Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/182

HISTORY OP BISHOP AUCKLAND. 155 (now of Kendal), through whose exertions and liberality the funds for building the church were principally raised. The church, which cost about £1,000, is in the early English style, and was built from designs by James Gibson, Esq. , of Newcastle-on-Tyna It originally seated about 300 persons. In the year 1857 the building was considerably enlarged and a gallery erected at the west end, at a cost of about j£500, and it is now calculated to seat between 600 and 700 persons. The chancel is ornamented with a fine stained glass window, containing representations of St. Andrew, St. Helen, and St. Wilfrid, the last named being the saint to whom the church is dedicated. It also contains an organ, built by Mr. H. Hoggett, of Darlington. The present resident priest is the Rev. R Singleton, and the Rev. J. Stourton is curata The schools attached to the church were built in the year 1861, at a cost of about £900. UNITED PRESBTTERIAIN^ CHURCH. The foundation stone of the United Presbyterian Church, South Church Lane, was laid in the year 1864, by Mr. John Hedley, of South Shields, with the usual ceremonies; and was opened for divine worship on Tuesday, the 15th of August, 1865. The opening sermon was preached in the afternoon by the Rev. Dr. Cairns, of Berwick-on-Tweed. A public tea and meeting was afterwards held in the Town Hall, presided over by the Rev. Thomas Dods of Crook; and addresses were delivered by the Rev. George Scott, of Towlaw, Rev. J. H. Bruce, Mr. John Hedley, South Shields, the Rev. John M*Niel, of Middlesbrough, the Rev. George Bell, of Newcastle, and the Rev. Dr. Cairns. A sermon was also preached in connection with the opening services on the Sunday following by the Rev. J. C. Bruce, LL.D. The church is built from designs furnished by the late Mr. J. D. Thompson, architect. Bishop Auckland, and is in the Gothic style of architecture, standing with its front facing South Church Lane, and cost about £1,000. It consists of a church proper, with which is connected, at the south-east angle, a tower eight feet square, with buttresses, the spire being slated and surmounted by a weather vane. At the base of the tower is a door, which serves as an entrance to the vestry and school-room which are placed behind. Above the last-mentioned rooms is a comfort- able delling for the chapel keeper. Internally the church is 45 feet in length by 34 feet in width, inclusive of a lobby, and has been seated with open stalls, affording accommodation for about 260 persons. The building is so arranged that, should it be found necessary, a gallery can be erected at the sides and over the lobby, which would seat an additional 200 persona The timber of the roof principals is exposed, and is stained and varnished. The height from the floor to the roof is 20 feet, and in the centre part 28 feet. The artificial lighting of the church is effected by two rows of three-light brass standards, circular panels being formed in the ceiling for the purpose of ventilation. The pulpit is constructed with Gothic pierced frame work and lined with deal. It is somewhat in the shape of a platform, extending the full length between the angles, approached by stairs at each end, and is 2 feet 6 inches above the floor of the pews. The main entrance is in the gable fronting the street, having double doors, over which there is a three-light window, also a ventilating window over the ceiling. On each side of the door there is a single-light window. The church is lighted from the sides with two-light windows, con- structed so as to provide for side galleries. The whole of the windows are glazed with plate glass in checks formed in the stone jambs. The building is fronted by a neat iron palisading, having cast iron entrance* gatea The contractor for the mason work was Mr. John Walker ; for the joiner work, Mr. Jeremiah Thompson ; painting and glazing, Mr. Arthur Cummins ; plumbing and gasfitting, Mr. T. Snaith ; slating, Mr. R Proctor, of Darlington. The Rev. T. Boyd, B. A, is the present resident minister. • • Digitized by Google