Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-22

beautiful colorS The auditorium Is am
phitheatrical IN style, rising one inch To
the foot IN every direction from common
centre, aud has, including the gallery IN
one Of tho Transcripts, slttings for more
than twelve hundred persons. The
pews are of oak. upholstered IN one oil
the newest shades OF imported blue ia
mask. The pulpit furniture IS also OF
oak of the newest style and upholstered
in silk plush Of the same color as that
OF the pews The carpet matches
the furniture and the whole Is
beautiful harmony. The light fixtures
are of antique brass, and very
handsome. Tire chandelier alone,
which is hung from the centre OF the
roof, has 800 burners, and il arranged
for both gas and electricity. The
baptistry is of open construction, and
is finished in Italian marble. The or
gan, now in course Of construction, IL to
be placed in the rear of the pulpit, and
elevated few feet above it. In the rear
of the platform there are elegant toilets
for baptsmal purposes, two large par
lors for church use, and commodioos
and comfortable study for the pastor.
The basement has pitch OF fourteen
feet, aud is model OF beauty and con
venience. 1t has large. well-lighted
rooms, admirably adapted to every de-
partment of church and Sunday school
work, and excites the enthusiastic admi-
ration of all who enter it.
MARvELLo Us GROWTH.
The growth Of the church is a marvel.
Less than eighteen months ago 1t was
known as the West Main-Street church.
and was worshipping iu q small board
house on the corner OF Main and Beech
streets. The church was very small and
the majority OF the membership poor.
But they determined TO build, and soon
after the resignation OF Rev. W. j. Ship
man called the Rev. Dr. 3. A. Goodwin
to succeed him. They were led to take
the step from the known energy and sue
cess OF DIR. Goodwin in previous churct
building. At the time OF the call he wa
the pastor OF the Leigh-Street church
numbering over one thousand members
and receiving from them comfortable
living. DIR. Goodwin accepted the Cal
on salary OF several hundred dollars les
than he was receiving, and ID the face 0
great difficulties addressed himself L
the work. In few days lot was pur
chased at the cost Of nearly eleven thou
sand dollars, and the work on the new
building commenced. The contribution
OF the members Of the church for thu
purpose were generous and enthusiastic
Many Of them denied themselves o
needed comforts in order to give.
HISTORY oP THK CHURCH.
Grove-Avenue is child Of the Firs
Baptist church. AS early as the autumn
OF 1857 the keen oye of DIR. Burrov
(then pastor Of the First cburch) sa'
the importance OF mission work in tn
west end of the city and began it in tn
home OF William hendrick, residing o
what was then known as the Scufiletow
road The work met with such success
that IN the following June & large oper
air meeting was held in Aliens grove. q
which sufficient amount OF money WI
subscribed to justify the commencement
Of q building. A lot was purchased @
the corner of Robinson and Tsyl,
streets and neat chapel erected at Il
cost OF 81. 500. This chapel was know
% the Sidney section OF the First Ba
fist church. and for several years W
under the control Of that body.
! On the lst OF March. 1868. the missile
was organized into church aud IL
pastoral services OF Rev. J. N. Pilcht
secured. In September. 1876, throug
the advice Of the pastor, Rev. Harve
Hatcher, and the Baptist churches
Richmond, it WAS unanimously resolve
TO move the building "to some pom
nearer 10 or IN the city OF Richmond"
A lot vas purchased on the corner
Nam and Beech streets. and the chaps
IN which tho congregation worshippe
until July OF the present year wa
erected This was known rs the Wei
Main-Street Baptist church.
DIMENSIONS AND CORNERSTONE
Captain NJ. j. Dimmock is the archi
tect. and the binding committee is com
posed OF Messra 5. A. Goodwin, VIII
lam Hall, Edmund Harrison. Alonz.
Philips, Caleb Jacob. j. II. Dickerson
8 II. Herndon. and A. J. Wray.
The sunday school department is %
constructed that ell the apartments car
b thrown together, and viii seat 1906
obfldsep.
~ auditorium, suphithsstss in style.