Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/135

 108 ' HISTOEY OF BISHOP AUCaSCLAND. More recently, by the munificence of Mra Spencer, of Helmington Hall, that portion of the chancel within the altar rails has been laid with rich encaustic tQes, and a double lancet window on the northern side of the chancel has been opened out and fiUed with stained glass, as a memorial of that lady's deceased husband. Loving hands have also provided covers for the communion table and embellished some of the arches with texts, whilst curtains have been provided for the comfort of those' who sit near the doors ; and, upon the whole, the edifice in its present state is a credit not only to the parish but to the county. At a vestry meeting, held in June, 1867, the churchwardens reported that the unused portion of the churchyard was being quickly filled up, and that an extension of ground for burial purposes was urgently required — the interments having increased to nearly 400 per annum. It was unanimously resolved to enlarge the churchyard by purchasing from the Messrs. Seymour the plot of freehold ground adjoining, containing from two to three acres, and the necessary powers were delegated to the churchwardens to carry out this scheme. In April, 1868, at a meeting of the select vestry, the churchwardens reported that the Messrs. Seymour had asked £700 per acre for the land in question, and that consequently any further attempt to purchase it on that basis was out of the question. The churchwardens therefore recommended other two sites for burial grounds, situate at a distance from the parish church, and they were instructed to make inquiries on the subject, and report to the parish meeting to be held on the following Whit-Tuesday. Meanwhile, the churchwardens had been required, by a requisition from ten inhabitants, to call a meeting of the ratepayers, to consider the propriety of adopting the Burials Act in the parish, with a view to the establishment of a public cemetery. Accordingly, on the 2nd day of June, 1868, a public meeting was held in the vestry, and afterwards adjourned to St Andrew's School-room, when it was proposed by Mr. Frederick Richardson, and seconded by Mr. Thomas Thornton, that a new burial ground should be provided for the parish under the "Burials (beyond Metropolis) Act." As soon as this proposition had been submitted to the meeting, the church- wardens submitted their plans, from which it appeared that the Messrs. Seymour were then willing to accept a reasonable sum for the piece of ground adjoining the churchyard, and the church- wardens proposed to raise, by subscription, a sum suflicient to purchase, enclose, and embellish it, and thus furnish the parish with a burial ground for many years to come free of expense. An amendment was thereupon proposed by Dr. Canney, and seconded by Mr. Edgar, as foUows : — That the offer made by the churchwardens to provide funds, from voluntary subscriptions, to purchase an additional burial ground for the parish, be accepted. This amendment appeared to meetwith the universal approbation of the meeting, andMr. Richardson agreed to withdraw his proposition, which the meeting unanimously permitted, and the amendment was then put as a substantive motion and carried with the approval of all parties present. The total cost of the addition to the ground amounted to £1,315 15s. 4d. To meet this outlay, the committee received, in subscriptions, the sum of £1,280 16s. ; from the Highway Board, for land given to road, £35 ; and from fund in hand, from sale of ground in old churchyard, £5 — ^making a total of £1,320 16s., which left a balance in the committee's hands of £5 Os. 8d. The ground has been enclosed with a substantial stone wall, that portion facing the highway being surmounted with iron paUisading. The quaint old entrance gates were taken down, and the stonework carefully rebuilt at the new entrance. The ground has been properly drained, laid out, and planted, and the boundary wall between the old and new churchyards removed. The result of these additions and alterations has been to thoroughly open out the view of the church ; and when the various trees and shrubs, with which the grounds have been judiciously adorned, are brought to maturity, the approach to it from Bishop Auckland will be picturesque in the extreme. Digitized by Google