The Worcestershire Chronicle - Saturday, 23rd May 1874.

MARRIAGE OF MISS HILL,
(DAUGHTER OF T. ROWLEY HILL, ESQ., M.P,)
To
The Rev. RICHARD NATHANIEL KANE.


Yes, Love indeed is light from heaven,
A spark of that immortal flame,
With angels shared, by Allah given
To lift from earth our low desire.
Devotion wafts the mind above,
But heaven itself descends in love;
A feeling from the Godhead caught,
To wean from self each sordid thought;
A ray of Him who formed the whole;
A glory circling round the soul.
—Byron.

On Tuesday morning last your special correspondent wended his way to the fashionable church of St. Peter's, Eaton-square, of which the Rev. G. H. Wilkinson, M.A., is the vicar, whose eloquence is attracting the Créme de la créme of society, and whose forcible and candid expositions are obtaining for him great renown.

The exterior of the building is unpretending, while the interior is also very plain. It is capable of holding 2.500 people. A gallery runs round the edifice, and at the end, at a considerable height, there is a second gallery. On the altar is placed a large cross, and on each side were vases of choice flowers, and on a ledge at the back of the chancel were also placed pots of white flowers. A large gilded lamp was suspended over the front of the altar. The object of my visit to this church was, as you are aware, to witness the marriage of Mary Evans Hill, elder daughter of the worthy representative of your city, T. Rowley Hill, Esq., to the Rev. Richard Nathaniel Kane, M.A., rector of Lower Sapey, in the diocese of Hereford, and son of Captain Kane of the Grange, Monmouth. The hour fixed for the ceremony was eleven o'clock, but before that time a large number of relatives and intimate friends assembled in the sacred edifice, and were conducted to their places in the chancel and ranged themselves on either side near to the altar.

Among the early arrivals was Mrs. T. W. Hill, attired in a beautiful pink silk dress, trimmed with claret velvet, and long train handsomely embellished, with bonnet to match. Her amiable manner and graceful bearing was the subject of general admiration. Mrs. T. Rowley Hill (the mother of the bride) followed soon afterwards, very handsomely attired in a rich navy blue silk, trimmed with velvet and chenille fringe, and bonnet to correspond. Mrs. E. H. Hill, was dressed in a dark chocolate-brown silk dress, trimmed with primrose-coloured silk, and bonnet. Her elegant appearance attracted all eyes. Mrs. Baldwin wore a rich mauve-silk dress and bonnet en suite. Mrs. D. Everett had a black-silk dress trimmed with lace, handsome white lace mantle, and mauve bonnet. Mrs. Bickerton Evans was dressed in a light stone-coloured silk, trimmed with dark-brown velvet, elegant shawl thrown loosely over her shoulders, and blue bonnet. Mrs. Wallace Evans was attired in a concombre-green silk train over petticoat of a darker shade, made with a number of small gathers, and a pink bonnet. Mrs. R. V. Pryce wore a silver-grey silk dress, trimmed with pink, and bonnet to match. During the interval previous to the arrival of the wedding party, the organist, Mr. Corelli Bere, skilfully played two offertoires by Lefebure Wely. The bridegroom; (Rev. R. Kane), attended by his groomsmen — Rev.H. Powell (best man), Capt. Kane (49th Regiment), Mr. Kane Maguire, Mr. Patrick Evans (Whitbourne), Mr. Ernest Waters (Manchester), and Mr. Aston Webb, entered the church, and at once took up their positions on the right side facing the altar. Shortly afterwards the bridesmaids - Miss C. Hill, Miss J. Evans, Miss Everett. Miss Waters (Manchester), Miss Oakley, and Miss King — arrived and ranged themselves on each side of the aisle, under the porch, and there awaited the arrival of the bride. In a short time the organist played a brilliant march by Smart, and the bride entered, leaning upon the arm of her father, and proceeded to the altar. As she passed up the aisle she was greatly admired, her appearance being extremely interesting. She wore a white-corded silk, and scarf of white satin, trimmed with Honiton lace, mised with tulle and orange blossoms; a long train caught up with a sash on the left side, adorned with orange blossoms, white tulle veil, and wreath of orange blossoms and lilies. She wore gold and pearl ornaments and a bracelet, the gift of the bridegroom, and carried in her hand a bouquet of very choice hothouse flowers. The bridesmaids followed and took their places on the left of the altar. They were dressed in rich blue silk trains over the altar. They were dressed in rich blue silk trains over white puff net petticoats, made en pouf, looped up at the left side with handsome sashes of the same material, and intermixed with dog-roses; bonnets of blue tulle, trimmed with dog-roses, and long white tulle veils at back. They also carried very choice bouquets. The scene before the altar was very effective. The officiating clergy were the Rev. A. S. Shutte (vicar of Mortlake) and the Rev. Wm. Bagnall-Oakeley. After the usual questions prescribed in the Ordinal had been asked and answered, and the ring placed by the bridegroom upon the finger of the bride, the Rev. Mr. Shutte, with upraised hand, pronounced the Benediction. Then the Rev. Mr. Bagnall-Oakeley read the Psalms and continued the prayers of the marriage service, at the close of which the clergymen led the way to the vestry, followed by the bride and bridegroom, and attended by the bridesmaids and groomsmen. In addition to the signatures of the bride and bridegroom, the register was attested by Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Hill, Miss Hill. and Captain Kane. The procession was then reformed, and as they left the church, Mr. Bere played, in splendid style, a Grand March by Sir Julius Benedict.
The floor of the church, from the altar to the door steps, and also from the mansion to the carriage, was laid with crimson cloth. Having re-entered their carriages, the bridal party were conducted back to Belgrave Mansions, the town residence of Mr. T. R. Hill, where a superb breakfast had been laid out. About 40 guests sat down. Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Hill occupying the head of the table, and having on their left hand the bride and bridegroom ; the bridesmaids — Misses Hill, Evans, Everett, Waters. Oakley, and Kings; groomsmen - Rev. H Powell Capt. Kane, Messrs. Evans, Maguire, Waters and Webb; and among the other guests were the following:— Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Hill, Mr. and Mrs. E. H Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Bickerton Evans, Mr. and Mrs. Everett, Rev. A. S. and Mrs. Shutte, Rev. Wm. Bagnall-Oakeley and Mrs. Bagnall-Oakeley, Rev. Vaughan Pryce and Mrs. Vaughan Pryce, Mrs. Pearce Baldwin, Mr. W. Willis, Mr. J. J. Evans, Mr. and Mrs. E. Wallace Evans, Admiral Foote, Captain Kane (3rd Regiment), Mrs. King, Mr. T. E. Everett, Mr. and Mrs. Worthington Evans. Miss Evans, &c., &c.

