The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-12-06

This new church, which has been erected ny
the High street (Congregational) Society," Is so
far advanced and SO nearly ready for occupan-
cy that description of the same may not
prove undressing to our readers.
The walls and roof of the old churcn remain
a part of the new one, but it will be remember
ed that the society some time ago purchased a
nortion of the lot back of the church lot on
which thew erected brick building, which is
an addition to the church proper, containing
yestry and class rooms, IS feet in length and 40
feet wide, the vestry being in the first, and the
class rooms in the second story.
The edifice is of Gothic or decorated style of
architecture of the fourteenth century, and
carried out far as it could be to suit the walls
and roof of the old church. The main tower
is gothic Campanile, very handsome, 154 feet
in height. The main entrance is at the base OF
the tower, a centre gothic-headed doorway,
supported by columns with carved caps and
having quatre-foil stained-glass lights. Above
the main entrance is double lancet window,
with circular light in centre, and above this
window are the belfry windows, about 26 feet
high, with side columns and pointed pedi-
ments, and surrounded with crockets. The
main cornce is very handsome and very elab-
crate; it is over seven feet high, and from this
springs the octagon roof, 45 feet high, sur
mounted with four angle turrets ornamented
with crockets and pointed pediments with cir
cular lights The tower from base to terminal
is 154 feet high and 20 feet square. The angle
towers are 80 feet high and feet square.
On either side of the tower are two en-
frances, of the same style as the Central one,
and over each is large rose window eight feet
in diameter. These rose windows are said to
be the finest In the city. The front of the
church is of brick mastic, and the wood work
is all painted and sanded to match. The front
is IS feet in width, including the campaDile.
Upon entering the church we find ourselves in
q wide corridor which runs the entire width of
the building, having circular staircases at eth
er end for access to the galleries, and with four
entrances to the body Of the church, which
contains four ais'es The church proper is 80
feet in length by SO feet in width, and is finish
ed entirely in ash. The pews are Of new
style, different from any others in the city. be-
ing Of special design, and numbering 1874 in
circle. The galleries, which run around
three sides OF the building, are supported by
ornamented iron columns and brackets, cast to
q special design, and numbering three on each
side. The front of the gallery is very rich, be-
ing a series of sunk quatre-foil panels divided
by pilasters and turned columns, and finished
with an enriched cornice. At each end of the
church IL large gothic lancet arch with heavy
enriched holdings in stucco, this arch forming
the pulpit recess, and at either side are similar
arches, only smaller, containing the doorways
to the vestry. The front of the pulpit platform
is of very ornamental panel work with circular
steps at each end The pulpit, which is being
built, will be of the same style to correspond
with the rest of the finish, and will be elegant
ly carved. At the rear end of the church there
are three large gothic iarches finished in SINH
lar manner to the pulpit arch, the centre one
the organ, (Which is the same that
was in the old church) and the other two being
recessed back for pews sixteen feet. AS you
face to the rear of the church from the pews in
the body of the house the effect of the two rose
windows in the centre of each recess, with the
handsome carved case of the organ between, is
very fine.
on large enriched stucco corbela,
and similar purline ribs, of a less size, length
wise with the church, SO forming the ceiling
into panels. In the centre of these panels are
circular ornamental stucco ventilators, 16 in
all, and at the intersection of the ribs and pur-
lines are enrichments in stucco with leaf foliage,
The ceiling forms large gothic arch IS feet from
floor to point of arch. Each of the side walls
has four double lancet-headed windows filled
in with stained quarry lead lights. The size of
the church is 1O0x85 feet. 1t is intended to
fresco the church next year. The church,
vestry and class rooms are all heated by steam,
the furnaces and boilers having been put in by
d. Winslow & Son. There are seats in the
church for HOO people, and the pews will be
cushioned and carpeted in the best manner, as
will the church itself. Mr.. George B.
Pelham was the architect, and we think he
have designed not only most convenient, but
also very tasteful church, and which possess
SEES also the merit of novelty in style to any
other church edifice in the city. Owing to the
hour at which we finished our notes we shall
have to defer the names of those firms who had
charge of the work on the building until to-
morrow.