The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-09-16
The New Congregational Church
mt Bennington

SohBreBa'Onai coclety Oh TINS
village was destroyed by fire, thus depriv-
ing them of a place of worship, and as
there was little or no insurance, leaving
them without funds with which to rebuild.
Strong efforts were Immediately made to
raise money enough to erect handsome
church edifice, but they only succeeded in
raising about $4,000 which amount was
deemed insufficient for this purpose, so as it
was thought best, the lots north of the for
mer church site, which was corner of Main
street and Smith avenue, were purchased
at cost of $4,000, thus giving them the
entire frontage on Smith avenue, between
Main and Pleasant, streets, and on this new
ly purchased land brick chapel fronting on
smith avenue was Immediately erected at a
cost OF about $4,000, to be used as a house of
worship until the society felt sufficiently
able to erect such church as the mcm-
bers felt should be built if any. As the
chapel was of ample size to accommodate
the congregations, it was thought best to he
in no hurry about the church, and not nm
til year ago last spring was the question
much agitated when with little effort sub
scriptions were obtained in amount enough
to guarantee work to be commenced On the
building, plans of which were obtained of
M. +. Cummings, Troy n. Y. Ground
was broken in June following, and the cor
ner stone was laid August 25th. The out
side work is now entirely finished and the
inside will be ready for the upholstered in
two or three weeks.
THE BUILDING
is Of brick, resting upon marble founda-
ton four feet high, its size outside being
66x92 feet. In the front projecting on the
left corner, supported by heavy buttrcsses.
is the main tower 10 #. 4 in. square, and
on the right supported by buttresses is Il
smaller one, IA feet square. The main
tower is n feet high, and supports the
handsome spire 10S feet above the brick
work, the pinnacle being of iron and of
beautiful design. The small tower is 20
feet high, surmounted by Mansard roof
and vane. The church and towers are
finely trimmed with galvanized iron trim
mings OF deep grey color
THE AUDIENCE
room is entered through three vestibues. a
! main one in the centre and one in each
tower, the main one being 10x40 feet,
those in the towers respectively 10 and IA
feet square. There are two doors from the
centre vestbule and one from each of the
others.
Over the main vestibule is gallery 40x
10 feet, (which are four rows of slips, and
will seat about 80 persons. 1t is ap.
preached by flight of winding stairs in
the main tower On the wall in rear of
this gallery are two tablets, one on the
right side and one on the left, on which are
the following inscriptions: on the right,
"For God so loved the world that he gave
his only son that whatsoever believeth on
him shall not perish but have everlasting
life" On the left, "What are these which
are arrayed in white, and whence came
they These are they which came out OF
great tribulation and have washed theil
robes and made them white in the blood of
the Lamb"
Dh..viy Vppvsi.. SuIi~Iyf tnt
rear OF the pulpit platform, is the recess
for the choir, which is 10 feet deep, %
feet wide, the arch being 81 feet high from
the audience floor. The pulpit platform is
In front of the recess, is circular in form,
1T. 4 in. high, and approached by stairs
on each side, which are trimmed with black
walnut buttresses and Scrolls The plat
form is separated from the choir gallery by
choir desk, 1G feet long and feet high,
built of chestnut and ornamented with
scrolls and leaves of black walnut, a heavy
black walnct railing running across the top
and bottom. There are also large orna-
ments rising from each end of the desk.
This gallery is approached by steps from
the pulpit platform, and by stairs in each
hall that leads from the audience room to
the ladies parlor, pastors study. etc.,
which are in the rear of the audience
room. The front of the pulpit platform is
chestnut in arched panels and tracery
work, trimmed with black walnut and
is beautiful in design and finish.
Five feet from the platform is the screen in
front of the pews, which is circular in
form, of chestnut with heavy black walnut
turned posts, at each end a heavy rail of
the same material on top. The front is in
arches, over the centre of which are black
walnut rosettes. The breast-v ork of the
| gallery over the vestibule is also of chest
nut, in tracery design with walnut orna-
ments in each panel and leaves above, and
is beautiful piece of work The slips
number 124, are circular in form, and built
of chestnut with heavy black walnut rail
ing on top, panel of the same on each
pew end, also rosette and leaf of walnut
being on each one.
THE FREsCoING
was done under the supervision of f. Wiesc
| OF Springfield, Mass, and is a fine speci-
men of work. The ceiling is divided by
heavy trusses into six panels, which are of
| light blue color on the outside being of
grey with fine stencil lines of brown and
yellow. The ribs extending down the cell
ing and side walls and also the tic beam in
serted with heavy scroll work brackets and
drops are in buff color with gold leaf ex-
tending through the tie BEAM The mould
ings are stucco, which also extend through
the arched ribs and are in blue, cream, drab
and yellow with stencil ornaments, the
whole being very attractive to the eye,
The side walls are wainscotted with
chestnut, three feet high around the top of
which extends rail of walnut. Over this
rail is heavy band of circular ornaments,
inside of which are leaves which extend
around the church and over all the doors