Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-11-29
RODNEY STREET CHURCH.
Entirely Enlarged azd Rebuht-To be
Reopensd Next sunday-Its Handsome
Auditorium and Beautiful Window.

Ent5reIy mniarged azd Rebuilt-To be
Reopensd Next sunday-Its Handsome
Auditorium and Beautiful Window.
The congregation OF the Rodney Street
Presbyterian Church expect to worship
in their new edifce on Sunday next
During the past summer all but one end
of the old church was torn down and il
has been enlarged aud rebuilt until it is
now as handsome church for its size as
there is in the city
The EVENING JOURNAL published last
summer q detailed account of the improve
nents to be made. These are now nearly
completed Besides having very attrac-
live appearance outwardly. the auditor
rum OF this church is also very handsome
Above the line of the caves the ceiling is
finished entirely in natural wood
Every truss aud rafter OF the roof
shows and they are SO graceful and we'll
proportional that the effect is all that
could be desired. The back and sides of
the pulpit recess, Go considerable height,
are finished In psneled wainscoating Of
white pine, natural finish, the effect Of
which is very pleasing.
The walls are finished in terra Gotta
The two large windows at the side of the
church are Of cathedral glass, all Of pale
lemon color. The smaller windows are of
the same with few lines Of brighter
color at the sides. The building commit
tee desired TO give entrance to a quality
of light that was prefectly pleasing TO
the eyes. They think the light from
these windows, combined with the refiec-
tion from the terra Gotta walls, will be
the exact quality desired.
The pews are Of ash, peeuliDrity OF
them is that in every other pew there is
chair that turns back This is for the use
of the Sunday school. the teachers occu-
pying the chairs. The auditorium will
accommodate 800 persons for Sunday
school purposes and congregation OF
400 for churoh services There are four
rooms besides the main room which will
be used for Sunday school purposes.
The sash partition separating the
primary class room from the
main room can be lowered and the rooms
thrown into one The old gallery at the
back Of the church remains as before
There are two entrances, the main en-
trance fren Thirteenth street. through
the new tower and an entrance through
the old tower Wooden doors swinging
both ways separate the vestibules from
the auditorium The main entrance is
lighted by long arched window Of the
prevailing cslor Of glass with border OF
red
The church win be lighted by incandes-
cent electric lights, the only church in
Wilmington so lighted. A new feature
is the electric light for the pulpit. 1t
will be over the desk. but high up near
the roof and hid from annoying the con
gregation with its glare by a truss A
fHnnell shaped reflector will throw the
light down ON the desk.
The old heater will still be used and
smother has been put in by William +.
Robinson, 80 heat the addition hand
some double window is on each of the
four sides of the second story Of the
tower. Over the main entrance is stone
with the inscription, Rodney Street
Presbyterian Church. Founded 1886
Calvin l. Swayne was the contractor and
builder. Edward L. Rice Jr, was the archi-
tect. and w. p. Bratton did the painting
and glazing.
The exercises on Sunday will be re-
opening exercises, with an appropriate
sermon by tho pastor. Rev W. i. Nc
Evan The church will be dedicated in
December.
This church occupies site in one Of
he finest sections Of the city. The prop
srty in its vicinity will probably soon be
Quilt up with handsome resi-
iences. The residence OF II. Victor
6ause is to the west Of il. Within two
squares are the residences Of j. Taylor
cause, Edward L. Rice and William Du-
Pont. The new homes of William
Baedenkopf and Colonel Judd are within
the same distance and also the new resi-
deRce being erected for Ferdinand L.
Gilpin.