PETERSFIELD.
RE-OPENING OF THE ORGAN.—Our readers will remember that some moths ago it was found necessary to clean and repair the organ in the church, and this was thought to be a good opportunity for making some much-needed additions and improvements. Subscriptions for this purpose were solicited, and the call was responded to very liberally. Mr. J. Hopkins, organist of Rochester Cathedral, was requested to design the alterations and enlargements, and his plans have been executed by Mr. Fletcher, organ builder, of London, under the superintendence of Mr. Finley, the organist. The instrument is now all but completed, and, judging by the performance on Sunday last, we can but congratulate the parishioners on possessing an organ of such power and brilliancy of tone, so superior to what is usually met with in a small town. The cornopean stop, which is a brilliant addition to the swell, was contributed solely by the Rev. H. Haigh. The musical part of the services was simple and unpretending as ever, but infinitely more impressive and better executed than it could be previous to this improvement of the organ. The arrangement of the services was as follows:
Morning. Venite, Tallis, single in G; Te Deum, W. Macfarren in C; Jubilate, Turle, single in G; Hymn, ‟The strain upraise,” Dykes. Hymn 255, ‟St. George’s” Dr. Elvey.
Evening, Glorias, Tallis, single in G; Cantate, Grand Chant; Deus Misereatur, Crotch, single in A; Hymn, ‟The strain upraise,” Dykes; Hymn 1, ‟Westminster.”
Another improvement we may notice was the introduction of the Hymn Book published by the Christian Knowledge Society, in place of Hall’s, which has been in use for many years. The Rev. H. Haigh preached a most excellent and appropriate sermon in the morning from Psalm CXXXV, 1, 2, 3, and Rev. XIX, 5, 6; and the Rev. J. M. Sumner also made some allusion to the same subject in the evening. We hear that the amount already subscribed is not sufficient to cover all expenses, and the subscription lists are therefore kept open at the banks for the convenience of those who have not yet contributed to this desirable object.