THE NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 118, 23 May 1868, Page 4

THE NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

f. The; Presbyterian Church is now finished, and V according to promise in our last, we propose to f,; give a brief description of what we have heard ... styled, the prettiest Church in the province. The .design is by Robert Lawson; Esq., architect, Dunedin, who from respect to the Rev. A. Russell, the minister, and no doubt the associations of . the old country or denomination, presented : thei design and working drawings,—a handsome il donation, and deserving of grateful recognition.

The style of structure is Gothic, and the dimensions are :—Length, 40 feet, by 20 feet wide; the height of studs'are 10 feet. It is set on piles ftLblachJatffih, fully 3 feet clear of the ground, which necessitates a flight of steps ascending to A a neat, porch at the entrance. Commencing ! f with the exterior, as it appears from. Market- -■ street, the porch presents a gable which is in unison with the gable of the Church, the door having the peaked top and upright lining, with .gothic hinges, agree well with the same order of architecture displayed on the windows on either side. The gable of the Church is relieved by one large window over the porch, having four . turned pillars or mullions with base and head, ! which display good taste, the sill being finished ! with a number of blocks below. Another cir- | cular window, 2 feet in diameter, is fixed above, and the barge boards are plain but neat; and hero we notice that the builder has somewhat

diverged from the original plan, by introducing i . what is called a “ dog leg,” at the bottom of the f barges, which relieves what might to some appear rather a plain finish. A turret is fixed above, which stands from the ridge of the Church to the top of the ornament or cross 15 feet, the base being about 4 feet 6 inches square, the angles ■■ being taken off, and double spaces with heads ‘e: being filled In with Venetian or lattice work, which will act as a ventilator for the Church, and when required will suit for a belfry. The are dressed weather-boards, with the lower ®dge neatly rounded off. The lower part of the window sashes for about 2 feet deep lay in to the Church about 8 inches’, over which ventilating lids are hinged, to bo opened and shut at pleasure. This, we think, is an improved method of ventilation, and very desirable in other edifices of; a similar character in the neighbourhood. In the porch we find a collection plate, which has been presented to the Church by Messrs; Wemyss and ..Walker, of this town. The words “Presbyterian Church, 1868,” are carved thereon in relief, in' old English letters. The entry from - theporch is through double doors, haying springs behind, arid covered with green baize. The only : finish inside is dado lining of matai, 4 feet 6 . inches high throughout, finished with OG. . moulding and square capping.. The roof is framed with five principals, well put together, and bound. with iron straps and bolts. The sarking boards, as well os the principals, are planed, which sug-. gests.rthe propriety—indeed the necessity—of finishing. the walls above the dadoing with matched boards. At the north end there is a • -lqw ; dais or platform, surrounded by a railinig' and ballustrado, on which is erected a tempo- . 1 rary , pulpit. , Temporary seats - are fitted up : for the present, and we believe the same material ; will do for the permanent seats whenever it is desirable to complete them. The contractor is Mr. of Blenheim, and as the progress of the work has been personally superintended fry the trustees, we have no doußtwhatever but that the work is . satisfactory. The test, however, will be the decision of the meeting on Monday next. It only remains to remind our readers that the Church will be opened to-morrow, when sermons ; will be preached in the morning by the.Eev. A. .{Russell, and in the - evening by the Eev.W, Leo. A tea meeting is to be hold on Monday eVeriing, • after which a. series of addresses wilL.hA delivered, relieved at intervals by a'selection of • anthems, &c. V, { ; •• mi ' - • "" 1 •• i