed representation of the seven candlesticks,' presented by Frank Wills, Esq., the architect of the church. In order that economy may be studied, without interfering with the symmetry of the design, all of the church west of the porch is screened from the rest of the nave by a moveable

screen 6 feet high, in order to serve as a temporary schoolroom; the church being not yet consecrated. This schoolroom has two separate entrances, north and south, westward of the porch.

"The chancel is 27 feet 6 inches in depth, by 22 feet in width, separated from the nave by a low panelling, surmounted by a very open screen of simple design. This screen is constructed by the aid of one subscription given for that purpose; and, having gates which can be closed and secured after service, it will prevent strangers from needlessly and irreverently straying into the chancel. This will be found the more necessary, because it is proposed to keep the church open more freely than is usual except in Trinity church, where a temporary screen is daily introduced.

"The choir is raised two steps above the nave; it has 6 stalls on either side. On the north it opens by a door into the sacristy; on the south is an organ chamber communicating with the choir by an arch of its entire width, and nearly of the same height; it has also a door opening into the nave. The sanctuary, elevated above the choir by one step, is about 11 feet in depth; containing an altar 6 feet by 3, on a footpace; there are two sedilia, set in the wall, on the south side; the credence is a bracket in the adjoining corner; while opposite in the north wall are an aumbry and piscina combined: the chancel is lighted by a triplet, the middle lancets being filled with a very appropriate group representing CHRIST blessing children, a vase of lilies beneath His feet, and above, an angel bearing the legend, Suffer the little children,' &c. The rest of the glass is plain enamelled with coloured borders. "The ceiling is plaistered, but the pitch of the roof being equilateral, an arch of very excellent height (39 feet) is obtained within; the principals are half shown, terminating in plaister corbels, and, being stained of a dark tint, relieve the monotony of the plaister; a plaister moulding or cornice is carried around the church. The walls of the church, by furring out, are made two feet thick, tending to secure warmth in winter, while it gives opportunity for an unusual interior splay of the windows of very fine effect; at the same time it must be confessed there is an architectural deception in the appearance of solidity thus given to a temporary wooden church. The exterior view of the church from the street is very picturesque. The chancel, surmounted by the cross, stands out boldly as the most prominent object, being directly on the street the gable of the organ chamber on the south, the lean-to roof of the sacristy on the north, with the porch beyond, give great variety to the outline, while a small but picturesque bell turret, already occupied with a bell, surmounts the eastern end of the nave. The bell rope descending into the vestry room furnishes an additional reason for the arrangement, not to be overlooked in a free church having daily service with small means to sustain it. The cross on the bell turret is 76 feet from the ground; the ridge of the nave 53 feet, ridge of chancel roof 41; the nave walls measure outside, 22 feet in height to the eaves; the church is evidently disproportionately high; a circumstance which might seem to be required in the city by the height of surrounding dwellings: it must, however, interfere somewhat with the stability of a church; but this may have been a minor consideration in the case of a wooden church placed in a rapidly growing neighbourhood, and probably destined sooner or later, to be widened to twice its present width with walls of a more solid construction. The height of the walls would then perhaps permit the construction of a lean-to roof for the aisles directly up to the present eaves. Taken as a whole, we think that this simple church, in proportion and general arrangement, might well serve as a model for a country parish. When the church is intended as a permanent structure, without any probable enlargements, it ought not to be constructed so cheaply as this has been. For, inclusive of grading, fencing, and flagging, the contracts are for only 4,600 dollars, and this for a building whose exterior measurements are 94 feet 6 inches, by 34 feet 8

inches. For from 5,500 to 6,000 dollars, we do not doubt that this church might have been well built, and been one of the most beautiful specimens of simple wooden Gothic architecture which the country possesses."

II. Zion Church, New York.

"The design of the church is of the style usually denominated by architects Third-Pointed Gothic. The tower is surmounted by a lofty spire, which, though not usual in this style, yet for it there is ample precedent in the present the commanding position of the site, and the outline of the tower, renders it a feature absolutely necessary to the architectural effect of the building. The tower, standing at the north-west end of the nave aisle, is 19 feet square, with massive and boldly-projecting buttresses at either angle. The tower is of four stories, the lower one being used as a porch, the second as a vestibule or hall to the organ gallery, the third is intended by the rector to be used as his study, and the fourth for the belfry, which we are happy to see is quite large enough to contain a peal of bells.

