Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/537

 1869.] Descriptions. 435 worked it out with great care, because so much had been said about the failure of Gothic buildings for congregational worship ; and I was sure it was not in the mere style. I am happy to say, that m} T labors have been crowned with the most complete success. The build- ing has been pronounced perfect in its acoustic properties by speakers and hearers ; and the most bitter opponents of Gothic say, they will " give in," as they cannot find any fault ; for while it is sufficiently ecclesiastical to produce the effect on the mind, which the mere entrance into a place of worship ought to produce, it has not sufficient to awe the mind, so as to hindei social worship. Tou must not think me egotistical in the matter, I only wish to give you as correct an account of the building as an interested person can. I send you a description cut from the newspaper, published at the time of the opening, which is, on the whole, very correct. I have also inclosed a photograph of a church here, at Darlington. The por- tion to the right of the tower only is at present built. I will send you a written description hereafter, for I have not a printed one. Wishing you great success in your journal, I am, Yours, truly, WM. PEACHEY, Architect. We regret that the ground plan for this church did not reach us in time for insertion in this number ; but we will embrace an early opportunity of laying it before our readers, in order the more thoroughly to elucidate the foregoing very full description. RURAL SCHOOL- HOUSES. THE subject of suitable buildings for the education of our youth is one of such vital importance, that we con- sider there is not one more deserving of being brought prominently forward in a magazine of this nature ; and — as we are fully aware that a very wide difference of opinion exists among all those, who have made this particular branch of the profession their study, as well as all others, who are in any way, either from professional or purely philanthropic motives, interested therein — we should be glad to receive any suggestions, 01 an} 7 contributions which our readers may feel disposed to forward on this impor- tant subject. It is a remarkable fact — the truth of which cannot be disputed, and which does not reflect creditably upon a commu- nity like ours, which abounds with all the facilities of communication, wealth, en- terprise, and intelligence that has no rival — that the subject of the improvement of our school-houses has been allowed Mo be neglected, and, in fact, almost ignored, in many of our rural districts, so that instead of the school-houses being rendered attractive and inviting to the growing youth, it is too often the case that they have neither comfort nor aught else to arrest the minds of the youth. Yet we see marked and striking changes in the architecture of our other public and private buildings. National pride and love of comfort were doubtless the leading principles, which produced this stimulus to the art But we cannot understand how we have been so short-sighted in our gener- ation, as to have overlooked, so long as we have done, the wretched and dis- graceful condition of our school-houses. True, there has been a rustling among the dry bones. Public attention has be- come, at last, to some extent aroused ; and the result of the painful, though necessary inquiries, which were made