_Movable Organs and Pulpits_ (Vol. v., p. 345.).--Of the first-named
class of curious ecclesiastical structures I know of no examples; of one
of the latter, the following notice occurs in Mr. Wesley's _Journal_,
vol. iv. p. 213.:--
"_Aug. 15 (1781)._ I went to Sheffield: in the afternoon I took a
view of the chapel lately built by the Duke of Norfolk. One may
safely say, there is none like it in the three kingdoms, nor, I
suppose, in the world. It is a stone building, an octagon, about
eighty feet in diameter.... The pulpit is movable: it rolls upon
wheels; and is shifted once a quarter, that all the pews may face
it in their turns: I presume the first contrivance of the kind in
Europe."
This was an episcopal place of worship connected with a noble charity,
"The Shrewsbury Hospital," a suite of liberally-endowed almshouses for
old people of both sexes. The "chapel" in question, as well as the
almshouses, have, many years ago, given place to a large market. But I
must add, the charity still flourishes, and its recipients enjoy a suite
of beautiful little dwellings, and a commodious place of worship, in a
pleasant and airy part of "Sheffield Park."