Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-04-03
ST. Peters church.

structure, built in the Gothic style OF
architecture, upon rocky piece OF ele-
waited ground, on the corner OF Mechanic |
and Meadow streets The stone OF
which it is constructed was quarrled on
the ground, and is of hard, compact
texture, and a blue-gray color Inc
work was begun about four years ago,
the corner stone being laid in June, 1869.
The body of the building is l5oxI
feet, with frontage extended, by
tower on the west and porch on the
east. to ITO feet. The tower is heavy
structure 200 feet high, with massive
marble capped and trimmed abutments.
Indeed all the stone work is marble
trimmed. The porch is rural like APP
pendage serving merely to extend the
frontage and afford an entry-way. Vi
these there will be three, one in the
porch. one in the tower and one in the
center, leading to the vestibule. On
every prominent point are affixed golden
crosses, and the spire at the top OF the
porch is surmounted by one OF large di-
mansions. The roof is handsomely slat-
ed in alternate colored courses. At
the west side of the rear end OF the
building is the vestry projecting 50
feet from the body of the church and
having depth of 20 feet. 1t has an
entrance from the outside and is an
apartment convenient and well fitted
for the purposes for which 1t is designed.
Passing through the yestry we find
two exits, one to the chancel and one to
the sanctuary. The enclosure compris-
ing both chancel and sanctuary is thirty
six feet deep, having width of sixty
five feet in front and some thirty in the
rear, with an arched ceiling. Over this
ceiling is spread magnificent fresco
painting of the Judgment Day, sixty
by twenty-eight feet in dimensions. 1t
consists of a central figure representing
Christ seated in Judgment, with the cross.
the token of mans fall and the emblem
of his salvation, in the background. On
either hand are groups of figures, on the
one side the patriarchs and prophets of
the old law. and on the other the doctors,
confessors, virgins and martyrs of the
new dispensation. Beneath the central
figure is st. Michael. the Archangel, re-
presented with the drawn sword of JUS
tice in his hand making the division be-
tween the just and the unjust, while on
the right side are crowds of the elect,
and on the left of the damned, who have
but Just answered to the call of the
Gabriers Trump. With the elect is
seen an angel with the book of life con-
: tanning an inscription upon its open
page; on the opposite side the book of
death is borne among the tormented,
The figures are all large and striking,
, presenting the contrast between the joy
of the chosen of God and the remorse-
full agonies of those least into everlast-
ing fire." The sanctuary walls are fur
ther embellished with painting of the
Nativity and of the Resurrection, while
the chancel walls, facing the nave of
the church have, one the Annunciation,
and the other a view of the Holy Family
and a scene from the child life of Christ.
Above the altar, which is building in
New York, are three windows, the
centre one of which will be a figured
window illustrating the Ascension of
Christ. The one on the right will con-
tain figures of Joseph and Mary, and
that on the left of st. Joachim and st.
Ann.
The base Of the chancel rail is elevat-
ed two steps above the floor level and
the sanctuary will have further eleva-
ton of three steps, bringing the altar
into full and uninterrupted view of the
whole body of the church This latter
will be 103 feet long by some So wide,
and will seat / 400 people. There are
three aisles, broad centre and two side.
Six large arched, stained glass windows
on either side, with corresponding small
windows in the first section of the roof,
admit the light. Six columns on each
side, carried up, in separate branches,
in three directions, which, interlacing,
make an interminable and bewildering
maze of arches, support the roof. This
in both sections, as well as the support
ing arches, is beautifully frescoed and
marked with emblematic designs
Around the walls is a Gordon ofmottoes
from the Holy Scriptures in Latin text.
The chancel roof and the gallery are
also supported by heavy columns. The
gallery, the front of which is done in
panels, will accommodate about $50 peo-
pie besides the choir, provision being
made for them and the organ on an
elevation in the extreme rear Three
windows together in the centre and one
on each side light the front of the
church. The vestibule is small apart
ment with depth of 10 feet, enough
for all its purposes, as it is designed but
for an entryway and as means of ac-
cess to the gallery.
In the tower will be bell, for which
provision is made at height of so or
more feet. Above this will be clock
face.
The church will be occupied, in an in
complete condition of course, on Easter
Sunday, April 18th, but will not be dedi-
Gated till June Goth. The building and
experimenting of the whole work has
been done by Rev. Charles Boylan, the
indomitable pastor, whose energy and
capacity have enabled him to surmount
all the numerous obstacles with which
he was necessarily surrounded, and to
give to his congregation such splendid
place of worship. Well may the flock
be proud of their good pastor.
The cost of the building cannot be far
from $500, 900 and will probably exceed
that figure, as there is much to do and
many things to get yet.
Associated with Father Boylan, MIR.
Lyman, of this town, and Mr.. Hopson.
of Whitehall, superintendent the wood
| work The windoyvs ORC furnished ord