The Bishop of Oxford visits to reopen the Church
Bicester Herald Saturday 10th November 1855 PIDDINGTON CHURCH. In this day's HERALD we give the interesting proceedings connected with the repairing, re-seating, and re-opening of Piddington church. The report will amply repay perusal. It presents features of great importance, and that are deserving of the serious attention of our readers. It will be observed that the venerable edifice has been fitted up with open seats and made seemly for a house of prayer and praise, and that the expense is to be met by voluntary contributions. The collections, after the Bishop's sermon, at the re-opening, amounted to £43, to which there is to be added £73 before promised. PIDDINGTON. RE-OPENING OF THE PARISH CHURCH. On Saturday last, the 3rd instant, the parish church of Piddington was re-opened, after being closed for some few weeks, to undergo a complete restoration of the interior. The high galleries that had for so long a time disfigured and concealed a great portion of the church, have been removed, and by this being effected the beautiful and solid western arch has been thrown open, enabling thereby the whole of the belfry to be appropriated for additional sittings. By the removal of the south gallery, two arches in the south aisle have also been thrown open, not only thereby rendering available one half of the south aisle, which before was entirely shut out from the church, but also considerably enlarging, improving. and beautifying the interior. The irregular pews which disfigure so many of our parish churches, and appear more like horse-boxes than Christian arrangements, and take up so much space without affording corresponding accommodation to the parishioners, and which only lead to sleepiness and lounging, with an indolent habit during devotion, have been all replaced by the uniform low and open sittings which so much conduce to vigilance, propriety, and decorum during divine worship. Divine service commenced of 11-30 a.m. The Lord Bishop of Oxford. accompanied by the Venerable Archdeacon Clarke, and some of the neighbouring clergy, walked in procession to church. Amongst the clergy present we observed the Rev. Charles James Blomfield, Rural Dean and Rector of Launton ; the Rev. F. W. Cartwright, Rural Dean and Rector of Oakley ; the Rev. Thomas Martyn, Rector of Ludgershall ; the Rev. J. S. Baron, Vicar of Brill ; the Rev. E. Clayton, Rector of Stratton Audley ; the Rev. W. Gardner, Rector of Dorton , and the Rev. C. K. Hartshorne, Curate of Cowley. The prayers were read by the Rev. Charles Hill, the Perpetual Curate. The first lesson was read by the Rev. E. Clayton, and the second lesson by the Rev. C. J. Blomfield. At the conclusion of the prayers, the Lord Bishop of Oxford ascended the pulpit, and took for his text the 4th chapter, and 31st verse of the Acts of the Apostles, "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken were they were assembled together ; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with boldness." The Right Rev. Prelate's was an able and eloquent address. He commenced by showing that the Church of Christ was a Corporate Body, and that the several members thereof when collected together in His name, in their corporate capacity, had the promise that God would be present amongst them, and especially manifest Himself to them in His House of Prayer. His Lordship, with that earnest impressiveness which marks his discourses, enforced most plainly and powerfully the duties of the Christian Worshipper in the House of God. He said that, unless we knelt with sincerity during the confession, we could not expect the benefit of absolution. That too many were lounging listlessly and lolling in their pews, when these portions of the service were being read, and that there was no excuse for such lazy behaviour, unless from infirmity and ill-health. He warned them against coming from mere custom and routine allowing the prayers to be said for them, but never praying for themselves; against coming to hear the preacher with itching ears from motives of curiosity, or for the intellectual excitement. That preaching, excellent as it was, if properly used and valued, should lead to prayer, to increased holiness of life, to self-denial, and greater earnestness in Spiritual things. His Lordship then showed how, from earliest infancy, the Church received them in her corporated capacity, and sealed them with the seal of the corporation of the Church by God's Holy Spirit at Confirmations. How she admitted them to the privileges of the full grown Christian—at the altar ratified and consecrated the marriage vow ; and, in the beautiful and consoling language of her Burial Service, consigned those near and dear to them to the tomb; pouring in the balm of Spiritual consolation, by pointing out to them the sure and certain hope to the resurrection of eternal life—that thus the Lord is with them to dry their tears, and inspire them with hope and comfort. That since God gave all these blessed privileges in the Church: that they should prize their noble prerogatives—worship insincerity and truth with reverence and devotion. That God who thus promises ever to be in the midst of them, to dwell in His Church, to receive and bless them, and train and prepare them by His Holy Sacrament, by all the ordinances of His Church, by all the means of grace for denizens of Heaven and partakers of glory. His Lordship, in conclusion, congratulated them on the success of the present undertaking, and was pleased that they bad all come forward so liberally to co-operate with their pastor in the good work they were met together to complete that day, by generously contributing to defray the expenses of the restoration of the parish church. A most liberal and hearty response was made to the Bishop's appeal, and the sum of £43 was collected, in addition to the donations previously promised to the amount of £73. |