I hope we shall not be content in the nineteenth century with the frigid style of the Puritans; every man of taste must regret that work of demolition in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. What exquisite designs! What models of sculpture and painting would now have been before us as examples of art! It is argued that form and ceremony have nothing to do with Christianity; I agree, as far as the fundamental principle is concerned, but should there not be something like grave dignity when we assemble together in the House of God? I hope to see ere long the interior of our churches cased with stone, with clustered columns and foliated capitals, groined stone roof, or the oaken arched roof, with its sculptured corbels; I hope to see the gracefully formed elbow with its poppy head to the seats, in place of the high aristocratic pew of the seventeenth century; the elaborately carved stone pulpit placed, as you have pointed out, against the columns of the nave, and the oak enriched lettern opposite, in place of the bulky desk and pulpit, with its geometrical staircase in the middle aisle obstructing the most imposing part of the fabric,—I mean the chancel. I hope to see the deep chancel with its stone screen, sedilia, tesselated pavement and painted glass windows, in place of that poverty which we too often see in our modern churches.
It is argued that the general introduction of stone is out of the question, from the great additional expense that would be incurred, and particularly in reference to carving and sculpture. I am of opinion there is a body of masons now rising up that, with a very little practice, would execute the foliage of capitals and other enrichments with as much sharpness and relief as the examples we are anxious to follow, and at as little expense as the plasterer of the present day, who has first to model his enrichment in clay, then to take a cast in wax, then to cast it, then to trim it, and afterwards to stick it up. I earnestly hope this Society will reject the introduction of such material as Plaster, Roman cement and Terracotta: if it does not it will be worse than useless.
I thank you, Sir, for the attention you have given me, and you Ladies and Gentlemen, for the great forbearance you have shewn in listening to the few remarks I have thought it my duty to make in furtherance of the object of this Society. I trust that our efforts may be crowned with success: that the churches of the nineteenth century (save and except some of those already built) will be deserving models to future generations, and that the Church itself, with the blessing of God, will ride triumphant to the end of time.
