OPENING OF PETER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, CLYDE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3524, 24 October 1882, Page 4

OPENING OF PETER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, CLYDE.

This church, which was completed and banded over to the committee m the 9th of September last, was planned a:.d erected by Mr R. Gardiner, jun., of this town, at a cost of £350 for the first portion. The plan, which is somewhat similar in design to that of the Hastings church, was well executed and faithfully carried out. The building is in the old English style, and is 40 feet long, 24 feet wide, on studs 15 feet high. The roof has a good pitch, being 33 feet from the floor to the apex of the roof; the vestry, in the south end, is 12 feet square. The building has a " truss roof" formed of rafters and king posts, carrying a 9 x 4 in. ridge ; the feet of the rafters are tied with 9 x 5 in. laminated curved ribs, framed into wall pieces, and resting on pillars ornamented with and bases. From the northern end (facing tbe street and the river) springs an open-framed belfry surmounted by a spire risiDg to a height of 21 feet above the roof; this is again surmounted by a metal cross four feet high, making a total height from the ground of 58 feet. The spire of the Catholic Church istherefore a conspicuous object in the landscape, and from this elevation the sound of " the church-going bell" may be heard a long distance. Tbe lateral pressure of the roof is counteracted by three nicely framed buttresses, dwarf buttresses being placed at the corners of tbe building and on each eide of the main entrance door. The building is entered by a folding Gothic door, eleven feet high and five feet wide. Over the main entrance there is a triplet lancet window, of which the centre one is eleven feet high. There are twelve other windows of similar shape, glazed with rough plate glass. In the south end, over the chancel, there is a stained glass rose window, of eight panes, the gift of the contractor. The building is ventilated by two louvre ventilators, and by openings in tbe eaves. Tbe chancel, which is raised 16in. above the main floor, is lined diagonally to a height of three feet with rusticated matai, in panels, surmounted by heavy mouldings in kauri. The building outside is painted a light etone color, with stone dressings. The church was opened and consecrated on Sunday week by the Rev. E. Reignier. There was a good congregation present, including many members of the Church of England. The ceremony of blessing the sacred edifice having been gone through, the ordinary service proceeded. At the conclusion of the Gospel the rev. priest delivpred a briel and appropriate address on the subject of ecclesiastical architecture since the Creation. In concluding the speaker returned the hearty thanks of the Catholic community to those friends belonging to other denominations who so readily responded to tbe call lor help, and trusted they would all be re-united in Heaven, where all earthly sorrows and differences shall be forgotten.—[Own correspondent.]