The New York herald., 1870-10-07
ST. THOMAS CHURCH.
Hundred Clergy Take Part in tho Ceremo-
nIes-Description o. the New Church.

The opening ceremonies OF the new st. Thomas'
church. at The corner OF Fify-thrd street and Fifth
avenue, took place yesterday morning, In the
presence OF large ana fashionable audience.
Nearly hundred cergymen and Bishops Potter,
Talbot and Iitejohn assisted In the services which
were unusually impressive and striking. The
church. however, has vet TO be consecrated as yes.
terday's ceremonies involved merely the formal
opening OF the edifce.
,lt eleven O'Clock the clergy formed In process
sion, two abreast and, entering by the main en-.
trance ON Fith avenue, walked up the centre aisle
Of the church and hied all the seats in the choir,
as well as number OF the 'front.' pcws.
All this time the choir sung Hymn 243,
Of the "Ancient and Modern Collection
twel known irG High Church tendenciesl and
what with the music and the spotless robes OF the
moving line OF priests and the rich dresses OF the
ladies IN the congregation the appealed with
singular force to the imagination. AS soon as the
audience had fairly settled again their places or
tney had all risen when the procession enLered the
rector OF the church began the opening cxhortaton
IN the morning prayer OF the Episcopal liturgy, and
the service proceeded in the usual manner. The
music was especially excellent, the chants being
mostly GTegorlan. Before the sermon an anthem
taken from The eghty-iourtl psalm and the 'Od
Hnndreoth' hymn were sung. ~. -es
The rector, Rev. William F. Morgan, then ascended
the pulpit and delivered his first discourse in his
new church, He specially alluded 10 the fact that
they mad not come together TO consecrate but simply
TO open the church. he mad hoped that Bishop Pot
ter would have occupied the pulpit but it had been
decided that he Uhe speaker) should perform the
duty. II was no derogation to the church that the
conservation should be held back In reserve. God
dd not limit his acceptance Of prayer to Gxed asso
ntn stfI Law plA
heavenly-in the grandcst minister or in the hum
best room OF roadside innn When nrst
bnt little indeed to do with holy places.
Christ himself was baptized by John In the river
Jordan. with the simple SKY as canopy. Stin he
ulu not wish 10 lessen IN any way the Importance or
dedication. Mr.. Morgan concluded by congratlI-
iating MS hearers upon the TACT that alter 1--we years
oi unsettled existence, they once more stood within
parochial permanent home Wnen ne left the Old
temple he had prayed for nobler, handsomer more
costly place OF worship. That PRAYER had been nj
last answered and ne leit grateful Tor the GOODNESS
oil God, which had granted IT,
After the sermon the choir sang the anthem
'Blessing and glory and wisdom,n ana Mendels-
sohu'5 III with all your hearts.u
Some description or this church, which promises
TO hc one o the principal architectural adOrnments
Of our city. may now gwen. 1t is In The style OF the
carry period ol decorated Gothic archltecture and
Is 10 leet long by l0 feet Wide. Tue material con-
ssts OF raobe stone, faced with Newark brown
stone, OF which The inside columns, caps bases
corbeis and the muhons and tracery Of The windows
are also composed. The nave commences on Filth
avenue ana running westerly seventytwo ieet
opens into an irregular octagOn seventy leet in
diameter. TIE main entrance TO the cdurch Is from
Flfth avenue, ana here, extending the whole wdth
OF the nave, between the tower and the chapel aud
projecting seven feet from IT, Is tripet porch form
Ing most elaborate exterior. From rieniy clus.
tered columns with moulded bases and carved cans
spring neavily moulded arches, extending from the
'front.' 0f the porch to the inside vi the nave
walls. These arches are s,Emounted by gobfts
lllied WITH open faceTy aad cnlDcmalical carvings
Inc IEr Whole height 81 the porch Is thirty eight Ieet
FROM " ana opening into u vestlbule are three
doorways. and oven them, IN the tympans of the
arches, VIII he sculptures IN aitOrelef representing
Important epochs In the life OF Christ. The chancel
Is distinct Ieature impressive Il whole and rich
In de,all. Its apuiar end contains five three
windows. having stone tracery OF various desia MS
The ceiling is groined IN wood, lis man ribs
being supported on columns with carved caps and
moulded bases. resting on richly carved caibes.
The organ is iu TWO sections having reversed action
and ls placed In the chambers on either side the
chancel and opening into the chancel and octagon.
TO expose the pipes which will be richly nlumino-
ted. The organ IS supplied with air by caloric
transepts IN the aisle and east end OF nave over
the vest0ulc, but they are so arranged not to
and octagon being entirely clear There are 450
pews, which will accommodate OOO persons but on
extraordinary occasions at least 7o5 iiyfs eaS AZ 81
accommodated. The stained glass windows through.
out are rich In design and color. They have been
carefully studied by the artist and are prononnced
the best specimens Of stained glass In the country
They are the production OF AIphonsc FredericKs Of
Brooklyn who has thus elevated himself 10 the head
Standing upon the tops OF the columns Fl, ,, which
spring the arches and RIBS Of the DONE are eIahs
colossal statues, Of Isaiah. ,,,rcrnlah E-sS'ei and
sss rs Is 1Hal9s H@a srpss,s S[ ne I ola
spl Ephg tho Kew s Tes'aent safnapls IA ihe anI ana
p! sprlngg OUT o. the tracericd panels, are biists
cIera .1 iGr The stalls for the choir and
CIeIRy ioos" 0ls, altar sedalA and bishops throne
arg. rlchly, wrought and ornamented with carved
collage 70 the early decorative style.
EXCEPTION OF the figure Of ST. Thomas N the front
gable. which was executed py Mr.. Whitenouse,
Is the work OF James Leggs, OF this CITY, whose repu
tatlon Is well sustained thereby
The interior IL decorated ili pOlychrome, and the
disposition Of color has been carefully studied by the
have been used ana the details brought out in strong
color. The ceilings are colored All atmospheric blue
with ornaments and stars in the panels. In the span.
drels OF the cerestory arches are ornamental crOpes
and over the nave arch Is an emblem Of the Trinity.
The roof columns OF the nave are diapeed, and the
the roof are picked out In various colors.
The dome Is more forci6ly treated the
rich red color on the walls between the
also cOlored blue, AMI studded with stars, the mould
lngs being well brought out In various colors Over
the nam arches and under the circular windows OF
the dome are scrptural texts. The major and
minor transepts. organ rooms. Sunday school
room. chapel and aisle are made subordinate by
colored as to give IL the effect OF great deph the
walls being diapered on bufr ground. All the
moudings and carvings are picked out In color. The
whole Is harmonious, and mas the effect Of great
pose. The decorator ls L. II. .Cohn, OF tins CITY,
Ine organ, DeIOfc uescTlDeu, was Dullt Dy MeSsrS.
Hall h Labagh. The choir consists OF quartet Of
solo artists and volunteer chorus, the whole un-
der the direction OF dr. George William Warren.
The contractors arc:--For mason work. Mcssrs
ID. &. Weeks q son; for stonecnttlng, William Yer
horst; for carpenter and joiner work. Marshall q
Rlker; lor plasterinQ, John Stevenson: for plumb
ing, Henry Goldsmith; for gas fixtures Mitchell.
Vance Co., and others whose names are herein
before mentioned.
The church was commenced on the lst OF APRIL
1885, anu has been bullt from the designs ami under
the supervision Of the venerable architect kicnard
upjonn.
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