The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1888-01-03
A SPLENDID SANCTUARY.
A Description of Grace Churon and the
Opening Services Therin.

Sunday. January 1, 1888, will be ac-
counted a veritable "white day" in the
annals Of the Methodist Episcopal Church
in st. Augustine, being marked by the
opening (not dedicating, services in the
magnificent new edifice built for this or
ganization by Mr.. III. M. Flagler.
The structure, in outward aspect is
composite in style, being a combina-
ton Of the gothic and mansard, its low,
.ponderous walls, made of c,quina con-
crete, and it's low-pitched, many sec
toned roof, giving it a peculiarly low
and heavy aspect, making it look really
much lower in total height than it really
il. The trimmings, cornices and other
outer ornamentation is all of red brick
and terra Gotta, harmonizing finely with
the rich gray Of the concrete and reliev-
ing by an appearance of brightness, the
Otherwise heavy appearance of the
Structure.
Fronting southwark, towards the
Ponce de Leon, from which it is sepa-
1nEed only by the width of street and the
park which will occupy the near position
OF the ample grounds of the hotel, it
stands in one of the most conspicuous
positions in the city, and forms, with its
graceful spire, and the beautiful parson-
age which ajjoins it ON the west, an inl-
portant and picturesque portion of the
world-famous Ponce de Leon group.
The main entrance is up long low
flight Of broad steps to covered, clols-
ter-lcoking gallery, SPAWNED by heavy
arches, and through three massive
double doors, swinging outward, heavily
paneled and studded on the outside
with iron bolt-heads. These doors, four
inches in thickness, with deep panels,
are SO arranged as to afford the most
easy and rapid ingress and egress to the
Congregation, and constitute a novel and
exceedingly commendable feature in
church architecture. They open directly
upon the auditorium, which occupies
the main portion Of the structure, and
the two TRANSCRIPTS.
The outer gallery terminates at enc
end in square room cut off from the
eastern transept. and intended for use as
reception room or vestry room, and at
the other in a small square vestibule at
the foot Of the tower. opening both into
the western transept and the gallery
stairway.
The interior of the auditorium, which
Ii nearly square, comprises the nave and
two spacious TRANSCRIPTS, each separated
from the nave by three splendid grained
arches, resting upon block pillars, the
bases square, with plain moldinx CAPT
tails, plain and square, the entire column
being fourfold. giving the appearance OF
four square columns, with all .heir parts
complete, blended into one.
The arches, architraves and interven-
ing wall, on either side, are finished in
wooisn scale-work. with tiny, rounded
shingles not exceeding two inches in
width, laid as if in a roof, and vanished
giving particularly attractive an,
graceful effect. The vestry room, vesti
bule, ETC., are plastered and tinted
Above the arches, in the upper walls o
the nave, are four groups of doubl
stationary windows, glazed with staine
glass OF unique design, and in the 10,
walls OF the TRANSCRIPTS are similar win
dows hinged on swivels for the purpos
Of ventilation. In the gable, over tn
main entrance, is magnificent Catherin
window, in many coiored glass, e,
quisitely blended, and having centrs
rosette. containing the inscription
.sGracs N. Il. Church, 1887"
The rolf is trussed and braced heavil
with immense king-posts, tie-beams an
cross-beams, all substantially ironed I,
gether, and 20 constructed ~ to con
bzets. with the rafters and under surfa<