CHARM AND DEVOTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 792, 12 October 1929, Page 12

CHARM AND DEVOTION

ST. PAUL’S CHURCH PLANS NEW CHANCEL OLD-WORLD FEATURES ■ ■ ' '\\ hat promises to be one of the most beautiful church interiors in ; New Zealand is to be built in the near ' future by the parishioners of St. I ' Paul’s Anglican Church, City. In place of the existing temporary ; wooden chancel a new structure iii ! concrete and stone embodying fea- i tures of Old World ecclesiastical de- < sign has been planned by the archi- ! tects, Messrs. Jones and Palmer, of Auckland. St. Paul’s, which is the mother church of Auckland, has a wealth of historic associations. The founda-tion-stone of the old church was laid by Captain Hobson, first Governor of New Zealand, in 1841. Many mural tablets commemorating early colonists and naval and military officers and men who fell in the Maori wars, adorn the building. The vicar, the Rev. Cecil Watson, hopes to see early completion of a church worthy of enshrining the memory of pioneers, both lay and ecclesiastical, who worshipped in old St. Paul’s. When the first church, which stood at the end of Pirnces Street, overlooking the harbour, was demolished for civic reclamation work, the present building was built in Symonds Street. Because of a lack of money, however, only the nave was completed and a temporary chancel provided. A campaign to build this portion in permanent material, launched about 1914, was held up through the war. Nevertheless, £6OO was put into the ground as foundations for the chancel. It is now hoped to complete a work necessarily delayed by the war and the aftermath. LARGER AND MORE IMPRESSIVE The proposed structure, which -will [ be 12ft longer, and much wider than the present chancel, opens from the nave through an arch, in Oamaru stone 33ft high. The width between the supporting columns is 23ft. Access is gained from the naye by a flight of three steps rising 18in and extending the full length of the chancel. The depth wall be 35ft from the steps to the east wall, which is to contain a fine window of stained glass in memory of the martyred Bishop Patteson, who was consecrated in Old St. Paul’s. On either side of the memorial window tabernacled niches supporting statues of St. .Paul and St. Barnabas have been planned. Unusual features for a New Zealand church are a

piscina, or small basin and drain, and a triple sedilia, which is a group of three seats, all to be set in the southwest wall. These are also to be adorned with tabernacle work in accordance with the English tradition. In the north transept, that is, to the left of the chancel, a well proportioned Lady Chapel opens from the choir by way of a par-close arch. The lighting and general planning will make for a quiet, devotional atmosphere. At present the organ is accommodated at this point, but it is the intention of the architects to build an organ-loft in the south transept on the other side of the chancel. Just off this transept will be the clergy vestry, admitting to the choir through pleasing arches. The whole interior will be finished in a biscuit plaster. The roof is of ribbed and vaulted stone. HANDSOME ROOD SCREEN Perhaps the most Impressive aspect is a lofty rood screen in constructed stone dividing the chancel from the nave. Christchurch Cathedral has such a screen in oak, and the feature is easily recognised as modelled on the practice of cathedrals and churches the -world over. The screen proposed will incorporate a central archway having two bays on either side, the dividing columns arching in graceful fan vaulting. Estimated to cost between £S,OOO and £9,000, the chancel will be of reinforced concrete curtained with cavityblocks. It is of three storeys, the mezzanine, or middle one, being given to the men's, women’s and boys’ choir vestries, sacristy and quarters for the custodian. The basement gives on to the parish hall.