On Trinity Sunday, June 8th, 1879, a violent thunder-storm broke over the town of Wrexham about half-past three in the afternoon, during which the spire of St. Mark’s Church was struck by lightning. A Sunday-school class was being held in the room at the base of the spire, and the teacher and five of his scholars were burnt, three of them severely, and one had his leg broken. Some of the stone-work of the spire was also displaced and thrown down. The spire was fitted with a copper conductor, but it was of too small a calibre, and it is very doubtful whether the earth connection was all it should have been. Many other cases might be enlarged upon, but enough have been given to prove the imperative need for a more general use of lightning conductors on all public and private buildings. Another equally important necessity is that lightning conductors should be erected on sound principles, and also be periodically examined and tested by some competent person. _PUBLIC BUILDINGS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING._ +---------+---------------------+------------------+-----------------+ | DATE | BUILDING | DAMAGE | AUTHORITY | +---------+---------------------+------------------+-----------------+ | 1589. | Nicholas Tower, | The tower burnt | From original | | July 16| Hamburg | down | notices in | | | | | Reimarus, Bl. | | | | | 315 | | | | | | | 1670. | Nicholas Church, | Damaged | Phil. Trans. | | June 29| Straland | | v. 2084 | | | | | | | 1673. | Pharr Church, | Damaged | Breslauer | | June 29| Epperies, Hungary | | Samml. 1717, | | | | | p. 64 | | | | | | | 1693 | Oundle Church | Set on fire | Phil. Trans. | | | | | xvii. 710 | | | | | | | 1700. | Principal church, | Set on fire and | Mém. de | | Oct. 9 | Troies | shattered | l’Acad. de Sc. | | | | | Paris, 1760, | | | | | p. 65 | | | | | | | 1708. | All Hallows’ | Damaged | Phil. Trans. | | July | Church, Colchester | | 432 | | | | | | | 1711. | Principal town | Damaged | Scheuchzer, |