Architecture & Building

Progress, Volume XI, Issue 9, 1 May 1916, Page 611

Architecture & Building

New First Presbyterian Church, Invercargill

The building stands on the site of the old church at the corner of Tay and Ythan Streets and is a fitting jubilee memorial to the earnestness of the pioneers who founded the Church in 1860.

Architecturally it is pronounced by those competent to judge to be excellent in style, composition and treatment of detail, the charm of which will

Throughout the Old world we find a marked tendency towards replacing brickwork in its rightful

place,as a decorative building material, and leading architects in England, America and Europe designing accordingly with marked success; while some of our own architects are not slow to grasp the possi-

bilities of the material. In this connection our illustrations of the new First Presbyterian Church at Invercargill, recently erected from designs by Mr. John T. Mair, A.R.1.8.A., of Wellington, will be of special interest.

increase by the mellowing effect of time. Structually it embodies the latest ideas in the science of building: while under the final test of utility it is found to perfectly serve its purpose.

The Architect drew his inspiration from the work of the Italo-Byzantine period and the buildingwhich is erected entirely of locally made bricks and roofed with Welsh slates — the beautiful work of the Plains of Lombardy where conditions of climate and

available materials, similar to those in southern New Zealand, brought the style into being and marked the fusing of Eastern and Western art when, in the words of Tennyson,

“A fuller light illumined all A breeze through all the garden swept.” In plan the auditorium will be seen to be an irregular octagon with flanking bays which serve to house the large cantilever galleries at back and sides and the choir and organ in the front. The organ is not yet in position but eventually a handsome pipe organ will

At the main entrances to the Church a spacious vestibule is provided with separate cloak rooms and lavatory accommodation for men and women conveniently accessible therefrom.

Behind the pulpit East and West entrances are situated together with a study and conveniences for the Minister, strongroom for storage of records, organ blower chamber and a commodious Prayer Meeting room: while on the floor above, accessible by a stair at the B. entrance, three serviceable Bible Class rooms are provided.

occupy the space behind the choir at present walled off by a temporary screen.

The seating is arranged radially and the auditorium designed to afford 850 sittings 20 inches wide in such a manner that every seat has an absolutely uninterrupted view of the pulpit. Acoustically the result is as nearly perfect as it is possible to make it; there being no noticeable echo from either speaker or choir. The decorative scheme in pale green and white with a brown dado effect to base of walls is very restful to the eyes while a rich warm note is struck by the beautifully figured heart rimu woodwork in flat finish.

At the rear of the Prayer Meeting room, in harmony with the Church design, a large Social-Hall and Sunday School is located replete with a stage, kitchen, and every modern convenience for successfully carrying out this branch of Church work.

A complete system of fresh air inlets and foul air exhausts under positive electrical control is provided throughout the building. The artificial lighting is electric hut an auxiliary system of gas lighting is provided to exits and vital points in case of emergency. A feature of the auditorium is the handsome lighting fittings which were made in Wellington by Mr. 0. W. Martin from special designs by the architect.

At present no stained windows are provided but a magnificent opportunity is provided for memorial windows in the future.

usual clanging bell and form the nucleus of what we hope will soon grow to a complete scale. Invercargill may well he proud of its Church and

In the belfry of the campanile, from which a superb view of the Town and surrounding country is obtained, three tubular bells take the place of the

we congratulate the Church, the Architect, and the Builders (Messrs. McKinnon & Hamilton, Dunedin) on the excellence of the building.