THE NEW SEE OF WAKEFIELD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2543, 27 October 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE NEW SEE OF WAKEFIELD.

In a Home paper recently received, wo have an interesting account of the instalment and investiture of the first Bishop of Wakefield, Yorkshire, a short sketch of which may interest some of our readers who still call England (perhaps Yorkshire) home. The event alluded to sees the consummation of what have been the hopes and wishes of churchmen in the west riding of Yorkshire for the last eleven years, and it is chiefly owin>r to the united nnd untiring efforts of-Canon Norman Straton, Vicar of Wakefield, Sir Edward Green, Conservative member for tho same, and the indefatigable labour of one gentleman in particular, Mr T. K. Sanderson, Conservative Club, Wakefield, that the great work has been accomplished. Wakefield, though a small place, has always been of importance, and many interesting events in history are connected with it. All Saints Church, now the Cathedral, is a grand old edifice, and dates back as far as the fourteenth century. Many parts of the interior had gone to decay, and much of the beautifully-carved wood and stone work was defaced by time, but little by little, with great patience and at great cost, though it has taken years and years to do it, the whole of the interior has been completely restored, keeping it closely as possible to the original design in every respect, and the work was completed on the eve of the Church Congress, which was held at Wakefield a year or so ago. There is a splendid peal of ten bells, which can be heprd far and wide, for the tower is the highest in Yorkshire, and there are not many much higher in England, and the clock, a very old one, chimes different tunes at certain hours of the day most musically. Amongst many fine windows there is one in particular, a most beau-tifully-painted one, representing the life of Christ. The organ is a glorious, grand-toned instrument, the foundation of which was presented by the Earl of Stafford, and many a time have we, to its accompaniment, listened to the beautiful pure and flute-like voice, and clear enunciation of the Yorkshire songstress, the late Mrs Sunderland, who was aptly called the "English Nightingale" by our gracious Queen Victoria, before whom on many occasions, both publicly and (by special command) privately, Mrs Sunderland kad the honour of singing. The choir is a very fine one, aud we may remark, cn passant, that the brothers of the Rev. John Dykes (late Dr. Dykes), who composed so many of the most beautiful hymns which we sing, and their friends, were the chief meaus of forming the basis of the present excellent music rendered in Wakefield Cathedral. Mr Fred. Dykes was for many years organist, and other brothers assisted in the choir. Now they, and those who stood by them, are all dead and gone, but they have left fruits of their work behind them. The closing hymn at the recent installation service was written by a sister of theirs, and set to music composed by the late Dr. Dykes. The plate belonging to the church is universally said to be tho finest in England. Wakefield Cathedral is also a splendid building for Bound, as most of the old English structures are. [Query : How is it that our colonial builders, who call themselves architects, do not study Acoustics more? The present generation—in the colonies certainly—think they know a lot, but they don't know as much ns their English fathers and grandfathers did yet !1 To continue: Wakefield has hitherto been annexed to the See of Ripon, but when we think of the immense amount of work attached to that huge diocese of 000 livings, the separation of even Wakefield only seems a matter of congratulation. The Rev. William Walsham How, late Bishop Suffragan of Bedford, has been chosen first Bishop of Wakefield, and we b dieve the choice will prove a good one. B : shop llow is well-known by his writings, and his faithful ministry has gained for him the esteem of all Churchmen ; but, above all, his earnest and untiring work in the East end of London of late years, and the good ho has done there, have crowned him as a true and faithful servant of God. The installation ceremony was performed by the Archbishop of York, attended by 202 clergymen, and when, in addition to this number, we may mention that 1,800 people were accommodated in the building, our readers will have some idea of the capacity of the venerable, dear old church, which will in future history be known as Wakefield Cathedral. Edoracum.