The tower is finished on the outside by pinnacles at each angle, and cornice battlements between. We notice grotesque heads carved at the angles of the cornice. The height from the ground to the top of the pinnacles is about 90 feet. The spire which surmounts the tower is octagonal, covered with slate, has four spire-lights of two compartments in each, and the whole is surmounted by a cross. The total height of the spire from the ground to the apex of the cross is 165 ft. Considering the site of Zion Church being on the highest ground in the city, and its commanding appearance at a distance from the North and East river, it must ever be one of the first objects that attract the stranger's attention on reaching this city.

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The plan of the church is nave, aisles and chancel, with sacristy attached. The dimensions of the former, on the inside, are 56 feet by 84 feet, the nave separated from the aisles by moulded pillars and arches, above which springs the clerestory and highly-decorated roof of open timber work. The aisle roof slopes from the sill of the clerestory to the eaves of the aisle, and the inside has the same rich style of decoration as the main roof. The chancel is separated from the nave by its appropriate archway, and its interior is probably more richly decorated than any church yet consecrated in this country."

We believe the last sentence refers to some bold aggression (for America) in polychromy, of which this church furnishes a specimen.

III. S. Mary, Burlington, New Jersey.

"The new church is situated some twenty rods to the west of the old edifice, and is surrounded on three sides by rich and varied foliage. The church is built after the designs of Mr. Upjohn. It is cruciform, consisting of chancel and sacristy, nave with south porch, transept, tower, and spire. There is neither clerestory nor aisles. The material is brown stone, hammered. The style, First-Pointed, with a considerable sprinkling of SecondPointed, in the tracery of the windows, and in the wood work and decoration. The chancel and transept are of the same height as the nave, being each two bays in depth; the nave being of five, with the south porch in the second, Each arm of the cross contains a triplet window at the end. The side windows are also alike throughout, being of two lights, with trefoiled head. The three doors-at the west end, in the south porch, and the end of the south transept, are all of pine, painted in imitation of black walnut. Buttresses of two set-offs divide the bays, all round the building. The gables are coped, and pointed with finials, except the chancel gable, which bears a cross flory of stone. The roof is of very good pitch, and is covered with tin painted a dark brown. The tower rises at the intersection of the nave and

transepts, about 24 feet square, of only one stage above the ridge of the roof, perfectly plain, having one small single window on each face, provided withluffer-boards. These belfry windows are rather too small, and the tower strikes us as rather too low. The spire is a broach, boldly curved at the base, thus giving a remarkably vigorous effect to the up-springing lines of the spire, which is octagonal, with plain ribs on the angles, and two rows of single spirelights. A plain cross of iron, gilded, (almost invisible, except in strong sunlight) crowns this slender and effective spire. At the angles of the tower, just rising above the roof, are short buttresses, the effect of which is rather unpleasant. They appear to rest upon the roof. At the north-west angle of the tower is the stair-turret, which is marked by a bold peculiarity of treatment, having a double projection, which is needed from the fact that the square of the tower on the outside is considerably less than the width of the nave and transept. Each division of this stair-turret is finished with a low pyramidal cap of stone. The sacristy is in the north-east angle, having squareheaded door and windows, and awkwardly blocking up one window of the north transept. The interior shows more faults as well as more beauties than the exterior. The west end is blocked up by a gallery for the students of Burlington College, cutting across two of the lateral windows. The south transept is blocked up by a similar gallery, for the pupils of S. Mary's Hall, with similar obstruction to two more lateral windows. These galleries were reluctantly admitted, as unavoidable necessities, and the one is utterly invisible from the other. The north transept, at its north end, has a platform about three feet high, occupied by the organ, which almost wholly blocks up the northern triplet. The nave and transept are seated with open benches, with standard ends trefoiled at the top; and a central alley, paved with square blocks of brown stone. The lantern under the tower is a peculiar feature. The tower is supported on four huge piers, 7 feet in diameter, which project some four feet beyond the walls, having their square edges chamfered down to an octagon. These four piers bear equally massive arches, of equal height. The lantern above is lighted by four small single-light windows, with very deep splay, and filled with richly tinted glass. The ceiling of the lantern is in square panels, which are arranged to act as ventilators. They are painted in a style corresponding with the rest of the church. The walls and piers are finished, inside, with plain rough white plaister. The font is just outside the chancel-arch, on the south side. It is large, octagonal, on a step; the whole being of Caen stone. The eight sides of the bowl bear alternately, in panels, four angels with scrolls, and four emblems. On the scrolls are the words, By one Spirit we are all baptized into one body.' The emblems are the Hart drinking, the Pelican in her piety, the Lamb and the Dove. The carving of these is of remarkable excellence, boldly and beautifully undercut, and in the purest ecclesiastical style. The shaft of the font is also beautifully panelled, and the mouldings are in excellent harmony. It was designed by Dudley and Condit. The pulpit, a decagon, stands against the north pier of the chancel arch. Its sides are panelled, with angle-shafts, and it rests upon a short stem. It is surmounted by a sounding-board, of a low pyramidal shape, supported by brackets, and is of very good height. The preacher can be seen and heard by nearly every person in a full congregation. The choir is three (stone) steps above the nave, the sanctuary one above the choir, and the altar one more, extending across the chancel. The chancel is paved with Minton's encaustic tiles, (from the depôt of Miller, Coates and Youle, 279, Pearl Street,) the pattern increasing in richness the nearer to the altar. The lectern is very plain, standing on the second step under the chancel-arch. It will be replaced hereafter by a richer one, of bronze. The choir is furnished on each side with a stall-bench against the wall, which will accommodate about six on a side. Before these are two other seats, one step lower, for the choir of men and boys; each having, at its western end, a separate

