Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 4.djvu/484

 512 NOTES AND QUERIES. p* s. iv. DEO. 23, -99. Its architect was Mr. John Newman, and Messrs. Paynter & Haynes were its builders. The work began in 1817, when the foundation stone was laid by the Rev. Dr. Poynter, and the Rev. George Qreenway preached. On the foundation stone was inscribed :— Hie Primarius Lapis Capellse Catholicw SanctEB Marite in Amphitheatre de Moorfielda Favente Civitate Londinenai ex sumptibus a populo Catholico colleotia Erigendse Positus eat A Illmo. ac Rmo. Dno. Guliclnio Epo. Hahce Vico. Aplico. Lond. Assistentibus cum populo Capellania R. R. D. D. Josepho Hunt, Joanne Devereux, Georgio Greenway, Joanne Law, die 5° Auguati, A.D. MD.CCCXVH. Georgii Tertii LVII. Imperium pro Patre feliciter Regents Georgio W aline Principe. Joanne Newman, Architocto. The church was opened in 1820, when, on 22 April, nearly 3,000 persons were present. " A Catholic gentleman very liberally proposed to have the principal ceiling and the altar-piece painted at his own expense, with a selection of Scriptural subjects from the New Testament he was in- duced also to contract with Signer Comulh, a celebrated sculptor, of Milan, for the columns, steps, and table, that were destined to constitute the decorations of the altar. Shortly afterwards the architect, who had determined to spare neither expense nor personal exertions resolved on a journey to the Continent, in order that he might there study the best examples of ecclesiastical em- bellishment; and the idea lie had previously formed of admitting light to the altar-piece was confirmed by instances of similar contrivance in the churches of St. Roche and St. Sulpice in Paris The aide walls and piers of the nave are perfectly plain, and form a striking contrast to the imposing splendour of the sanctuary, which, being lighted without the means employed for its admission being discovered, has an aspect at once mysterious and sublime. When Pope Pius VII. was informed of the building of thia chapel he expressed much pleasure, and, after bestowing his benediction, he presented it with a superb chalice and paten, of gold, valued at 5,000 Roman crowns. On the chalice, which is exquisitely chased and ornamented with precious stones, is an inscription dictated by the venerable donor.H There is not much to be said of the after history of the church. In 1838 the ceiling and altar-piece which Britton and Pugin so much admired were redecorated, and further alterations were made in 1852 and 1858. The Fleming's ' History of St. Mary's, Moorfields, 18. Britton a London,' 1828. P't Britton and Pugin's ' Public Buildings o milding was much injured by the works for ,he Metropolitan Railway in 1874, and now ,he site of the edifice, with the adjoining schools and clergy-house, has been sold for the large sura of 202,OOOL, & great portion of which, it is said, will be appropriated to the )uilding fund of the diocese of Westminster. And so another notable London landmark disappears. B. CLARK. Walthamstow. LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS. IN the midst of the many and valuable contributions of MR. (J. A. WAKD to the Eighth Series of ' N. & Q.' on the subject of Lincoln's Inn Fields, there is a reference (8th 3. iv. 424) which I venture to think deserves x> be more fully expounded. MB. WARD says :— " In spite of all the endeavours to make the ways n Lincoln's Inn Fields leas ' founderpus and im- oaaaible in wet weather,' they fell back into the con- dition of a common field, so that in 1698 plans on a grand scale were published by Cavendish Weedon, }f Lincoln's Inn. There were to be figures of the twelve Apostles, and waterworks at each corner, to be supplied from Hampstead Ponds, and the model of St. Mary'a Chapel was to be erected in the centre from a design of Sir Christopher Wren's. But nothing of all this was ever carried into execution." The details of this plan, and the manner in which they were set oefore the public of the period, are, however, full of interest, for Cavendish Weedon would seem to have pos- sessed the instinct of a true journalist. He caused descriptions of his scheme to be simultaneously inserted in three London newspapers, and each was very differently worded. The most elaborate of the three announcements was that in the Flying Post; or, the Post-Master, for Saturday, 30 Dec., 1699, to Tuesday, 2 Jan., 1700, and it ran as follows:— "Mr. Weedon, a Counsellor of Lincolns- Inn, having caused to be curiously engraven on two Copper-Plates, a noble Design for the beautifying Lincolns-Inn-Fields, being one of the largest Squares in the World : The One setting out the Particulars of the Design of Building a oeautiful Church or Chapel in the Center of the said Lincolna-Inp- Fields, to be nominated St. Mary's, and therein every Holyday in the Year after Morning Prayer, and every first Thursday in the Month, a Lecture or Sermon upon the Attributes of God, and Anthems of Praise and Thanksgiving after such Sermon; the same to be as a Chappel of Ease to St. Giles's for Sundays and Prayers twice every Day in the Week, fortheConveniencyof the Inhabitants thereabouts. And the Other of the Manner of Beautifying the said Fields. Both of which may be had at Mr. Playfords, a Booksellers in the Tennile- Change in Fleetstreet, Mr. Harrisons and Mr. Ravens in Lincolns-Inn, Mr. Foxes a Bookseller in