Goodwin, and William H. Vale. The services in the Parish Church are as follow: - Sunday, forenoon quarter-past ten, after-noon half-past two, evening six. Sermon on Wednesday evening, and prayers every other evening, at seven o'clock. For the Sunday night and Wednesday night services, the congregations are indebted to the pious disposition and laudable solicitude of the present Vicar and other ministers, who officiate by turns. The church stands in the midst of a spacious burial ground -which, spacious however as it is, has long been not only too small for the wants of our immense and encreasing population, but so thoroughly filled as to be rendered very improper to be opened for the reception of any corpses, besides those whose relatives claim the privilege of interment we are anxious to see this cemetery sown with grass seeds; the gates locked during the night; and the memorials of the dead preserved from unnecessary effacement and wanton demolition.

We have alluded above, to the striking appearance of this church at a distance; we would here observe, that in consequence of the open space which surrounds this noble pile, it is seen with great advantage in its architectural effect, either by day-light when its parts can be examined in detail; or noctunally, when it appears merely as a fine mass of shadow, either dimly perceptible in its general outline, or more accurately defined in figure, as the light or the darkness may predominate. Under these circumstances, strangers have often been struck with the view of the fabric from Church-lane, and even our townspeople themselves, to whom a daily familiarity with the object may be presumed to have somewhat diminished the impression, often find a pleasure in gazing on the magnificent appearance of their parish church, either when faintly discernable in the gloom of midnight, or when more strikingly defined in the clearness of an evening sky.

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.

This is an elegant structure in the Grecian style of architecture, and was erected in the year 1720, in consequence, principally, of the munificence of Mr. Robert Downes, a goldsmith of this town, and other spirited individuals though, oing to some unforeseen difficulty in the settlement of the right sentation, not opened till 1740. It is surrounded with a s burial ground, and stands at some distance to the south

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of St. Peter's, in the direction in which the town first began considerably to extend itself. For, although when first erected it might be said to stand out of the town-and even some persons yet living recollect when corn waved on the site of Howard-street, and the streets adjacent-the church is now not only completely within the town, but, from the effect of the smoke upon it, exhibits much of the hue, though none of the dilapidation of antiquity. It occupies a ground plan of about 26 yards by 19; and exhibits, over the west end, a well proportioned tower surmounted with a dome and cupola, the latter of cast iron. Inside, it is commodiously and substantially pewed to accomodate 1250 sitters, and contains, besides a good organ by Snetzler, another object of great interest-a monument with emblematic figures, surmounted by a fine bust, which is also esteemed a capital likeness of a late pastor, the Rev. Alexander Mackenzie, A. M., from the chisel of Chantrey. The remains of the Rev. T. Cotterill, the predecessor of the present incumbent, rest within the communion railing. The deceased was universally beloved, and rarely, if ever, has Sheffield witnessed such a spontaneous tribute of respect as was evinced by the multitudes which attended his funeral; and never did charity more readily and liberally distinguish herself, than in the noble contribution which was made for the assistance of his amiable widow and fatherless children. The nomination of the minister belongs to the Vicar for the time being, and his salary, besides some surplice fees, arises out of the pew rents, the whole of which goes to his support, with the exception of forty-eight pounds per annum reserved, as payable for ever, to the heirs of the late Joseph Downes, of Manchester. The present highly esteemed and excellent minister is the Rev. James Knight.

In an ancient and well known engraving of the town, trees are represented as growing in St. Paul's churchyard. How much the burial ground would be beautified by a double, or even a single row of limes planted within the inclosure all around! why is this economical ornament denied to those who would so gladly look upon it? Why, indeed, is Sheffield generally, situated as it is, amidst almost all that is beautiful in scenery, so strikingly devoid of every trace of vegetation, and every sylvan ornament within its compass? Is it solely on account of the unfavourable effects of the smoke? We believe not.

ST. JAMES'S CHURCH.

A small, neat, stone building, erected in 1788, on part of the vicarage croft, at an expense of somewhat more than £3000, which was raised in shares of fifty pounds, each of which entitled the subscriber to a pew, as a freehold inheritance." By the conditions of the act of parliament authorising the erection of this church on the glebe land, the minister was to be appointed by the vicar for the time being; the fees to the vicar, the same as at St. Paul's, who was likewise to enjoy a rent charge of twenty pounds a year, fixed upon the church. Generally speaking this church is neither distinguished for any thing striking in its architecture without, nor in its arrangements within: it is capable of seating about 700 persons: has a good organ, and at the east end a large window of stained glass over the altar, containing a representation of our Saviour on the cross. This church is vaulted underneath, and the whole subdivided into small compartments as a depositary for the dead; a considerable number of these mortuary mansions, are in actual occupancy, and the rest remain to be disposed of at a certain rent fixed by the incumbent; there is besides the vaults, a very small portion of burial ground without the church.

