Rev. A. Lynn, Messrs. G. Coward, J. Clark, S. Welsh, and A. Maughan. It gives us pleasure to learn that £116 1s. 6d. has been raised by subscription, &c., including £3 7s. 6d., half proceeds of tea at Bethel Chapel, Durham, which, added to Mr. Love's munificent donation and gifts, enables the trustees to place to the credit of the trust estate the sum of £332 3s. The friends are determined not to relax their exertions until the whole of the debt is extinguished. The building is in the early pointed period of ecclesiastical architecture. Stone has been used throughout the building. The entrance is by a porch, having a pointed doorway with trefoil arch opening, splayed jambs, moulded labels, &c. The gable fronting the street is pierced with pointed arched window openings, having splayed dressings. The interior fittings are of Petersburg pine, wrought, stained, and varnished. A platform is provided in a recess of the rear gable, to answer for public meetings as well as for the usual Sunday services. Adjoining the chapel is a vestry, with an entrance from the porch. Mr. Gibson Kyle is the architect, and Mr. Jas. Smith the builder." The following is a statement of the subscriptions:

The debt remaining on the chapel is about £160, which the trustees purpose in a few years to have removed.

And now we look for the verification of that remark of Mr. Wesley, that a new chapel nearly always brings a new congregation and a new blessing from God. Already more than double the sittings are let than were let in the room, and it is by hearing the Word that men come to the enjoyment of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. May it prove the spiritual birth-place of many souls!

It is but just to our worthy secretary of the trustees, Mr. John Barker, to say that he has, in the absence of the proper party, rendered most valuable service in watching over the progress of the building, and exerting himself for its interest in various ways. May he find his rich reward in the abundant success of the church of which he is a leader! T. SMITH.

CHAPEL OPENING AT OLD
COUNDON,

DURHAM CIRCUIT.

A FEW months ago a paragraph appeared in the Magazine reporting the laying the foundation-stone of a new chapel at Coundon, a populous and increasing colliery village, about ten miles west of Durham. We have now to inform your readers that the building has been completed and opened for public worship. The Revs. H. Downes and J. W. Williams, and Mr. A. Thompson, preached the opening sermons, on Nov. 10th and 17th. On Nov. 23rd a tea-meeting was held, attended by about 250 persons. Mr. Leishman (Wesleyan) presided, and the Revs. T. Smith and A. Lynn, and others, took part in the public meeting.

The total cost of the chapel, which will seat 350 persons, is about £400, the ground having been given (under certain stipulations) by W. L. Wharton, Esq., of Durham. Towards the cost of the building a bazaar is being prepared, by which the effort in connection with the opening will be completed. The zeal of our friends has

been greatly stimulated by the generous offer of Joseph Love, Esq., to double the entire amount raised by opening collections, tea-party, and bazaar, and it is expected that only a small debt will thus be left upon the premises. It is still more pleasing to state, that since the opening, the chapel has been regularly filled, often crowded on the Sabbath evening, and that the society, which six months ago numbered only twenty members, returned to the last quarterly meeting forty-four members, with thirty on trial.

A. LYNN.

HUNSLET, LEEDS CIRCUIT. THE fifteenth anniversary effort on behalf of the above trust estate has just been made. The sermons were preached, on the 15th and 22nd of Dec., 1861, by the Revs. H. O. Crofts, D.D., and P. S. Gilton, of York. The collections amounted to the handsome sum of £100 28. 1†d.

The bazaar opened on Monday morning, the 30th of December, 1861, and closed on Wednesday night, Jan. 1, 1862. Articles of a good and useful kind, in great abundance and variety, were offered by the ladies for sale. The confectionery stall was supplied very plentifully, and, as may easily be imagined, was the centre of attraction to the juvenile part of the visitors. Tea and supper were supplied each day, at the charge of one shilling. The contribution which the ladies of Hunslet are enabled, through this, their fifteenth annual bazaar, to make to the funds of the trust estate, is no less a sum than £131 6s. 7d., and which cannot but be felt, throughout the entire Connexion, as highly honourable to them.

The collection and bazaar together make the noble sum of £231 8s. 8d. The friends at Hunslet have always felt themselves indebted, under God, to Mr. Alderman Blackburn and his excellent lady for the great success which has, from year to year, attended their efforts; but this year their sense of obligation to Mrs. Blackburn is peculiarly strong, inasmuch as she has had to conduct this effort to its successful termination, whilst suffering great bodily indisposition.

