A RITUALISTIC INTERIOR.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 769, 19 May 1877, Page 2

A RITUALISTIC INTERIOR.

The following- description of the interior of St James's Church, Hatcham, the moat recent rebellious church, as showing- what small beginnings in Ritualism lead to, will interest pur readers :— The building is of the early English stjle affected by Ritualists, with a rood beam, on which is displayed a full-sized effigy of our Saviour. The chancel is separated from the nave by an open choir screen of oak with iron gates, having on the north side - sacristy, surmounted by an orohefitrav. loft, and on the south side an^rgan chamber. The oaken lecterns for^T reading the prayers and for " even- x song" celebrations are just in front of the choir screen, while the pulpit is on the north side of the nave under the rood beam. The decorations are not jet oompleted, but they consist of the ordinary fresco wall painting of a style consonant with the architecture of the building, the only special feature being •! some panel paintings in theUado of • '

remarkable from their being said tb be the work of tbi vicar himself. As works of art they aye d?ci4edly rococo, but their realistic stylejmakes them startling. There are. four on each side of the central gates, and commencing on the ; north side '.the., subj ects are The A ngel of Darkness,' robed in green ; ' The Good Angel,' draped, in white; 'Darkness,' typified by the five r foolish virgT^'; 4 Ljglj t,' \>y- the five wise virgVip; 'Yice,' fypified by in innvcigntf sinner walkidg in darkness; &h& * Virtue,' by the exercise of So far, these paintings ?s^ould pas without much comment, but then come « Hell ' and 'Heaven.' The former is represented by a mon- ; strous dragon's mooth , belching forth flames, and a green Satan, with a sardonic grin 6n ; his countenance, calling attention^ to the torment of a knot of sinners half submerged by the fiery waves! by which they are surronnded In * Heaven' the Deity is boldly presented in human form, seated onthe! arc of J a circle and nursing a lamb ; while two ministering angelsare on the right hand and th'sj.l^ft.; Beneath are a few worshippers in attitudes of adoration, with the back view of a central kneeling figure garbed in some 'vestment/ which is symbolically 6rhatoeiit&^ Of the impropriety and bad taste of such representations" as" 'these there can be no doubt. Through the altkr screen the high altar is seen, dressed with huge wax candles, of them the ' masslights, which are only lighted at communion service ; others the 'vesper lights ' for even; iibng, and smaller ones fdr 'low| celebrations,' and yet two others before the ' sidelia,' or ; officiating on the south side 6t the jl steps. Prominent on th9 reredos were the figures of "which j the parishioners complain, while picturesquely arranged are ■ the veiled chalice and other sacerdotal vessels — the paten, the altar prayers, •and the other paraphernalia common to Ritualists and Romanists, inter* spersedwith bouquets of flowers.— Orangeman. , : . :i >i <