Wesleyan Church Extension.

A noble effort of this kind is being made by the Wesleyans in the First London Circuit, City Road. Three Chapels, each to contain a thousand sittings, are to be simultaneously erected, at a cost of fifteen thousand pounds. One in Hoxton Old Town, one in St. John's Square, near Wilderness Row, and one in Jewin Street, in the city. Large separate Schools, in connexion with the Chapels, are included in the plan, which will be carried out with all convenient despatch. The necessity for these and like exertions is evident; as for instance in one of the Districts embraced in the design, that of Shoreditch and Hoxton, there is a population approaching to 100,000, and the Chapel and Church accom modation of all parties, Protestant and Papist, only reaches 20,000, leaving 80,000 unprovided for. The want is nearly as great in the other two districts. The Methodiets of the neighborhood are coming forward handsomely; at the last advices, April 6th, more than £8,000 had been collected and subscribed, the first stone of the Hoxton Chapel was laid March 29th, and at the Tea Meeting in City Read the same evening. 1700 persons sat down. The greatest enthusiasm prevails in the Societies concerned. It is believed they will much more readily build and pay for the three Chapels and Schools, than if they had only attempted one. As the friends at Hoxton, Wilderness Row, and Jewin Street, would each have thought theirs the most essential locality, and there would have been no concentrated, general, circuit support, so that, as one of the speakers at the tea meeting philosophically and eloquently observed, “though we could not succeed with one we can succeed with all. If we cannot build one, let us build three!” Another effort of the kind is being made in the Borough of Stockport, Cheshire. Some twelve mouths ago, a Church Extension fund was set on foot; and was so far prospered that the Committee determined on the simultaneous erection of three new Chapels, in the parts of the Borough most destitute of religious instruction. On May 8, the foundation stone of the first of the three Chapels was laid in Great Portwood-street, by Alderman Marshall, supported by James Heald, Esq., M.P. for the Borough, the Mayor and Magistrates, the Ministers of the Circuit, and a large assemblage of Friends. From the accounts of the various services, the day was evidently a holy and memorable one. The chapel is to be built from the design of James Wilson, Esq., of Bath. It is in the Gothic style, such as was prevalent about the middle of the fourteenth century.—The front elevation will present to view a large centre and two smaller side doorways, Above the centre door is a fine decorated window, with four lights or bays, and on each side two light windows. The gable will be finished with a very rich coping, on the apex will be a beautifully crocketed pinnsele. The lower ends of the gable are terminated by ten unique battle-page 161mented square pins, set diagonally. The upper part of the Chapel will have an open worked parapet. The dimensions outside are 50×83 feet. To the top of the gable will be 58 feet. It is to accommodate 900 persons; 300 or 400 sittings will be free. The Chapel was expected to be completed in December.