Churches - Bevendean History Project
All Saints Church Consecration on 29 September 1853
CONSECRATION OF ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH
On Thursday last, the feast of St. Michael, the new Church of All Saints was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Chichester.Early in August last year, the Church was opened for the celebration of divine worship, by license from the diocesan. Thanks, mainly, to the Rev. H. M. Wagner (Vicar of Brighton), the ceremony of consecration, once a rare event in so large a portion of our kingdom as is comprised under the term “county,” is now so well known here that we almost feel an apology necessary for venturing once again to speak in anything like detail of the sacred rite. Inasmuch, however, as to some of our readers a consecration may still be a novelty, we venture.
But first, a few words as to the Church itself and the cause of its erection. And here we borrow from the Gazette of that date:—Owing to the great number of persons employed at the Railway Terminus, whose residences are necessarily in the vicinity of their occupation, and to the site of that terminus having given a westerly direction to the augmentation of the town (which the opening of the line originated, and is still proceeding) it was long ago foreseen, that additional Church accommodation, and that to a large extent, would be required to meet the increasing exigencies in that quarter. And accordingly, at an early period of the laying out of the northern extension of Church Hill for building purposes, a site was secured, on the crest of the hill, for a new church, the Rev. H. M. Wagner adding another proof of his indefatigable zeal in the extension of the ordinances of the national religion, by himself taking a large share as well as superintending the efforts of others, for raising the necessary funds for the structure. Simultaneously with the erection of what may be called a new town, which has sprung up in the neighbourhood adverted to, with well-nigh unparalleled rapidity, the church has progressed ; and, with the exception of the tower, which is only half finished, and on which it is intended to place a spire, the building is completed.
“The church is built after a design of Mr R. C. Carpenter, the well-known ecclesiastical architect. The style is that known as the ‘Second Pointed,’ or ‘Flowing Decorative.’ The walls externally are of cracked flint, with dressings of Caen stone; internally of the same stone dressings, with plaster. The church has a nave, with north and south aisles, and a capacious chancel. The roof and seats are all stained with Palmer’s stain in imitation of old oak; and admirable the imitation is. The reading desk, of rather a novel character, is very handsome and appropriate; the pulpit appropriate, but not novel. They are placed in the nave, at the north and south sides of the chancel arch. The contractors for the church are Messrs. G. Cheesman and son, who, in the execution of the work, have well sustained their character as church-builders. Admirably, indeed, have they realized the ideal of the architect. Inside and out, the church is a beautiful structure. As stated, the spire remains to be added; and the style of the edifice requires the addition. In connexion with this part of the subject, a rather singular fact may just be mentioned. It is well-known that a geological section of a chalk hill often shows the junction of the chalk and the surface soil as a very irregular line, the general direction being of course, parallel with that surface. To those who travel between Brighton and Lewes this must be familiar, the surface soil there varying from an inch or two to a dozen feet or upwards. The site of the new church was thought to be peculiarly favourable with regard to the foundation, as chalk in places showed itself on the actual surface. But notwithstanding this, at the spot on which the tower was to be built, the contractors found it necessary to excavate no less than 72 feet of mould before the rock could be reached, and this work led to an increased and unestimated expenditure of £300!”
The morning was threatening, and rain fell before the commencement of the ceremony; but there was, notwithstanding, a full congregation. The Bishop having been received by the clergy and conducted to the Communion table, A. S. Greene, Esq., presented the deed of conveyance of the site, and also a petition for the consecration. The latter was from the Vicar, the Incumbent, and the Churchwardens. It recited that the population of Brighton was now 65,000 and upwards, that the existing churches and chapels were inadequate in accommodation, that by a deed dated January, 1847, and under the authority of the Church Building Acts, and in consideration of money paid to him, John Kapp conveyed to the Church Building Commissioners a piece of ground, that a church or chapel had been erected on part of it, and the residue had been enclosed, that the church was completely finished and furnished, and had been some time opened under his lordship’s license, and was now ready for consecration. His lordship was therefore prayed, under his power, ordinary and episcopal, to consecrate it to the worship of God, separate and apart from all profane and common uses.
The Bishop (receiving the petition) said—I cheerfully assent to the prayer of this petition; and we will, with God’s help, proceed to the consecration of this church accordingly.
The ceremony commenced at once by the Bishop and Clergy, in alternate verses, repeating the Psalm, “The earth is the Lords,” &c, while walking round the south aisle and returning up the nave. The procession which thus perambulated the Church, consisted of the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Chichester, Dr. Phillimore, (Chancellor of the Diocese), the Venerable Julius Hare (Archdeacon of Lewes), the Venerable Garbett (Archdeacon of Chichester), the Rev. H. M. Wagner (Vicar of Brighton), the Rev. T. Coombe (the Incumbent), the Rev. T. Cooke, the Rev. H. V. Elliott, the Rev. R. S. Smith, the Rev. T. Pyper, the Rev. C. E. Douglass, the Rev. J. H. North, the Rev. S. R. Drummond, the Churchwardens (Mr James Cordy, Mr T. Smith, and Mr C. Cheesman), &c.
The Bishop then signed the sentence of consecration, which was afterwards read at length by Dr. Phillimore.
Then commenced the ordinary service of the day, with the introduction of special psalms, lessons, and collects appropriate to the occasion. The Rev. Vicar officiated, the Bishop and the Archdeacons assisting in the communion service. The responses, the Venite the Te Deum, and the Benedictus were chanted, as were also the alternate verses of the Psalms, by the choir, assisted by some members of that of St. Paul’s, led by Mr Trigg, master of the National Schools.
The Bishop preached from Revelations, vii, 2, “And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” These words contained the opening of that portion of the Scriptures which our Church had appointed for the Epistle of All Saints’ Day. This Church was dedicated to God by that name; it was offered in the name of all those who were, or who should be, sanctified to Him; and this circumstance directed attention to the connection which existed between the preparation for an eternal life and its realization. And as, in the preparation for a change from childhood to manhood, that child was best fitted for the change who prepared for and felt a desire for the putting away of childish things, so was it with regard to a preparation for a future and eternal life. We must love God above all things. Difficulties in doing so arose in consequence of our being placed on earth, and becoming attached to its pleasures. It was made for our use, was suited to our wants and capacities, and was adapted for our trials. We must, then, love earth; but we must subordinate it to our love to God. Generally speaking, there was too much attachment manifested to this lower world; but; there was also to be found a half-suicidal asceticism which induced a separation from the relations of humanity, in which God had, placed us by way of trial, and a substitution of other trials which God had not ordained for us. The world should be used; not abused. The enjoyments of the world we should take care not to allow to get dominion over us; we should not refuse them as if we could choose a condition better suited to us than that in which God had placed us. And our desire for heaven should be accompanied by endeavours to promote the temporal and spiritual good of others. To this end many means offered. In this town there had been the erection of churches conceived in the spirit of that love of God, and desire to promote his kingdom which, once received into the heart, led to the entire surrender of things of this world in the exercise of that charity which flowed from the love of Christ. But though this building that day finally and irrevocably had been given up to God, the cost of the now sacred edifice was not defrayed; nay, there remained even a sum, he was compelled to say, to be spoken of, by thousands, not by hundreds of pounds. His lordship concluded by appealing to his hearers for a liberal contribution towards lessening the amount of the undischarged balance, and praying that God would bless the building and its ministrations to his glory.
During the offertory sentences a collection was made; and after the prayer for the Church Militant, the general congregation departed, a small number remaining to communicate with the clergy.
From: The Brighton Gazette on 6 October 1853
The Consecration took place on Thursday 29 September 1853
