International studio (25.1905)

be taken as a mode! for future works of the same
order, and its admirable completeness testifies
efoquentfy to the foyalty with which the collabora-
tors have fulfilled their respective obiigations.
The purpose of this church is to serve as a
memorial of the late Arnold Heseltine, by
whose brother, Mr. Evelyn Heseltine, it has
been built and given to the parish. The donor
placed in the hands of Mr. Reynolds-Stephens
the responsibility for the whole scheme, and
made him general adviser with large powers of
control. To Mr. Harrison Townsend was then
entrusted the task of designing the building, with

BISHOP S CHAIR IN DESIGNED BY
WALNUT AND PEWTER w. REYNOLDS-STEPHFKS
6

the accompanying duty of supervising the progress
of the structure itself; and there are ample evi-
dences of his picturesque fancy in the quaintness of
the exterior, and in the scholarly taste which
dignifies many of the interior details. As an
architectural effort the church bears plainly the
stamp of his individuality and of that personal
intention which counts for so much in his practice.
It is perfectly sincere, thoroughly studied, and, with
all its simplicity, wholly free from any archaic
affectation; and it provides an absolutely appro-
priate setting for the intricate piece of ornamenta-
tion which it enshrines. He was responsible, too,
for such accessories as the pews, the
choir stalls, the litany stool, and
other objects which can be reckoned
among the furniture of the church.
But though the attractiveness of
the building as a sound and original
exercise in architectural invention
must not be overlooked, it is natur-
ally in the display of Mr. Reynolds-
Stephens' rare gifts as a decorator
that the chief interest centres. He
has given in the past many proofs
of his admirable ingenuity and of
his artistic resource, but, probably
because he has not before had quite
so complete an opportunity, he has
never shown such a grasp of large
essentials as can be discerned
throughout the whole of this pro-
duction. It can easily be appre-
ciated that in a decorative scheme
which does not admit of simple
uniformity, and which requires the
closest attention to a number of
small and carefully elaborated details,
there is always a danger that unity
of effect may be lost. It is not
less intelligible that the temptation
to arrive easily at the 8nal result
by merely repeating certain salient
features is one to which even the
comparatively conscientious designer
is not unlikely to succumb. But
Mr. Reynolds - Stephens has not
spoiled the quality of his work either
by lingering too long over interesting
parts or by using too frequently the
same type of motive. Although
the impression made by the interior
of the church is at the first glance
one of quiet and restful elegance,