The breakfast was of the most recherché description, there being 100 dishes placed on the tables, embracing all the principal delicacies of the season, and including salmon, trout, prawns, clear turtle soup, dressed trout, lamb cutlets with cucumber sauce, Perigord pies, mayonaise lobsters, followed by blancmanges, and other sweets, with grapes, pine-apples, strawberries, the finest Covent Garden could produce. The wines were all of the choicest description. Speeches and toasts were forbidden, but, before leaving the tables, the Rev. Mr. Shutte, in a few brief but appropriate sentences, most sincerely and heartily proposed "The Health of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Nathaniel Kane." Bumpers of champagne having been filled, the company very cordially drank the toast, to which the Rev. Mr. Kane responded, with equal taste and feeling, on behalf of Mrs. Kane and himself. The company then left the room, the bridal party retiring to dress for their departure. At a few minutes before three an elegant new carriage drove up to the door, drawn by a pair of handsome chestnut horses, and almost immediately afterwards the bride was escorted by her father to the carriage amidst a plentiful shower of rice, now the fashionable method of wishing newly-married couples "Good Luck" and God speed. They were then driven by Mr. Hill's old and trusty servant to the railway station en route for the Isle of Wight, where they intend to spend the honeymoon. A telegram was received late in the evening announcing that they had reached Ryde in safety. Carriages were then ordered, and the company separated, some walking, others riding, in the Park.

We must not omit to mention that the presents to the bride were very numerous, very elegant, and very costly, but we are unable to enumerate them at length. The bridegroom presented to each bridesmaid a handsome double-cut scent bottle, with their monograms engraved thereon, as a souvenir of the happy event.

At eight o'clock, the guests re-assembled, and sat down to a magnificent banquet, but no speeches were delivered, and all formality was excluded, the evening being devoted to social conversation.
The guests being so numerous, it was only possible to accommodate part of them at Belgrave Mansions, the other portion temporarily residing at the Grosvenor Hotel.

Mr. and Mrs. Hill entertained the guests at a dinner party at the Grosvenor Hotel on Monday evening.

The entire arrangement for the wedding breakfast, and also for the dinner, Were entrusted to Mr. Charles States, the manager of the Belgrave Mansions Company. The magnificent appearance of the breakfast tables as they groaned beneath the weight of superb plate, glass, and china, and the luxuries heaped upon them, and the admirable manner in which the tables were decorated and the dishes garnished, reflected great honour on the taste and skill of Mr. and Mrs. States. The manner in which they had discharged their difficult task elicited from Mr. and Mrs. Hill their hearty approval.

The wedding cake was supplied by Mr. S. H. Mountford, confectioner, of High-street, in this city, and its tasteful design and elegance of appearance were much admired. It was of stately proportions, weighing three-quarters of a cwt., and raised in three tiers, rising from a plateau of dead and burnished silver. The decorations were of elegant and appropriate character, harmonising very happily with the occasion.

The wedding trousseau and dresses of the principal guests were supplied by Messrs. Scott and Oram, Victoria House, in this city, and reflect the highest credit on their establishment, which nothing in the metropolis could have outdone. The practical arrangements were entrusted to Miss Perkins, the manager of the dressmaking department, whose taste and skill were much appreciated, and who was personally complimented thereon.

The poorer inhabitants of the parish of Lower Sapey whose spiritual wants are administered to by the Rev.

R. N. Kane and by whom he is revered as a kind and attentive pastor, participated somewhat in the rejoicings attendant upon his wedding. The day was kept as a general holiday, and in the afternoon between two and three hundred persons were entertained at the rectory to a substantial tea. A string band from Worcester was in attendance, and country dances were indulged in with much zest. Various amusements were provided, such "Aunt Sally," shooting galleries, &c., for the enjoyment for the enjoyment of those present, and cannon were fired at interval, during the day. Prizes were also given for athletic contests amongst the juveniles, and joviality reigned supreme.

 

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