The present highly respectable and pious minister is the Rev. Thomas Best, who is not more generally known beyond the town from the interest excited by his annual sermons against Theatrical Amusements, than deservedly beloved by his congregation, for the faithful, zealous, and affectionate discharge of his pastoral duties.

ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH.

The beautiful structure denominated as above, and which occupies an elevated situation to the west of the town, was the first-fruit to Sheffield of the act for building new churches,— the sum of £14,819 being allowed for this fabric, out of the parliamentary grant. The first stone was laid by the Rev. T. Sutton, on the 19th of July, 1821, being the coronation-day of his present Majesty, in honour of whom it is named St. George's. The building is a very beautiful design, composed in that style of Gothic architecture, which prevailed in the 14th century. The masonry appears to be as perfect as can well

be imagined: the lofty tower, 139 feet high-which rises at the west end, and which is beautifully modelled throughoutis a striking object at a great distance; while the finishing of the inside, including all the arrangements, is of a very handsome and satisfactory description. There are, on the whole, accommodations for 2,000 sitters, including the important convenience of 1,000 free seats, which, as well as the pews generally, are well filled with serious and devout hearers, especially on Sunday evenings, at which time divine service is regularly performed here. The church was consecrated by the Archbishop, and opened for divine service on the 29th of June, 1825, on which occasion it was crowded by an attentive audience, principally admitted by ticket. The present highly esteemed minister is the Rev. Stephen Langston, A. M.

Owing to differences of opinion on the subject of a Church Rate, at present existing between the Churchwardens and the inhabitants, a large piece of ground which surrounds St. George's church, and which has been consecrated ever since 1817, remains at present mostly uninenclosed, and the inhabitants, in consequence thereof, are deprived of those advantages and conveniences in the selection of places for interment, which they have so long required and expected. Although this is not the place for any discussion on the question above alluded to, yet we may be permitted to express our regret that any misunderstanding between such parties should be permitted, as it certainly does, to impede that decent and reverent disposal of the dead, which is so distinguishing a trait in the character of the inhabitants of this country; additional grave-ground is loudly called for in Sheffield.

ST. PHILIP'S CHURCH.

This church, situated near the Infirmary, and which is denominated after the above Saint, in testimony of respect to Philip Gell, Esq., of Hopton, who laid the first stone, on the 26th of September, 1822, is at present unopened, though quite finished, and is, we believe, intended to receive consecration during the present year. It is a handsome structure, in the Gothic style, and on the whole, not differing very greatly from St. George's in the general view. Of the architectural merits of each building respectively, different persons have expressed different sentiments. Standing in a most commanding situation as St.

George's does, its tower has been objected to as too high. Without challenging any credit for correct taste in this matter, much less as pretending to any architectural science, we nevertheless venture to differ from the preceding judgment; nor should we have objected (as far as effect is concerned) to have seen this high tower surmounted by a spire of proportionate elevation, which would in this case have rendered that church, to an extent even beyond what it is at present, one of the most conspicuous and interesting objects in the neighbourhood. St. Philip's, however, may be characterised generally as being less elaborately finished, as well as less ornamented, both without and within. It is, moreover, from its low situation, not so striking at a distance as the above-mentioned church. These, however, are very unimportant considerations, compared with the advantages likely to be derived by the neighbourhood, from the opening an house of God under such favourable auspices for Christian worship. This church is likewise surrounded with a considerable plot of ground, intended for a cemetery, which was presented by Philip Gell, Esq., the patron of the vicarage of Sheffield. Minister, the Rev. William Drayton Carter, M. A.

ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

This magnificent Gothic fabric, at present in progress of being erected, at the bottom of Brammall Lane, at the south east extremity of the town, appears likely-judging from the artist's sketch of the elevation, and the present indications of the work, to surpass our other new churches in splendour of design and beauty of execution: while, however, we give our unqualified approbation to the architectural proprieties which so abundantly predominate in this building, we cannot but regret that a series of barbarous Gothic masks should have been thought necessary to the perfection of that florid style of ornament adopted by the architect: let it be understood, that we have no serious objection, nor indeed objection at all, to the introduction of faces, or other subjects in the abstract; but we do think that whatever may have been the origin of these heterogeneous conceptions, and however much they might be admired in the infancy of art, it surely ought to be a maxim in the nineteenth century,-even in architecture, that what is obviously an insult on good sense, can never be in absolute ac