The Connexion, no doubt, will he glad to hear that the new chapel in Dewsbury Road, Hunslet, is approach

ing its completion, and is expected to be opened for Divine worship before the ensuing Conference.

The trustees have incurred, by the improvements they have adopted in it, a much larger amount of responsibility than they at first thought of doing. It has grown in their hands, and, by its growth, become a higher object of admiration in the neighbourhood where it stands, and a more worthy representative of the community that has reared it.

The trustees have also started the erection of a Sabbath-school behind the chapel (twelve yards square), which will cost from three to four hundred pounds. It cannot, therefore, be thought likely that the sanguine hope expressed in the report of our Chapel Fund Committee -that this chapel may be opened out of debt-can be realized. After all that can be done, there will remain, on the entire estate, about a thousand pounds. Hunslet. J. O.

SHEFFIELD SOUTH CIRCUIT. MY DEAR SIR,-It has been known to you, and to others who watch with interest Connexional movements, that Sheffield South circuit, for some years past, has been too limited in its sphere of action, and well nigh stationary in its character. Many worthy friends in the circuit have often lamented this want of progress, and have been deeply conscious, as they have looked upon the town rapidly extending on all sides, that it was practicable, and therefore solemnly binding upon them, to extend the circuit by the addition of new places. They are not only convinced that the circuit may be enlarged, but are now resolved that it shall be, and are really in earnest to carry out their resolution. As the result, I am happy to say that we have now a gratifying prospect of being more deeply rooted in this large and important town, and of greatly multiplying our instrumentalities for the religious training of the young, and for the conversion of sinners to God. Two most exellent sites have been secured, in the midst of new and promising neighbourhoods, for the purpose of erecting schools and chapels upon them-viz., in Broomhill and Spitalhill. The former may be again noticed in a subsequent communication. The latter, namely, Spitalhill, has engaged our serious attention, as

a neighbourhood presenting a fine opening for Christian enterprise and zeal. Prior to last conference, a room was taken in Bramber-street, for a Sunday-school, which was opened with twelve scholars. The number increased weekly, till, in September, more than a hundred names were on the books. It was then arranged that sermons should be preached and collections made, towards paying the rent of the room and the incidental expenses incurred in conducting the school. The writer preached in the afternoon, and Mr. Coe in the evening. The services were well attended. The progress of the school from the commencement, and the prospect of still greater progress in the future, convinced the visitors that immediate steps should be taken to erect a suitable school for the accommodation of the children. Edward Firth, Esq., delighted with the locality and the prospect of success, promised £50 towards the object. The friends on the spot, encouraged by his generous promise, purchased without delay 1,480 yards of land on which to build a school and chapel. On Nov. 28th the foundation stone of the proposed school was laid by J. Brown, Esq., the mayor. A large crowd of people were present to witness the ceremony. My worthy colleague, the Rev. E. Wright, commenced by giving out Montgomery's beautiful hymn

"This stone to thee in faith we lay." The Rev. T. Chester (Methodist free church) engaged in prayer. Mr. T. Scott presented to his worship the mayor a beautiful silver trowel and mallet. The ceremony was then proceeded with, after which the mayor addressed the crowd at considerable length. At five o'clock about 250 persons sat down to tea in the congregational Wicker school-room, kindly lent for the occasion. After tea, our esteemed friend, Mr. Edward Firth, took the chair, and opened the proceedings in an appropriate speech, expressive of his warm sympathy in the undertaking. The Revs. D. Round, T. Boycott, J. Stacey, J. Flather, and Messrs. T. Scott, J. Fenton, G. Saville, J. Coe, G. Fox, and D. Wood addressed the meeting. You will be pleased to hear, dear sir, that although the school is not more than seven months old, it is taking this the first year of its existence sixty-six "Juvenile Instructors." We have not only a

growing school, but a class-meeting established, and are anticipating with joy the time when the school and the nucleus of a church will be able to meet in the new and spacious schoolroom. May the blessing of God continue to rest upon the undertaking! January 16th. D. ROUND.

OPENING OF THE KNOWLE SUNDAY-SCHOOL AND PREACHING ROOM,

DUDLEY CIRCUIT.

