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Archaeologia Cantiana -  Vol. 1  1858   page xlviii

INAUGURAL MEETING of the Kent Archaeological Society

from the beautifully painted windows, with feelings of reverence in our hearts, although we at the same time may admit that the great Deity can be acceptably worshiped by His people where there is no canopy but the heavens; yet we are constrained to use the sublime language of the old Patriarch, and cannot help exclaiming, "Surely this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of Heaven!" and the feelings of our soulsfind vent in the warmest prayer,—
   " Long may our spiry abbeys, high cathedrals, stand!
     The arks of God! the bulwarks of the land!"
   Many churches have recently been erected, at which we may well rejoice; and though of course the first object is to obtain the means of public worship for the people, it is still an important though a secondary consideration that they should be constructed in a style worthy of the solemn service for which they are built, and worthy in some degree of the great Being to whom they are dedicated; and in this respect it is gratifying
to admit that better principles than once prevailed are now generally acted upon, and the ecclesiastical architecture which most pleases the eye is undoubtedly that which is borrowed from the models of former days. Nothing shows more our obligations to bygone taste and skill than the modern term " restoration" as applied to the work now going on in many of our parish churches. I recollect being a few years ago in a church undergoing this process, and observed a notice emblazoned on the walls in a kind of triumphal wreath, to this effect: "This church was repaired and beautified in 17—;" and the beautification consisted in daubing the walls and pillars with whitewash, blocking up a splendid arch, and completely hiding a magnificent western window. A friend who was with me made this observation: "When these restorations are complete, the proper inscription will be, 'This church was and beautified anno Domini 1850.' "
  
With regard to sculpture also, which is so closely united with architecture: though we may be justly proud of the works of some of our own sculptors, yet they invariably succeed best when they most closely adhere to the noble works left by the artists of antiquity. I remember, some years ago, when taking a tour amongst other scenes of interest, I visited the seat of that eminent antiquary, the late Sir Richard Colt Hoare, and whilst walking in his beautiful grounds, suddenly came upon a

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