Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-31
ST. JOHNS CHURCH.

ST. JOHNS CHURCH.
Improvement. Made i'm a venerable
Sanctuary.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MISREPRESENTATION
OF THE CHANGES WHICH HAVE JUST BEEN
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ACCOMMODATIONS
FOR wORsHIPERS-TILEs AND TERRA GOTTA
| wORK-THK MEMORIAL WINDOWS.
st. Johns church is one of the Oldest and one
of the best known churches in Washington. 1t
has recently been through thorough overhaul
ing. and many notable improvements have been
made In its interior, arrangement. For some
time past the. workman's hammer has been
sounding daily within its historic walls. but
| now the work is about completed, and to-mor-
| row it will be again opened for public worship.
The first OF November is All Saints day, and at
1850 and at - m. there will be
at pm. there will be evening prayer.
The church was originally built in 1915 by the
Architect Latrobe. the father of Mayor Latrobe,
of Baltimore. The design was that of a Greek
cross. Galleries ran around 1t, and door
| opened on 10th street and one on Fl street. At
| that time Lafayette square was an open COM
mon. and the White House had not been rebuilt
| by an extension to the westward and in 1895 a
colonnade and steeple were added In 1880 the
organ. which was in the chancel was removed
| to the gallery In the rear Of the congregation,
where 1t remained until the recent changes were
| made; when it was again moved to the chaneel,
and now occupies position to the right of the
rector.
THE RECENT IMPROVEMENTS.
The changes which have just been made do
not change the beauty and symmetry of the
venerable edif1ce in the least and it still retains
the original general plan. Two principal OBJ
jects have been gained by the improvement.
More room. greatly needed, has been secured,
and the danger of it's being destroyed as an old
building blocking the march of improvement in
that neighbOrhOod entirely removed. 1t has
now such bright and comely appearance, and
| 1s throughout such an embodiment OF good
taste, that 1t will stand for many years to come,
and will remain one Of the landmarks of this
constantly growing CITY, AS one of the prOmi-
nent members of the congregation remarked to
STAR reporter: 'These improvements have
IN my estimation, saved this sacred building
| from destruction" The old vestry room has
been removed. and the church proper extended
to the east line. and the chancel now extends
was runs broad aisle, with openings on both
sides OF the church. This was very much
needed, and will prove great advantage when
any funeral ceremonies are held in the church.
AS stated, the organ has been removed from
the gallery. and small extension built for it at
the north of the chancel.
TRAINED CHoRIsTERs
will be substituted for the former choir The
organ is so arranged that the organist as he
plays faces the chancel and the officiating min
lister. Still north Of the organ room is a COM
| mOdiOus robing room, and above it and over the
organ room also Is the yestry room. The re-
mOval OF the organ from the west gallery af-
fords 26 additional pews, all ofwhch were eager
ly taken up. Mr.. A.. E. Bateman and Major
Graham secured the front pews To make this
part of the church more available the old stair
ways, which assembled from the main vestibule
were torn down, and at the northwest corner of
the building small extension constructed con-
| tanning broad and easy flight of steps. leading
| to the gallery through two entrances. South of
| the chancel opposite the organ room. has been
built a large. graceful hay window which will
be filled with thirty upholstered chairs, to be
let to persons desiring single seats. The new
| chancel is very commolious and is fitted up in
handsome and tasteful manner. The wooden
floor has been changed to a tesselated pave
ment of mnton tiles. The thing in the sanctuary
is the gift of the children of the Sunday school.
THE TERRA GOTTA ALTAR
is said to be by far the finest piece of terra Gotta
work that has yet been produced in this coun-
try. it was made by the Boston Terra Gotta
company. from designs by James Renwick, ESQ.,,
of New York. the architect Of the Roman Cath.
Ole cathedral and Grace church. New York and
of the Smithsonian Institution and the Corcoran
Art gallery, in Washington. 1t is the gift of Mrs
Francis RiggSand hersister Miss Thayer. in men,
| DRY of their father and mother Mr.. and Mrs JAS
$. Thayer The former dark and sombnr ceiling
decorations have given place to bright and
tasteful painting and decoration. the work of
Wies. OF New York. having the effect of raising
the height of the ceiling at least ten feet Hand
some memorial windows, with two exceptions,
are being made at the LOrn factory at Chartres.
France. where the famous windows of the RO-
man Catholic cathedral, on 5th avenue, New
York. were made. The remaining two windows
are ordered from N. Eggleston. of NY. The
great window. over the altar, is expected to
arrive here about Christmas. and the others will
be arriving one at time probably till midsum-
mer.
THE MEMORIAL WINDOWS.
The north compartment Of the great window
over the altar will be made of ornamental glass,
with an angels head in the center-in memory
Of Mrs. Lockwood The central compartment
will represent the Last Supper-in memory OF
Mrs. Franklin Steele. The south compartment
will be similar to the north-a memorial to
Admiral Wilkes The south window In the
choral l. will represent the TRANSPORTATION, and
is the gift of the Misses King. The next win
dow In the chancel will be of ornamental glass,
put in by the vestry. The window under the
gallery in the south transept. the gift of the
President, in memory OF Mrs. Arthur. will nave
side compartments similar to those of the great
window. The upper medallion in the central
compartment will represent the Angels of the
Resurrection, and the lower medallion the
Annunciation to the shepherds.
The remaining windows are as follows:
Next windOw-Upper medallion the Assem-
| sion: lower medallion, the Alteration of the
Shepherds. In memory of W. T. Carroll, esq.,.
formerly clerk Of the Supreme Court and his
children. W. 7. Carroll, jr., Howard Carroll and
Mrs. Mercer.
Next window in nave-Upper medallion, the
Baptism of Christ; lower medallion, Christ,
Mary and Martha. In memory Of Mr. and Mrs.
Henry K. Randall and their daughter, Mrs. Ell
| liOtt
| Next window in nave-Side COMMITMENTS
like other side compartments; central compart-
ment, upper medallion, the Entry Into Jerusa-
| lem; lower medallion, Christ Walking on the
Sea. The gift of Mr.. and Mrs. Leonard
Next window in nave (north)-Side compart-
| ments like other side compartments; upper me-
dalton of center, the Vision of the Lamb: lower
medallion. the Crucihxion. The gift of Mr.. and
Mrs. John A. King.
NnYt yxndOxu In navn JYpvor xnodo,I;,.