Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-23
CITY AND DISTRICT.
ST. PATRICK,s CHURCH.

"A
The Oldest Catholic Church In the City
"A Brief Historical sketch Of the In.
stisution-The Work ON the New
building.
st. Patrick's is the Oldest Catholic church in
the city. having been established before the
government was moved from Philadelphia. and
when a number Of the public buildings were in
the course Of erection. Rev. Father Caffrey.
seeing the want of a church of that denomina-
tiOn-for many of the workmen on the build
ings as well as the early settlers were OF the
Catholic faith-in 1794 purchased from the gov
eminent for nominal figure several lots in the
square between 9th and 10th and and G.
streets. and erected the church This was a
small. unpretent0us brick building, to whcn the
wOrshipers brought their own seats or chairs
The early parshioners Of Father Caffrey included
the CAROLS. Brents, Fenwicks Hobans Swee-
neys Carberrys YOungs, and Dyers. It was
large congregation from the first. the church
always being well filed, for then the parish
took in the whole District east of Rock creek,
territory which Is now occupied by twelve
churches. each of which would hold four or
more of the mother church Rev Father Caffrey
was transferred from st. Patrick's In 1904. and
the lamented
WIN. MATTHEW'S,
then president Of Georgetown college, was ap-
pointed by Archbishop Carroll as his successor
He continued In charge till 1854, when he died,
having served within few months Of a half
century. In 1910 the first permanent pew was
erected in the church by Mr.. Barry, of East
Washington, who about the same time
erected on South Capitol street, below
NJ street south, brick chapel, which
was used as mission chapel by Father
Matthews till 1921, when st. Peters church,
on Capitol Hill was erected and placed in charge
of Rev. Father Van Horsey. After the war Of
1872 Rev. Father Matthews enlarged the original
edifice of st. Patrick's church. and purchased
secondhand organ of the Episcopal church at
DuInfries, Va, which was one of the first Or
gans set up in the District. Under Father
Matthews ministratioDs the church prospered
and grew, many of the members of the foreign
legations being regular attendants. He was an
earnest worker In every good work. As one of
the founders Of the public school system. as a
trustee OF the western Lancasterian school Oath
anu streets) for over quarter of a century,
and also an active promoter of associations for
the relief of the poor. he hal the respect of the
entire community. including Protestants as well
as Catholics. When st. Peters church was es-
fablshed in 1921, and took off the Catholics
from the eastern section of the city. and st.
Matthews, in 1888. those in the western part of
The city, the church was still lett with "a many
COMMITMENTS as one pastor could minister to.
Or the death of Father Matthews in 1854 Rev
L. j. O'TOOle was placed in charge. who, after
,
by
THE PRESENT PASTOR,
Rev. Father ]. A Walter Under Father Walters
ministratiOns the congregations have been kept
up. and the building of the new church was pro-
jected. Father Walter is not in favor of incur
ring debt. and therefor when money ran short
come years ago he suspended operations on the
new church. Rev. Father Walter had at one
time. as his assstant pastor. the late Rev. Father
Mccarthy. who about twenty years ago built
the Immaculate Conception church. and after
wards Rev. Bishop keane, Of Richmond, was
his assistant for some years.
THE NEW CHURCH BUILDING.
The work on the new church building having
recently been resumed is now being pushed for
ward vigorously. Father Waiter saws that he ex-
poets it to be the finest church structure south
of New York. When finished it will be ready
for conservation as there will practically be
no debt upon it. The property adjoining the
church, which is rapidly increasing in value,
has been 50 We'll managed that Father Walter
expects it to meet all liabilities incurred on ac-
count OF the church building. The architecture
chosen Tor the new church is OF pure gothic,
The plans and drawings having been made by
Mr. L. j. OCOnnor Ill Broadway. New York.
The carpenter contracting is to furnish all the
materials for completing the roof, Turing the
walls and ceilings and arches of the
church, waInscOting the walls, flooring
the whole building, baptistery and vestry.
furnishing and setting the frames of all win
dOws except where stone jambs are provided
finishing the pews front and back with paneling
altar rail and gates; all centers for the mason to
turn arches upon, also all slanting of roof and
painting, and all the labor necessary to complete
the same in the best manner. He is also to lay
Gil floor beams and flooring; those of the church.
vestry, baptstery and galleries to be BIZ 10 inch
beams Of spruce. sixteen inches fall. the flooring
OF the whole church. vestry and baptistery to be
laid with thick spruce plank. On completion of
plastering the carpenter is to floor the whole Of
the space under the pews with the best thick
clear pine flooring plank, blind nailed and in the
sanctuary. yestry. gallery. baptistery and passages
and all other parts of the building he is to lay
the floors with wide clear Georgia pine tongue.
The timbers of all the framing through
out are to be Of the best seasoned white pine
The stairs In the towers are to have one center
post In each, Octa9On In shape. of yellow pine
win steps framed into them. and treads to be
yellow pine. thick moulded and rise Of pine.
The windows, doors. wainscOting. jambs gal
Ieries. partitions. altar railing. pews, closets
blinds. iron work, painting, stating. plumbing,
gas hitting, &c, are all definitely detailed in the
specifications, and are all to be OF the best pat
terms and materials. Mr.. John Stack an ex-
perienced church builder has the contract for
the carpenter work for getting the building
ready for plasterng, when the contract for
trimming and finishing will be made. Mr. b.
Iauuidndu HAS the CONTRACT Tor the cur stone
and masonry work. The church will be ready
Ior the pasterng by January next.
THE MASONRY WORK
required IN the erection of this church has been
pushed up to the commencement of the second
story The outer walls are Of rock faced broken
asiiian, squared beds and joints all round the
plQths OF the nave columns; the moulded bases
and the granite shafts and caps of the same
material have been already furnished and now
lie in the limits of the building The change of
The plan will require the removal of the two
great piers forming the inside wall OF the tower
but the material taken down is TO be used and
accounted for in the estimate for the new work.
All the side walls and chapels as also the front
and baptistery. are to be built of the same blue
(gneiss) building stone from the Potomac. above
Georgetown Twelve inch arches are to be
turned over all doors and windows The piers
now built will be leyelled for nave arcade. and
the top OF the large capstone will be dressed off
&c receive granite base 12 inches thick and 8
feet square, upon which the plnth OF the COL
CInns shall be set.
The walls to support the altar Will be carried
mp level with the platform of the altar-twenty-
one inches above the floor of chancel. The
steps to the three front doors are to be made In
TWO lengths, except where the specifications re-