“For some days past notices had been issued that the first stone of the new Church, to be erected in this town, was to be laid this day; and at half-past ten this morning the Mayor, Corporation, gentry, and inhabitants assembled at the Town Hall, and proceeded to St. Nicholas’ Church. Prayers were read by the Rev. Harvey Bawtree, and after service the procession moved in the following order:—Bellman, Church Beadles, Constables, the Corporation Band, Hospital Charity Children, Inhabitants and Gentry, Officers of the Navy, Mr. J. J. Scoles, the Architect, the Clergy of Yarmouth and its vicinity, the Regalia, the Right Worshipful Edmund Preston, Esq., the Mayor, his Majesty’s Lieutenant for the County, the Hon. and Very Rev. Dr. Pellew, Dean of Norwich, and the Rev. Richard Turner, the Right Hon. and Rev. Viscount Nevill, the Deputy-Mayor, the Aldermen in their scarlet gowns, the Common Councilmen, Constables. On arriving at the ground, the procession passed once round the building to the north-east corner.
A copy of the inscription, which had been written on vellum, and placed with the coins of the present King in a bottle, hermetically sealed, was then read by the Town Clerk:—
“Great Yarmouth.—The first stone of this Church, dedicated to St. Peter, and erected by His Majesty’s Commissioners for building new Churches (under the authority of an Act of Parliament, 58th Geo. III. c. 45) on a site granted by the Corporation, and with the assistance of their donations, and the subscriptions of several of the inhabitants of the town and its vicinity, was laid on the seventh day of July, in the second year of the reign of His Most Gracious Majesty King William the Fourth, mdcccxxxi., by the Right Worshipful Edmund Preston, Esquire, Mayor; the Right Reverend Henry Bathurst, Lord Bishop of the Diocese; the Honourable and Very Reverend George Pellew, D.D., Dean of Norwich; the Honourable and Reverend Edward Pellew, M.A., Minister of the parish. Architect, Joseph John Scoles; contractors, John Pigg, Jeremiah Wright, George Cattermole, Samuel Bligh, James Watson.”
The children sang the 100th Psalm during the operation of inserting the bottle in a cavity, and securing the stone, which had been prepared to receive it. A silver trowel was then presented by the Architect, and after the Mayor had spread the mortar, the stone was lowered to the proper place, and the ceremony of striking it was performed by the Clergy and Corporation in succession.
The Dean offered up appropriate prayers, accompanied by an address expressly composed for this occasion. The children then sang a collect. The Mayor afterwards addressed the company present, on the pious work which they had assisted in commencing; amidst the general plaudits of the surrounding multitude the band struck up “God save the King,” and the company returned to the Town Hall and partook of an elegant cold collation.
“The Church, which has been so happily begun, is calculated to contain 1,800 persons, and three-fifths of the seats are to be appropriated for ever as free sittings.”
August 25th.—Contains the following notice:—“By invitation from the Mayor and Mrs. Preston, on Monday sennight, to a promenade at their beautiful garden, situate on the banks of the river Yare, were assembled almost all the fashion of the town and its vicinity. At seven o’clock the band struck up the national air of “God Save the King,” immediately after which the younger part of the company formed themselves into quadrilles, &c., upon the grass plat, near the centre of which tables were supplied with wines of the first quality and every refreshment in season. At eight o’clock a fire balloon ascended from the grounds in very fine style, which was visible on the grounds and town for about twenty minutes. The amusements concluded with a brilliant display of fireworks. The extreme serenity of the evening, aided by the wild light of the moon and the more refulgent illumination of the garden with variegated lamps, rendered this a scene which for good humour and pleasantness has rarely or ever been equalled in this town.”
Sept. 1st.—Mr. Shelly attended the Corporation meeting and insisted on reading a protest in respect of the non-attendance of that body to their “ordinance.” The following officers were then elected:—
Mayor-Elect—John Preston, Esq.
Chamberlain—Mr. E. Youell.