seat for one of the officiating clergy. The book-board is simply panelled. At the east end of the south stall-bench stands the Bishop's chair, (or throne as it used to be called.) It is elevated three steps above the choir floor, richly panelled below, and has a canopy of richly cusped and crocketed tabernacle work, supported on slender cluster shafts, rising from the four corners of the solid work below. This-the handsomest Bishop's seat in the country-was designed by Dudley and Condit, and presented by the Alumni of Burlington College. At its north-eastern angle stands a Bishop's pastoral staff, with which are connected very interesting associations. It is made of the old oak found in the ruins of S. Augustine's, Canterbury, at the time it was restored to the Church, and rebuilt as a missionary college. It is shod with metal, has an $ Agnus Dei' carved in the floriated head, and is adorned with colour and gilding. It was presented, several years ago, to the Bishop, by Mr. Beresford Hope. In the sanctuary are three sedilia on the south side, quite plain, the eastern one being on the upper step. On the north is a neat bracket credence, and a plain Bishop's chair. The altar is surrounded by an open arcade of detached shafts and cusped arches, the upper surface being inlaid with five crosses of holly wood. The sanctuary rail is rather slight. All the furniture of the church which we have enumerated-altar, sedilia, Bishop's chair and throne, stalls, pulpit, the panelled fronts of the galleries, the seats in the nave and transept, the low wainscot around all the wall, and the organcase-are of solid black walnut.

"The glass is of very good manufacture, by Sharp and Steel, being of trefoiled and pointed quarries, with coloured borders and heads, in all the windows except the four triplets and the eight lantern windows. The triplets are filled with rich pattern glass, with emblems in medallions, in which the colours are very successfully harmonized. The altar window is the richest, having a red cross with golden glory, amid clouds, in the central light (not in the purest ecclesiastical style, however,) the Dove in the head, the wheat-sheaf and grape-cluster in the side lights. The effect of these richly coloured windows is slightly heavy for want of a little sprinkling of white light. The three side lights of the chancel are memorials. In a broad band across the centre (not in good taste) they bear the following legends :-that on the south side of the sanctuary In memoriam Rev. Johannis Talbot, A.M., hujus Ecclesiæ Fundatoris A.D. MDCCIII;' that on the north side, 'In memoriam Rev. Caroli Henrici Wharton, D.D., hujus Ecclesiæ Rectoris A.D. MDCCXCVI. MDCCCXXXIII;' that on the south side of the choir bears a similar inscription in memory of the Rev. Mr. Winslow, formerly the Bishop's assistant in the parish. These windows, except in their inscriptions, differ in nothing from the other side windows of the church.

"But the most striking feature of the interior is the polychromatic decoration, which is the most brilliant and successful specimen yet given us by Mr. Akeroyd, of his skill. The cielings of nave, transept and lantern are of deep, pure ultramarine blue, the principals, purlines, braces and joists being adorned with plain red, white and green. The chancel roof is far richer, the blue being relieved with roses and lilies, and the beams being delicately picked out with flowers and foliage. The east wall, from the string-course under the window, is divided into three compartments, the two at the ends having a blue ground, the larger, in the centre, being of red; and the diaper-work in all being bold and effective. Over the altar appears the the in a glory, very elaborately wrought out, a floriated cross being on either side. Under the string-course runs the illuminated inscription:-'GoD so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten SoN, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' S. John iii. 16. (The reference should never be added. It is to be taken for granted that good Christian people know the words to be those of Holy Scripture.) The front of the altar is the richest of all, being mainly of red and gold. A delicate sprig runs round the