Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-09-30

Congregational society OF thls Nlllhgei mas
reached its completion, and now awaits its
organ and furniture The work upon it has
never tagged for day, and the full force of
men that could be employed economically in
| its erection have been constantly at work
The first sui seription of $4,000 was found
insufficient to finish il according to the plan
of the architect, and nearly $4,000 more
we're raised in 1867 for that purpose. The
total cost Of church and furniture in money
will not be far from $4,000. If there
should be added to this the value Of the old
site and material, we should find the actual
cost to be not far from $4,000. Even at
this price the church is a very cheap ediGce.
Nor could it have been built at anything like
this sum, except Tor very fortunate contracts
and for the very generous consideration given
by the Central Railroad in the transportation
of building material. And with all the criti-
cisms. that can justly be made upon it. no
intelligent and candid man but will admit it
to be a church of unusual elegance and beauty.
1t would be noticeable and attractive in any
city Of the country, or in any country. The
building Committee were Denisou Taft,
George c. Shepherd, John c. Emery, j. 7.
Thurston and Joseph Poland. The contractor
was Mr. Taft, Chairman of the building Com
mittce The Architect was Charles Il. Par
kerr Esq, of Boston, and while its handsome
and noble architecture and the perfect sym.
metry of all its parts and the admirable
grouping of Church, Chapel and Tower, and
finish of the interior, are purely the crea-
ton Of his genius, the effective and successful
execution of the design is due to Mr.. Taft
Too much praise cannot be awarded him for
the skilful, and faithful and self-sacridcing
manner in which he has performed the re-
sponsibiity he assumed. The society will
always be under weight Of obligation to
him for the spirit and manner in which he
has accomplished result so dear to his own
heart. He was the right man in the right
place.
The stone work was done by Mr.. Mctiinn
of Burlington, and it is fully equal, if not
superior, to the Cathedral of that city. which
he also built Every part Of the edifce is Of
the most elaborate and substantial character
There is nothing in ii to offend the most cul-
tiyated taste, even though in some things it
may shock the preudices of those who still
retain an affection for the primitive architec-
ture Of our pioneer settlements As it is it
is a standing invitation to our people to wor
ship the Lord in the Beauty Of Holiness.
The following is description of the Church
compiled from various sources -
The style of architecture is Early Eng
fish Gothic" The church and chapel are
placed at right angles to each other, and at
the angle of their intersection is the tower
the lower story of which, as a vestibule, gives
access to church, chapel and ladies' room
which last is between the chapel and chance
Of the church. The principal entrances to the
church are at the East end through three high
gabled porehes, connected by a corridor so as
to form one spacious yestibule. Over the CEN
trail porch is the gable of the nave, enriched
with recess and Gothic arch, in the center
Of which is Rose Window, fourteen feet in
diameter. High in the gable over the arched
recess is a sinrle-lirht lancet window.
The church is divided by highly ornamental
cd arches suringna rom 0 tbe c"nit3ls 81 tSo
columns bear low "clere.storyr pierced by
alternate circles and trefoil windows.
The chanceI Is continuation OF the nave
anu iIrli's an "ps7 ~ : H.Slaea ,i IRON Inc
snringi1o from he cbancel 1iers which are
decorated with shafts resting on huge over
hanging corbels, leaving unobstructed the
view OF the choir and organ which are IN the