DEAR SIR,-You are always glad to hear of the extension of our circuits, and of additions being made to the Church of Christ. Our circuit, at the last Conference, contained 13 chapels, and 953 members. At the July quarterly meeting, it was suggested by our esteemed superintendent, the Rev. W. Baggaly, that we should open two new interests during the year. The meeting adopted the suggestion, and appointed Brother Watkiss to commence a class, and open a room for preaching at Brierley Hill; and our warm-hearted friend, Mr. Edward Mills, volunteered to establish an interest at the Knowle. His offered services were accepted, and, in conjunction with Brother John Rogers, he was appointed to the work.

It may be necessary here to remark that the Knowle is a large and thriving hamlet, situated about a mile and a half from Dudley, on the turnpike road to Rowley Regis. Although it has a large population, there was no place of worship nearer than Rowley Church, which is about three-quarters of a mile from the place, and but comparatively few of the adults ever saw the inside of the sacred edifice; and, on account of the distance, the children, instead of attending the Sunday-school, were running about the lanes and fields in the locality.

of

Determined to succeed, our friends, Messrs. Rogers and Mills, first engaged a large room in a private house, which was made to serve the double purpose of Sunday-school and chapel. By a systematic course of "house to house" visitation, and the distribution tracts, the place was so full of children attending the school, that when the time for the afternoon service came on, and the neighbours wished to come to the service, we were placed under the necessity of turning the children into the streets, in order that their parents

might hear the Word of God. Of course, when the weather permitted, the preachers proclaimed the Word of Life in the open air, sometimes to an assembly of about two hundred per

sons.

This state of things could not last long, and, like wise generals, our brethren began to look out for winter quarters. A barn, situated within fifty yards of the room already occupied, seemed a suitable building, on account of its being more commodious; but, in its state at that time, it was totally unfit for religious purposes. Nothing daunted, the friends at once set to work, and, after a committee had been appointed at the October quarterly meeting to examine the place and decide as to the propriety of effecting the necessary alterations, the barn was secured. At first an outlay of £20 was deemed sufficient, but the friends soon discovered that, to make the place comfortable and attractive, it would involve an expenditure of £40. Brother Mills commenced the task of raising the money.

The necessary alterations having been completed, the building assumed quite a different aspect, no longer wearing the appearance of a barn, but a neat and commodious school and chapel, its dimensions being about 33 feet long by 14 feet wide, and capable of accommodating nearly two hundred persons. The interior of the building has been floored, plastered, and ceiled, a neat pulpit erected, and benches, stove, and lamps provided. Outside the front gable has been stuccoed, and a porch, in the Gothic style of architecture, erected before the door, so that it presents a very respectable exterior.

On Monday, December 2, 1861, it was opened for public worship, when the Rev. W. Baggaly preached morning and afternoon, and in the evening the Rev. W. Willan. On Sunday, Dec. 16, the second day's opening services were held, in the morning conducted by Rev. W. Willan, in the afternoon by Rev. J. Taylor, who happened to be in the neighbourhood, and in the evening by the Rev. A. R. Pearson. On the following day a public teameeting was held. After tea, the chair was occupied by Mr. Jno. Rogers, and addresses were delivered by Rev. W. Baggaly and Mr. Edward Mills. From the financial statement read over, it appeared that the total cost of alterations and improvements was £45 10s.,

and towards this sum £32 17s. had been raised, leaving a balance due to the treasurer of £12 13s. Since then we have received the handsome donation of £5 5s. from Samuel Griffiths, Esq., of Wolverhampton, and other sums, amounting in all to about £6 16s.

It may be observed that not more than two or three pounds of the entire amount raised has been given by friends connected with the circuit. Great praise is due to Messrs. Rogers and Mills for their indefatigable exertions in connection with the movement. The school contains above 100 children, with a suitable staff of teachers, among whom two large magazines and thirty copies of the "Juvenile Instructor" are sold monthly. The congregations are good, and the class that has been formed already numbers about sixteen persons, with the prospect of an increase. Many of the prayer-meetings after the Sunday evening services have indeed been times of refreshing, and penitent sinners have found pardon by faith in the blood of atonement. May the Great Head of the Church prosper the cause, and make it abundantly useful to the neighbourhood! ALPHA.

