The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-04-19
The New Church.


The Informal opening of the new church
building of.St Johns (EpscopaD Parish, on Sun
dan for The holding of the Easter Services, was
an nccasion of unusual interest, and attracted a
large congregation. A friend has elsewhere given
the readers Of the FLoRIDIAN an account of the
services. bat desire TO say a word or two about
lie huilline. The church, 10 all outward APP
peaTance seems finished, yet much remains TO be
done before II can be called finished. In size il
Is The SAME, and stands on precisely the same
spO, Is The former building, but owing 10 the
absence Of porch and vestibule, considerable
available space has been added to the auditorium,
which is seventy feet in length by forty in width,
moi including tie chancel, which is twenty feet
square II is built in the style Of an old English
chapel. the two large side doors opening directly
into the body OF the church. The six narrow
windows each side set with stained glass
ofFriOas hues wrought into pleasing and ap
rroPriaie designs. In each gable, high up under
lhe peak Of The roof is large circular window
O! stained glass At The east end is the opening
for The largest window, which has not yet been
put INTO position, and at the west end are three
narrow openings also yet 10 be fitted with stain
ed slass windows. The choir occupies the same
Relative position az in The old church, the south
east corner OF The nave.
The imnsense roof, and the manner Of its con-
sirucon and attachment to the walls will be an
object Of special interest, not only 10 those who
may casually visit the spot, but especially TO
those, some Il them members Of the congrega-
ton, who have expressed or felt apprehensions
Al lis
much for the sustaining qualities Of the walls.
To these. We beg TO say, that there seems 10 be
no shadow OF doubt that the stability of the
structure has bcJn most perfectly and scentifi-
caly secured
On the top OF each side wall lies a heavy, con-
hnuons plate. six inches thick, anchored into the
vail opposite each of the buttrcsses by heavy
I'm hars which not only pass up through the
plate. but through the ends of the main raflers,
SIX in number on each side, and thus securely at
iach the roof to the walls
description Of single one of the six sections
81 the ROOF will give accurate idea of its struc
lure. From the highest peak or point of contact
81 each pair OF raficrs depends vertical liking
post extending directly downward to a point
h@li way 10 the level of the top Of the walls.
Ae'oss ilie lower end of this king-post, and ex
lending from The centre of each rafter is hori-
lanial collar beam mortsed in at each point
% contact, and strengthened by braces extending
h'm the central point Of contact, on either side
IN diagonal direction TO the rafters almost at
iighi angles thereto. From the point o! contact
Cd ibe collar beam with the centre of the rafter
"A each side depends vertical "queen-post,'
extending downwards TO a point opposite the
Raii-iiaie, from whence extends a horizontal
Deam 'callcd " hammer beam y which meets
-nd j. norised into the lower end of the queen
l''s'. which Is supported like the king-post, by
'iAoe extending from the point of contact to the
'Hi"f FROM The point of contact of the king
posi- with the collarbeam, to the point of con-
p The queen post with the hammer-beam,
eAieAds diagonally pull-beam." which, with
'"er ina oi the queen-post and the outer
VI me hammer beam, is supported by a
.'eu bracket springing from point halfway
We inside wall of each buttress, and
s'he"ed by brace extending from It's Gen.
INC "ail'plate joint The pressure of the
'''sN' Of the roof is thus ingeniously
''eu' aud each portion of the wall. and es.
4''s nc lower and thicker portion of the but.
contributes lis part towards sustaining it.
,'ues inns happy arrangement and skillful con-
y me forces of grayilation, the halfrafters or
-A''eis Al each end Of the roof, together with
eeiecuVe king posts, coIlar-beams, queen.
80. pN"-oeans, hammer beams and braces are
"''ached to The end walls OF the struct.
Anu' what is more importance still, every
contact IN each SECTION of the Frame
CHS. powerfully secured by heavy, forged iron
S and rods. There is, therefore, positively
'A'efal pressure at all, and the roof and walls
y completely integrated that little abort of
I, Alhquake il ever likely to affect them.
n H. A. Whitfield, the active member of the
D1nong Committee, has been ably assisted by
81 carter and both are entitled 10 great credit
"a ue faithful performance of their duties. The
NE congregation have done very much
an 10 pfovidihg tl,e necessary means and the