Of the restoration of churches.—Little need be said On this head. the main point to be attended to is, the reducing the building as nearly as possible to its original state, in structure, arrangement and decoration ; it most frequently happens, that the minuti:c of the old structure are not traceable, and in such cases the judgment of the architect is called into action. but where the old arrangement is perceptible, it should always be followed in the restoration. The first thing to be attended to is the drainage, many old churches being destroyed by damp ; in very many cases the earth of the church-yard will be found to have accumulated to a considerable height above the floor of the church, and this of course should be at once removed, and a proper ventilation given, to dry the foun dations. The interior walls should be carefully cleansed of the many coats of whitewash, so that, in case any vestiges of painting remain, they may not be destroyed for want of proper caution ; the same care should be taken in removing the plaster and whitewash from the ornamental details; flat ceilings likewise should be removed with caution, as they were frequently added merely to hide existing defects in the root: Structural restoration should be first attended to, after that the arrangement, and lastly the decoration.
Of the enlargement of churches.— Architects are not unfrequently called upon to afford increase of accommodation in old churches; it may therefore not be out of place to point out as briefly as possible how this may be best abeted. The first step is to calculate how much additional accom modation may be obtained by a proper re-arrangement of the seats, and a substitution of low benches in the place of the modern pews, and to regulate for further additions accordingly. Churches in which additions are advisable, are the following : those which consist only of nave and chimed', which may be enlarged by the addition of one or more aisles to the nave, and of a tower, if requisite ; —those consisting of nave, chancel, and one aisle, where accommodation is naturally increased in completing the church by the addition of an aisle on the opposite side of the nave, an addition frequently contemplated by the founders, as is manifested by the existence of arches of construction in the nave-wall ;—those again consisting of a nave and chancel, with tower between the two, may be enlarged by adding transepts, which, in cases of necessity, may be used for worshippers. Of churches comprising a nave with two aisles, a chancel and a tower, increased space may be obtained by a continuation of the aisles to the extremity, or nearly the extremity, of the chancel, or by adding another aisle to the nave. Either of these plans may be adopted in cases of great need, but they are by no means to be recom mended ; in both cases the same objection holds, that the people are packed into situations which are not convenient fur public worship ; in the first ease they are made to look in a different direction from those in the body of the church, which interferes with the apparent unity of the worshippers, and, in the latter, a great portion of them are excluded from a proper view of the chancel. in such cases it would be much more advisable to erect a new church or chapel, however small or unimposing, hut this necessitates other expenses, and is not always practicable; where it is possible, it should be adopted in preference. The Rev. J. L. Petit, in his Remarks on Church-Architecture, recommends additions to the chancel to be made in almost all cases where enlarge ment is required ; but we must differ from him in this matter, fur, be it remembered, that in our old churches, these projec tions were not used by the congregation, but were employed as side-chapels; in fact, their existence is attributable to the corruptions of the church of Rome : such additions may be used for the location of the organ, or such like purposes, but not, if avoidable, for the accommodation of worshippers. In
other churches where none of the above methods are available, it is better not to attempt enlargement ; the lengthening of the nave is a poor expedient, which may at once destroy the proportions and mar the unity of the original design.
We here take leave of a subject which we are rejoiced to say is daily receiving increased attention. Some few years sinee, our ecclesiastical structures were looked upon as rem nants of by-gone days, to be wondered at for their associations and antiquities, but scarcely to be imitated in modern times; but of late a new light has appeared, infusing spirit and animation into the old buildings, and we no longer look at them as the relics of a barbarous age, but as examples most fitting to be followed in all sacred structures; they formed once the lore of the antiquarian, they are now the models of the architect. It is a matter of wonder how rapidly knowledge, on this subject, has been acquired ; it is as yet imperfect, but is progressing satisfactorily ; fresh discoveries are being made continually, and ere long we shall have a goodly number of useful text-books on the subject. We must not forget, that the first impulse in the right direction was aflbrded by the Cambridge Camden Society, to which the gratitude of every ]over of our old parish-churches will be readily accorded. We have now Architectural Societies of a similar kind established all over the country, to which, in conjunction with the labours and researches of private archi tects, we look for a great increase of information. An addi tional incitement to this study has been given by the erection of so many churches in various parts of the country, in most of which a vast improvement may be observed on buildings of a similiar kind erected in previous years; it is true they are not all, perhaps but few, without fitults, many of them are faulty in numerous respects, yet, as a whole, they are very satisfactory ; we cannot do better in concluding this article, than repeat the remarks of Mr. Petit on the progress of chu•ch-architecture, and the impediments which the profes sional man has to encounter in its advancement. "So great," says he, " are the actual and inherent difficulties of his art, and so grievously are they multiplied by external eauses, so limited and restricted is he by the perverseness of others, so many conflicting tastes and opinions has he to consult, so beset is he on every side by the ostentatious views of one, the parsimony of another, the private interests of a third, and the overweening ignorance of the greater number, that it is a marvel his work should ever be respectable ; and we cannot deny that many of our modern churches are extremely creditable to the taste and skill of their designers. Let those who speak of the labours of the architect with flippancy, or censure them with unkindness or severity, reflect upon the dif ficulties he has to encounter; of no other art are the principles and beauties more deeply hidden in the treasury of nature, and to be searched out with greater toil and diligence."