Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-25
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
ZONE POINTS ABOUT THE BUILDING
AND THE CONGREGATION.
The Cornerstone Dedication-The spirs-
The FRS. Karriage-The Pastors
An Anecdote Of DR.. Jete-.
fFor the Dispatch. !

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Episcopal congregation, the descendants
of many of whom now worship in St.
Paul's, attended the old Pineapple
church. which was situated on Franklin
street beyond the Old Market. Ia 1911
the Richmond Theatre was burnt, and
upon its site the Monumental Episcopal
church, which now stands on Broad
street below Twelfth street, was erected
by this congregation. 1t was called
| Monumental because in front Of it there
Is monument to the memory Of the
people who were burned 10 the
theatre. Here a large congregation
have worshipped. from that time
urtil the present under the min
istratious OF distinguished divines,
such as Right Reverend Bishop Moore,
Bishop Meade. Rev. DR.. Norwood, DR..
Woodbridge, DR.. Armstrong, and Rev.
DIR. Newton, the present rector. About
The year 1912 part OF the cougrega.
ton who lived high up town, under the
leadership Of Rev. DR.. Norwood, de-
termined to build new church in a
better location and more convenient to
them. The site selected for the new
ediiice was on the corner OF Grace and
Ninth streets, adjacent to the Capitol
Square, perhaps the most eligible loca-
ton in the city. On the 10th day
Of October, 1913. the cornerstone Of
st. Paul's was laid with the usual
ceremonies. Bishop Johns delivered
on appropriate discourse. The building
committee was composed Of Rev. DR..
Norwood. William Ii. mcfarland,
William Mitchell. Jr., and William
Williams, all Of whom were we'll
known gentlemen Of the highest stand
ing in Richmond at that time. Thomas
s. Stewart, Esq, of Philadelphia, was
the architect aud superintendent the
erection Of the church. The brick
work was done by Captain George r.
Myers. the stone-work by Allen NJ.
Ly on, the tin-work by Mr.. IIeilley, the
iron castings were made at the Trede-
gar Works, and the iron railing and the
other iron-work were put up by Francis
s. Barnes, all Of whom our older citi-
zens will remember as being prom.
inent in their respective occupa-
tons. In the cornerstone were
deposited the following articles: The
names of all the subscribers to the
church fund; the Holy Scriptures
Book Of Common Prayer; an almanac
Of 1913; Journal of the General Con-
vention of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the United States of the year
1871; Swords Patent Almanac for
1913; Constitution aud Canons of the
Episcopal Church in Virginia, printed in
1910; Thirteenth Annual Report of the
Bible Society of Virginia, 1913 speci-
mems OF the gold, silver, and copper
coins of the United States; religious
and political newspapers Of the day;
and on the silver plate Of the corner
stone is this inscription: "This stone
was laid on the 10th Of October, 1913,
by Right Rev. John Johns, Assistant
Bishop Of Virginia"
THE CONSIDERATION OF THE CHURCH
took place on the 18th day Of Novem-
Der, 1915, in the presence of large
congregation. The two bishops, Meade
and Johns, with the clergy, advanced
up the central aisle, repeating alternate
ly the verses of the Oath Psalm. APP
pIopriate services were conducted by
Presiding Bishop Meade, after which
Bishop Johns delivered the conservation
sermon from the text "And will fill
this house with glory, saith the Lord
God of Hosts.n The whole occasion
was solemn and interesting, and was
rendered doubly so by the inspiring
tones Of the magnificent organ. This
instrument was then, and is per-
baps now, the grandest organ ever
seen in Richmond. Its exterior
is Of the Grecian style. 1t is
% feet front, about % feet high, and
Is feet deep. 1t contains 1884 pipes.
The largest pipe is l6 feet long and
about 90 inches in diameter. The da-
pasons are very powerful. 1t has in all
"a stops. When this organ was put up
for trial at the mandatory of the
maker, Henry Erben, in New York,
there were q number of professional
gentlemen present, who spoke in the
highest terms Of the excellence of the
various stops, particularly the great
trumpet, the clarabella, the cremona,
the hautboy, and the flute. With such
an instrument and with the taste ex-
hibited in the selection Of its choirs, it
is not to be wondered at that st. Paul's
should always have been distinguished
for its fine music.
THE CHURCH EDIFICE
is an elegant architectural structure,
and is an ornament to the city. It's
tall, graceful spire is the first thing
that meets the eye Of stranger as he !
approaches the city from any direction.
1t rises 225! feet from the ground, be-
ing built partly over the front portco
and partly over the main body Of the
church. McCle]lan's army might have
seen it from the battlefield of Seven
Pines in 1862, and its spire may have
been the last object on which the eyes
of the gallant Stuart rested when he
fell in defence Of. Richmond at the yell
low Tavern, May, 1864. Iii said that
on a clear day Petersburg, twenty-five
miles off, may be seen from the top of
the steeple. The dimensions Of the
building are as follows: 81 feet front
by Ill feet deep, exclusive Of pro-
lection in the rear Of IA feet for vestry-
rooms, pulpit, &C., and Of q pro-
lection in front of 9 feet, form
ing the stylobate Of the portico,
making the entire depth l34 feet.
The aIchture is the Corinthian style,
and its model is the choragic monu-
ment Of Lysicrates commonly called
the Lanthorn of Demosthenes. 1t
fronts on Grace street, and the portico
is ornamented with q colonnade con-
sistipg of ten beautiful columns Of the
rich Corinthian order. The sides of
the church are graced with ante sur
mounted by foliated capitals similar to
those of the front columns. The whole
exterior is beautiful for its proportions
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