PENDLETON,

MANCHESTER SOUTH CIRCUIT. ON Christmas day last the members of the above society held their annual social tea-meeting. A large number assembled for tea-indeed, more than could be accommodated at one sitting. After tea the public meeting was held in the chapel, which was one of a very delightful and animated character. The speakers on the occasion were the Revs. G. Grundy, J. Addyman, and H. Marsden, with Messrs. F. and W. Newbury, T. Elkington, F. Toulson, J. Harwood, H. Cutter, J. Jarvey, and Mr. Ramsay. The meeting was greatly enlivened and charmed by the performances of the choir, which gave, in an efficient manner, several choruses from Hadyn and Handel. During the meeting there were the usual congratulations of the season, interspersed with many expressions of sympathy with our beloved Queen in her present afflictive bereavement. But that which gave the meeting its greatest interest and value was the ventilation of a new chapel project, into which the trus tees have entered. It was reported

to the meeting that, during the last few weeks, a canvass had been prosecuted among the members and pewholders of Pendleton with most encouraging results, especially considering the state of trade, and the resources of the people. A resolution was submitted to the meeting, embodying a proposal to hold a "monster tea-meeting" in the last week of February, to which the most influential ministers and laymen in the district should be invited. The meeting urged upon the trustees the instant and energetic prosecution of this project, appointing a committee to co-operate with the trustees in making the necessary ar rangements, while the friends present pledged themselves to support the trustees to the utmost of their ability. H. MARSDEN.

Manchester.

GUERNSEY,

MY DEAR SIR,-You will be glad to know that the ladies of our church and congregation-or, rather, a few of them-have just held their annual bazaar, in the Assembly Rooms; and have realized £162, £100 of which is given to the trustees of our new chapel, which is now fast hastening towards completion. These ladies have kindly pledged themselves to give the trustees the like sum every year.-Respectfully yours,

B. COLLENETTE, M.D., Secretary to the Trustees of St. Paul's Chapel.

STAFFORD.

MY DEAR SIR, I hope I may say that there are signs of improvement at Stafford. We have just had our annual sermons and tea-meeting, which will leave us a clear surplus of over £12. The Rev. C. D. Ward, superintendent of the circuit, preached on the 29th December, 1861, and G. L. Robinson, Esq., Longton, occupied the chair at the public meeting on the following Monday evening. One principal feature in the anniversary was the signing of a new trust deed. The original number of trustees had become reduced, by deaths and removals, to three or four, and of these some are not connected with us.

It was

deemed essential, therefore, to the proper working of the estate, that a

number of new trustees should be added. Accordingly, we have now fifteen in all; and, as a new trust has been the desideratum for many years, it is hoped that now we may see prosperity. Mr. Robinson, I ought to say, kindly prepared the deed gratis, and has thereby laid the trustees under a debt of gratitude, which, I am sure, they very readily acknowledge.

Should you consider these few lines worthy a place in the Magazine, the mere fact of their appearing will help to encourage our friends.-I am, very truly yours, H. L. THOMPSON.

MISSION ANNIVERSARY,

DURHAM CIRCUIT.

ON Sunday, Jan. 12th, sermons in aid of our missions were preached at Crook, by Rev. A Lynn; at Oakenshaw, by Mr. A. Thompson; and at Spennymoor, by Mr. W. Harkinson (circuit missionary). On Monday a missionary meeting was held at Crook, Mr. T. D. Stephenson presiding. Revs. H. Downes, W. H. Cave (Wesleyan), A. Lynn, and Mr. W. Harkinson addressed the meeting. On Tuesday, at Oakenshaw, Mr. Stephenson again occupied the chair, and was supported by Revs. H. Downes and A. Lynn, with Messrs. H. Ridley and W. Harkinson. On the following evening a meeting was held at Spennymoor, Mr. W. Waine in the chair. The Revs. T. Smith and A. Lynn and Mr. R. Cole were the speakers. This was the first Methodist New Connexion missionary meeting held in Spennymoor, and though the collection was not large, an interest was evinced which gives promise of "greater things." The services on the whole were of a highly encouraging and stimulating character. A. LYNN.

PRESENTATION AT OLDHAM. ON Saturday, December 7, the "Young Men's Mutual Improvement Society," connected with the Methodist New Connexion, Oldham, held their annual tea-meeting, when upwards of 350 sat down to tea. The meeting having been opened in the usual manner, the Rev. T. Scowby, president of the society, took the chair. He congratulated the young men on the evident success of their meeting, also on the remarkable progress of the society.