A New Congregational Church for Wellington

Progress, Volume XII, Issue 11, 1 July 1917, Page 1009

A New Congregational Church for Wellington

Cambridge Terrace The Congregational community of Wellington East became a separate church entity during the late ’eighties, and' thanks to the beneficence of the late Joseph Burn, it was enabled to provide itself with a suitable place of worship in 1890, when the church in Courtenay Place was erected. For 26 years it did duty, then the need for further accommodation on more up-to-date lines was felt. The valuable block that the church occupied was sold at a satisfactory figure, and another block, in Cambridge Terrace, was secured as a site for a new church. The new edifice, which embellishes that somewhat drab neighbourhood at the corner of Lome Street and Cambridge Terrace, is a fine modern structure in warm red brick, with a big expanse of gabled roof, tiled with grey asbestos slates. It was originally intended to erect a tower and spire as shown in the perspective view, but the church members, considered that they would not be justified in incurring such extra expense during the period of the war. The. tower and spire were therefore deleted from the present scheme but may of course be added at a future date. The church is essentially modern in design and arrangement, without sacrificing dignity or substantiality. The latter quality is gained by the solidly-buttressed sides, which give strength and character to the structure. The block of land on which the church stands has 62 ft. frontage to Cambridge Terrace and 138 ft. to Lome

Street. The interior measurement of the church itself is 72 ft. by 41 ft. That leave ample room outside for a concrete walk on either side, to the minister’s retiring room on the north side, and to the choir vestry and infants’ school entrance on the other side. The main entrance is from Cambridge Terrace, by means of a portico or vestibule, and is approached by a short flight of concrete steps on either side. Two double doors admit to the spacious vestibule which is floored with dull red tiles, and has white plastered walls. Cloak and umbrella rooms are specially provided. On the northern side of the entrance a broad stairway leads to a stronglybuilt gallery, which, with its heavy balustrade of picked rimu, is one of the architectural features of the interior. This gallery will seat 86 people, and the ground floor 350, in all 436 sittings.

At the rear of the church is the Sunday school, a spacious and well lighted hall about 40 ft. by 60 ft. running backward from the Lome Street frontage. Off the school are five small classrooms and a kitchen. The infants have a separate room at the rear of the Sunday school. Conveniences are also provided for both sexes, and there is a large area of unoccupied land for future extension.

The church was designed by Mr. W. Fielding, and erected by Messrs Davison and Roberts. The contract price for the building was £5,700, whilst £1,734 was paid for the land— total expenditure of £7,434.

Ventilation has received careful attention, hopper inlets being provided in the windows, and extractors, with ornamental fleches in the main ridges.—The lighting of the church and Sunday school is by the semi indirect system giving a soft and diffused light with a total absence of glare.