Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-27
An ARcHITECTuRAL GEN.
The New EdgeheId baptist Church
Completed - Something About the
Congregation and Sunday-5ehOOI.

Completed - Something About the
Congregation and Sunday-BehOOI.
The finishing touches are being put
upon the new Edgeield Baptist Church,
and its dedication viii take place on the
18th Of April next.
The Baptist denomination in Edgefeld
has increased rapidly within the last three
and half years. When Rev. w. A. Mel
| SON the present pastor, took charge Of tie
| church, there were but twenty-five men,
bers, and they worshiped in the Edgefeld
/ Masonic Library-rOOm. The cOleregaticn
soon grew so large that the LIbrary-room
would not accommodate them, and the
erection of another building was discussed.
A lot was purchased on the corner of
Fatherland and Tulip streets for $1,000,
and the erection Of the new edifice was
commenced about two and half years ago.
A building committee, consisting Of Messrs
II. W. ButtOrf, JOIN E. LeSseur and Jos.
/ B. Patton, was appointed to take charge of
all business connected with the erection of
! the building. The committee engaged the
services Of Mr.. n. z. Ship, a skillful az
cliltect, to draw the plans and specihca-
! tons.
The work has been gradually pushed for
ward until the church is now about ready
for occupation. The pastor accounts for
the length of time it has taken by declaring
that it was the intention of the congrega-
ton and building committee to pay as they
went, which has been done. There is
only about 81 900, or less, owing on the
building.
The dimensions Of the building are At
by %, aud it has the capacity to seat 425
person S. The basement has been completed
about year and half, and has been used
| by the congregation for religious purposes
during that time.
One great convenience about the build
ing is that there are three doors entering
into the auditorium, each of which opens
directly in front of an aisle. The pews
form arcs of circles, and are great inn
pJOVement on those in many churches.
The peWs being thus arranged, the con-
struction Of the floor is such that any per-
son sitting upright in his seat, 70 ali ap-
pearance, directly faces the preacher. This
is one Of the most noticeable architectural
devices in the structure. The floor rises
from either side to the centre.
The walls, alcOves and ceiling are painted
in the finest of oil, of three different eoors,
the walls being lavender, alcOves pink and
the ceiling SKY blue, which, altogether,
make an exceedingly pleasant tout eTlSen-
be. In the center of the ceiling are two
gas reflectOrs, which furnish sufficient
light. The windows are Of the finest
quality Of stained French ground glass and
are very costly.
The pulpit, and alcOve Immediately in
its rear, are constructed in an ancient
style, the alcOve representing an extended
hall with checkered flooring and Tuscan
and COrinthian columns. The columns
are neatly frescOed with appropriate colOrs.
This part Of the work was done by Messrs.
hearn & Setter. Immediately behind the
pulpit, and elevated upon it, is the bap-
tistTy. On either side Of the pulpit are two
rooms, which are designated as robe rooms.
The architecture Of the building is part
ly Gothic having two towers, one at each
front corner. The left hand tower is sur
mounted by a spire, the altitude Of which
is 10 feet from the ground. The other is
ornamented with four finals while the
center Of the building is surmounted with
three finals. The walls seem TO have been
erected with the intention Of lasting a long
time as the brick masons, Messrs. J. E. &
o. 5. Lesseur, used the finest quality of
kAN-lNAA bAAAh III NlAAolANNNA-4- ELAGAns 4 AAG
roof is covered with slate and this part of
the work was executed By Mr.. Cooper.
The carpenters work was done by MeSsrS.
Patton & McInturf.
The citizens Of Edgefeld may justly fee
proud Of this excellent ornament to their
1OUTishing little city. Rev. DR.. Burrows,
Of Louisville, will preach the dedication
sermon. The audience room will be OCcu-
pied for the first time tomorrow night, it
being the occasion Of a grand Sunday
School reunion.
The pulpit and aisles will be carpeted
to-day and everything put in readiness for
the enteTt .inment tomorrow night.
In this connection, it would be we'll to
state that the membership Of the church
numbers at present $50, and Of the Sunday
school 240, which is aiconsiderable increase
compared 10 the number that belonged to
the church and Sunday-schoOl when Rev.
Mr.. Nelson first took pastoral charge.
The building cost $4,000 and the pas
tors home 5000, all Of which has been
paid except a few hundred dollars. This
speaks well for a congregation which was
under such unfayOTable circum-
stances.