"Very extraordinary and scandalous proceedings have occurred this week at
West Hartlepool. It appears that Mr. Ralph Jackson, the patron, and the Reverend John Burges, the incumbent of Christchurch, are at bitter feud on "the School question." Mr. Jackson begged Mr. Burges to resign ; Mr. Burges refused. Mr. Jackson then declared that the church had been illegally consecrated, and, apparently, barred up the door. On Wednesday, Mr. Burges took a blacksmith and broke in. Shortly after, Mr. Jackson brought a number of workmen and removed the doors, while Mr. Burges was engaged in performing the baptismal service. Great crowds had now gathered and filled the church. At noon Mr. Jackson brought a battalion of bricklayers to block up the doors. Mr. Burges and a crowd remained inside the church, and as fast as the bricklayers laid a course the crowd kicked them away. Mr. Binges, however, seems to have prevailed on them to let the work go on. Nevertheless, numbers of persons entered the church. A "navvy," smoking a short pipe, preached from the pulpit, and then read the marriage-service to a mason and a girl ; the mob cheering. At night the bells were tolled, and the crowd remained in pos- session to a late hour.
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