ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTISHEAD CHURCH, SOMERSETSHIRE.-It gives us pleasure to observe that the vestry-room of this Church (which, unlike the majority of modern vestry-rooms, is in perfect accordance with the architecture of the venerable building to which it is attached, and was erected about four years ago, by the help of a handsome subscription entered into by the proprietors of land in the parish, and other friends of our Establishment, though, for its perfect completion, there was not at that time sufficient funds) is at length fully finished, by the addition of a pierced parapet, of very beautiful tracery work; and of an ornamented pinnacle at the north-east corner, corresponding with the elaborate work on the elegant parapet, and on the exquisitely finished pinnacles of the lofty tower of the Church, and executed in the best possible style. This has been accomplished without any charge on the parishioners, under the auspices, and by the means, of their venerable and aged Rector, aided by the strenuous exertions and personal superintendence, of a gentleman devotedly attached to Church architecture, for many years a resident in the parish, who has been a most liberal benefactor to this and other Churches in the neighbourhood; and at whose expense there has lately been erected in the chancel of the said Church, a very beautiful and substantial oak pew, richly carved in the gothic order, which has been esteemed by competent judges, to be unrivalled of its kind in this part of the kingdom. This pew has been presented by him to the Rector of the said parish of Portishead for the time being. May such attention to our Churches be followed in other parishes: it will effectually rebuff the base calumny raised by designing calumniators in the present day, against the Clergy of our venerable Church; that they care little for the sacred edifices committed to their care and inspection, which have been for so many ages the cherished ornaments of the pious munificence of our forefathers.

THE REV. MR. TIPTAFT, who not long since resigned the living of Sutton Courtney, and seceded from the Church, lately preached at the Old Baptist Chapel, in Devizes, over the congregation of which chapel the Rev. R. Hitchcock (who is also a seceder) has for some time presided. If charity, as we have been taught to believe, form a part of true religion, then has Mr. Tiptaft yet to learn what true religion is. The Rev. gentleman bitterly inveighed against the Church he had so recently left, and boldly declared "that there was scarcely a Minister or Member of the Church of England that was not on the broad way to hell!" He ridiculed the clergyman putting on his white gown, and going to the font, sprinkling a little water over an infant's forehead, and calling it baptism; and afterwards putting on a black gown, going into a pulpit, and (if he preached God) contradicting himself. He described the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge as sinks of iniquity; and defied any one to speak well of the Church of England who knew what she was. Those who spoke in her favour (he said) knew not her tenets. The different denominations of Dissenters, who did not agree with his high Calvinistic notions, also came under his lash; and he advised his hearers to listen to no preacher who was not hated even as Christ was hated! All good men (he said) were hated: he himself was hated. The Rev. gentleman delivered his sentiments with the utmost rapidity, and with much energy.

John Francis Witty, of Broad Chalke, has lately become a convert to the doctrines of the Church of England, after having been for many years the pastor of a dissenting congregation. Mr. Witty has addressed a long letter to the Bishop of Salisbury on the subject, explaining his motives, and the grounds upon which he has come to the determination, and praying to be admitted a minister of the Established Church. Mr. W. in this letter, enters at great length into proofs of the Apostolical origin of an Episcopal form of Church government, advocating the necessity of an Established National Religion; expressing his conviction that the creed of the Anglican Church contains all the fundamental doctrines of Christianity; and giving his testimony to the excellence and sanctity of the Liturgy of that Church.

It is with great satisfaction we hear that the Vicar of Standish, Gloucestershire, has, with the consent of the Bishop of the Diocese, as Patron of the Vicarage of

Standish, generously augmented the Perpetual Curacy of Randwick, (being a chapelry attached,) by alienating the Vicarial Tithes of the parish of Randwick, and annexing them in perpetuity to that Perpetual Curacy; under the provisions of an Act, passed in the last session of Parliament for the purpose of confirming and perpetuating augmentations made to small Benefices.

An address has been prepared from the Archdeaconry of Derby, to the Bishop of the diocese, having for its object a contribution from the larger benefices, on a graduated scale, to increase the value of the smaller livings.

In consequence of the resolution of several branch associations of the London Missionary Society, to withdraw their support if any slave proprietor hold office in the society, Allers Hankey, Esq., banker, has been induced, as a holder of slaves, to tender his resignation as the treasurer of the society.

The inhabitants of the town district of Hampton, Middlesex, have presented to the Rev. John Merewether, M.A. of Queen's College, Chaplain to Her Majesty, and for nearly nine years their Curate and Lecturer, a very splendid piece of plate, remarkable for the elegance of its design, and the beauty of its workmanship.

On the 19th and 20th ult., the poor inhabitants of Thame were most bountifully supplied, by Miss Wykeham, of Thaine Park, with blankets, quilts, sheets, jackets, shirts, flannel petticoats, shifts, and stockings, in the liberal manner which always marks the open-handed generosity of her disposition: and when it is remembered that at Christmas, the parishes of Haddenham, Sydenham, Swalcliffe, and Thame, were profusely relieved, some idea may be formed of the extent of her charitable expenditure; and at the late solemn season of public Fast, every Christian heart must congratulate her for observing it in a manner so pleasing to the Giver of all good gifts, as says Isaiah,-" Is not this the fast which I have chosen; to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thine house; when thou seest the naked that thou cover him." We trust the poor will long retain a grateful sense of Miss Wykeham's kindness, in so amply and feelingly administering to their wants.

Baily, Robinson Rishton Chapl. to the Tower of London.

Bruce, Courtenay Boyle Domestic Chapl. to the Earl of Longford.

Chester, George .... Head Mast. of Endowed School at Stamfordham, Northumb. Crane, Edwin

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Davies, William Lewis
Durand, Havilland
Ebden, James Collet..

Chapl. to Berkeley's Hospital, Worcester.
Principal of Elizabeth Coll. Guernsey.
Chapl. of the Garrison at Guernsey.
Mast. of Grammar School, at Ipswich.

Le Mesurier, Henry Second Mast. of Bedford School.

Mackenzie, Charles.. Head Mast. of Queen Elizabeth's Free Gram. School, Southwark.

Crook, H.Simon Chas. Bath, WalcotSt. Saviour's, C.Somerset B. & W.

to Sherburn Hosp. Mast.S Durham Durham