Page 270 - Reading Mercury

The Alderman of the town, Mr. W.H. Ferguson and the members of the Council
entered the Church preceded by the mace bearer, and shortly afterwards the Bishop of
Oxford, and about 60 or 70 of the clergy of the diocese followed, accompanied by the
choir, attired in surplices, singing as they proceeded up the aisle.
There was a full choral service which was intoned by the Rev. F. Savery, of
Binfield. The First Lesson was read by the Rev. – Adams, curate and the second by
the Rev. A.P. Cust. The Rev. T.V. Fosbery read the Epistle, and the Rev. A.P. Cust
the Gospel.
The sermon was preached by the Lord Bishop of Oxford, with selected for his text
nd
th
the 2 chapter of the book of the Prophet Haggai, and part of the 9 verse—“The
glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former.” Owing to a press of
matter and the fate period of the week at which the ceremony took place, we are
unable to give a report of the sermon in this issue. His lordship concluded his eloquent
and most able discourse by urging the congregation to give-denying offerings to clear
off the debt which remains on the church and which, he said, amounted to £500. A
collection was then made, which, we understand, amounted to about £134
The Communion was afterwards administered after which a large company
numbering between two and three hundred assembled on Mrs. Earle’s grounds at the
Elms where, under Mr. Walter’s large tent, a recherché luncheon was spread at the
joint expense of Mr. Earle, Mr. E. Morres, and the Misses Powys.
The Bishop subsequently held a confirmation service, and the Rev. R. Milman,
Vicar of Great Marlow preached in the evening.

rd
Sat 23 April
LECTURE
th
On the 14 inst., a lecture was delivered in the Town Hall, by H.W. Eve, Esq. of
Wellington College, on “The Effects of the New Gold.” The lecture proved highly
interesting, and gave a clear history of our currency system, and explained the effect
of the produce of the modern goldfields, as effecting the value of property, &c.
We were sorry to see so small an audience as the lecture was a most able one; but
the chairman, F.L. Soames, Esq., explained the circumstances which had, doubtless,
prevented a large audience that evening, and tendered the hearty thanks of the institute
to Mr. Eve, a sentiment in which the company cordially joined.

th
Sat 28 May
THE NEW CHURCH
This very beautiful edifice, which has so rapidly risen near the side of the South-
Eastern Railway, and conveniently near to the entrance of the town, is fast
approaching its completion. As a specimen of ecclesiastical architecture, we think it
may enter the lists with art of the numerous erections of the kind which have of late
years so distinguished the county of Berks.
The light and graceful spire rising 100 feet above the richly decorated tower
displays itself to a vast distance, the site of the church itself being elevated. The
windows of the tower, 16 in number, which light the belfry and the lower storey, are
beautiful in sculpture and chaste in style.
The body of the church is also lighted with equally decorated specimens of the same
order, and the transept exhibits similar beauty. The whole of the building presents an
aspect which must excite the admiration of even those who are deficient in
architectural taste. It is decidedly the most ornamental, as we trust it will be one of the

268