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During the reign of Queen Victoria many of the interiors of
our Parish Churches were transformed from their 'traditional' pre-nineteenth
century appearances into what we see today. As a result, much of what we now
treasure as our 'Heritage' was swept away. In the same way as the music we think of as West Gallery
Music, or Rural Georgian Psalmody, continued in the Independent chapels for a
long while after the Oxford Movement introduced Hymns Ancient &
Modern in 1861, many Independent chapels were spared the zeal of the
Victorian reformers, and many glorious examples still exist of the interiors as
they were originally built.
This site is dedicated to recording what remains of that
period in the lifetime of Church and Chapel. Here you will find
a growing number of churches with galleries, two
and three-decker pulpits, testers, box pews, private pews and other features, together with
pictures of the churches and chapels themselves, and, where known, descriptions
and researched notes as to the quires and music known to have been sung
there. As time permits, overseas
churches will be added where this influence has survived. We are
especially indebted to a number of Books of Reference, set out in the
Bibliography. The Links
page sets out a number of links to related web pages. You will also find
cross-references, where applicable, to Dove's
Guide of ringable peals of bells. |
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This is an ongoing project, and pictures and text will be added to the site as time and availability of suitable material permit. This can only be achieved with your help, with your pictures and historical information provided by you. All pictures and text will be credited to the photographer or author concerned, and will remain their copyright. |
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Where photographs are not available, picture postcards and line drawings can be used, but first please ensure that the owner's and /or author's consents have been obtained in writing. Historical photographs and records are also very welcome, especially relating to the services, quire and congregation, music and instruments, etc. in any particular church or chapel. A separate section of the site will be established for records about churches and chapels where features of the period are known to have existed, but where there is now no, or little, visible evidence. |
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