Consecration of Hawkley Church.
Last Tuesday (St. James’s Day) the new church at Hawkley, near Petersfield, which has been erected on the site of the old one, was consecrated by the Bishop of Winchester.
The church is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, and built at the sole cost of J. J. Maberly, Esq. of Hawkley Hurst, under the direction of Mr. Teulon, the architect. The style is Norman, and the idea cruciform, though the transverse arms terminated by gables containing rose windows, do not extend beyond the ground plan of the aisles. The nave is divided into three bays; the pillars which separate it from the aisles have elaborately carved capitals, the subjects being emblems of our Lord and of the Evangelists. The corbels supporting the open timbered roof are carved into the forms of the trees mentioned in Scripture—the palm, plane, ebony, vine, pomegranite, fig, gourd, olive, and rose of Sharon. The corbels in the aisles are angels; all these, as well as the mouldings round the windows, are of exquisite design and workmanship.
The east window consists of three lights, above which is a circular window; these are memorial windows, and filled with painted glass by Ward and Hughes. The subject in the centre is the Ascension of our Lord, who is rising from the earth surrounded by a glorious aureole; in the side lights are the baptism of our Lord and the Last Supper. The circular window above contains a representation of our Lord in glory, seated on a rainbow with the earth for his footstool, and surrounded by seraphims. The windows in the aisles contain figures of the twelve Apostles.
The chancel is fitted with choir stalls, and the rest of the church with open benches; there is accommodation for 265 persons. The tower rises to a considerable height, and is terminated by a pyramidal roof proceeding from four gables, and forms a conspicuous object in the landscape, harmonising well with the romantic scenery around.
As a village church, it is perfect both in arrangement and detail, and reflects the highest credit, not only on the architect and the workmen, but also on the generous donor, who has spared neither labour nor expense to make it, as far as may be, worthy of Him for Whose worship it is intended.
The Bishop arrived at the church at eleven o’clock, accompanied by the Chancellor of the Diocese and his chaplain, the Rev. J. M. Sumner. Prayers were said by the incumbent, the Rev. N. G. Charrington, assisted by the Rev. T. A. Maberly, vicar of Cuckfield, the Rev. F. Freeth, and the Rev. J. T. Plummer. The Bishop preached the sermon. The music was Gregorian, and the hymns from “Hymns Ancient and Modern,” with the exception of a special hymn for the occasion, commencing—
‟When Israel first from Babylon
The second Temple knew,
In tears and smiles they thought upon
The old work and the new.”
After the service Mr. Maberley entertained the Bishop and a large party of visitors at Hawkley Hurst, and a dinner was provided in a tent on the grounds for the whole of the parish; this was followed by cricket and various rustic sports, which were kept up with great spirit till the time for evening service.