From the Royal Cornwall Gazette, Friday 5th October 1855, page 5.
The gratifying ceremonial of consecrating this new and beautiful church, the fourth which has been built in connection with Truro, and the third within the town itself, in the last twelve years, took place on Friday.
St. George’s district is taken out of the town portion of the parish of Kenwyn, under the provisions of Peel’s Act. It embraces all the part of the parish from the back of Lemon-street to Carvedras smelting house, being separated by the leat from St. Mary’s. The district is generally poor, and includes some of the most unfavorable parts of Truro, whether for poverty or vice. A large number of new buildings, mostly small, but of a respectable class, entire streets indeed, are springing up near the church.
When the district was first formed, accommodation was obtained for divine Services and Schools, in part of the old Kenwyn workhouse; but this could not be long available, and a temporary church of wood was raised in the Back Lane, not far from the Cornwall Infirmary. From the time of the appointment of the present Incumbent, the Rev. P.E. Wrench, he has exerted himself with most energetic and persevering zeal to raise, not a building to accommodate a poor congregation, but a church which should approve itself to all, as fitted for the worship and raised to the honour of God. The plan, the proportions, and the workmanship of the fabric are really beautiful. It is 135 feet long, including the apse and base of the tower, 65 feet wide at the transepts, and 32½ at the nave. It is planned to admit of easy enlargement by side aisles to the extent of the transepts. The style is Early English; the roof is open, of well-proportioned pitch, with very neat, yet simple framing. The seats, of stained deal, are all open and free. Three windows of stained glass occupy the several faces of the apse, the centre representing the crucifixion, the other two, the beloved disciple, and the mother of our Lord, as on either side the cross. Two other windows in the choir represent the instruments of the crucifixion; and there are three other windows of stained glass, two in the chancel, and one in the east side of the north transept, not with figures, but in which the colours are particularly bright, soft, and well blended. In the transept windows the glass is softened with a tinge of green: they are each of three pointed lights, the centre much higher than the others, with its arch supported by two slender and lofty columns, and the proportions and effect are beautiful. The chancel and tower arches are particularly graceful. A noble font, of St. Stephens granite, stands at the West end, in the base of the tower: much taste is shown in the pattern, and equal skill in the workmanship. The tower, as at present raised, is fitted for a peal of bells, but these, as well as the spire intended to surmount it, wait for the needful funds. The general effect of the church as seen from the east end, is strikingly beautiful. The one fault is, deficient light for the chancel, the windows here being small, and of stained glass. This alone would not have caused inconvenient gloom, or exceeded the solemnity of a dim religious light, but unfortunately the roof and great part of the walls in the choir, have been painted of a very dark colour, with attempts at ornament which, to use the mildest term, have been sadly unsuccessful. We trust there will be little delay in effacing the whole of this, especially as, we are glad to see, the stucco is already beginning to discharge the colour.
The Bishop arrived at a quarter before eleven. We were very glad to observe that notwithstanding the labours of the week—an ordination at the Cathedral on Sunday, confirmations on Monday and Tuesday, a journey from Exeter to St. Hilary, and the consecration of a church there on Thursday—his appearance and voice betrayed no exhaustion. Indeed, after the service on Friday, he proceeded by turnpike road to St. Germans, more than 40 miles. His lordship was received at the porch by about 30 of the clergy; others not in their robes were among the congregation. The petition for Consecration was presented by Mr. Sharp. The Deed of Consecration was read by the Rev. Chancellor Martin. The Rev. P.E. Wrench, the Incumbent, read the Prayers; and the Curates of Kenwyn, the Rev. — Hedgeland, and the Rev. R. Barnes, the Lessons. The Bishop read the Communion Service; the Venerable the Archdeacon of Cornwall the Epistle; and the Rev. T. Phillpotts, of Feock, chaplain to the Bishop, the Gospel. The sermon was preached by the vicar of Kenwyn, the Rev. Prebendary Browne, Norrisian Professor of Divinity at Cambridge, from the text —“Take off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” The preacher dwelt on the duty and benefits of setting apart days and places as hallowed to the service of God, a duty which we trace from the time of the Patriarchs. He called attention to the beautiful church in which they were met, built by the rich for the use of the poor, and enforced the responsibility which this additional means of grace laid upon them. Finally, anticipating the completion of the church by the provision of a peal of bells, and the erection of its spire, he appealed to the liberality of the congregation and parishioners. The Holy Communion was then administered by the Bishop and his assistants.
The Rev. E. Dix preached in the evening. The collection at the two services amounted to 52l. 10s.
Among the clergy present were, the Rev. Chancellor Martin, the Ven. the Archdeacon of Cornwall, the Rev. W.W. Harvey, Dean Rural and rector of St. Mary’s, Truro, and the Rev. J.W. Murray; of the clergy of Kenwyn and Kea, the Rev. Professor Brown, vicar, and his curates, the Rev. R. Barnes, and — Hedgeland, with ministers of the district churches of the united parishes, the Rev. G.L. Church of Chacewater, T.S. Livius of Kea, P.E. Wrench, of St. George’s, and J. Symonds of Baldhu; the Rev. T. Phillpotts, vicar of Feock, and his curates the Revds. — Bowles, and — Neame; the Revds. Prebendary Barnes, Stackhouse, F. Webber, E. Dix, H.S. Slight, J.W. Hawkesley, Manley, Jackson, Morris, Gurney, Wise, Peter, C.W. Carlyon, Haslam, Vautier; with others whose names we have been unable to obtain.
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