New-York tribune., 1891-03-07
AFTER A SPANISH MODEL.
THE CATHEDRAL OF ST JOHN THE DIVINE.
DESCRIPTION. OF THE PLAN PREPARED BY
NrsspS POTTER & ROBERTSON.

DESCRIPTION, OF THE PLAN PREPARED BY
MEssRS POTTER & GoBERTsON.
AS was indicated in william a. Potter's letter, pun
lished in Yesterdays Tribune, the report that tc hi
Of Potter & Robertson had withdrawn from the compe'
ton for the designs Of the plan OF the proposed W
thedral OF ST. John the Divine was not fouhdeu VI"
facts Their drawings were added 10 those OF he'hs
d. La Fargo J. Halsey Wood and iIuss Buck In the
see House. No. 30 Lafayette Place, yesterday after
noon
Mr. Potter was annoyed by the assertion that His
relationship TO the Bishop OF the diocese had induced
him II withdraw from the competition According 10
a member OF the firm who seen yesterday, Nr'
Potter saw no reason why he should not enter the maj
race Oh equal terms with the other architects INC
firms unsigned design had been selected at the hrS'
composition, when its authorship had been unknown
As our plans" he added. "could not be ready on
March - we wrote TO Colonel Auchmuty, secretary OF
the Architectural Committee, asking for an extension
Of time. We believed As matter OF course
that our wishes would be granted anu
continued TO work upon the designs We
see 10 reason why they should not be accepted. we
have receipt in fact now for them RON 'nc oi'o "
charge Of the other design ut the sec House
The designation which Mcssrs. Potter Il Robertson
apply TO thc designs is "Gcruna," the name OF city
in Spain. 1t was from the plan OF lis catheufa'
church that the suggestion for their design was tch
d" A large central nn0bstructcd space would seem TO
be the starting point in planning the cathedral churoh
Of today they say. "Thc rtnal and liturgy
OF the church demand opportunity for theii
fit prescntaton." 1t upon these lines
that .the scheme called Corona developed
Their cathedral is composed Of a nave OF single
span with the usual arrangement OF the nave ana
ai,lcs Of the choir opening into IL. The nave proper
il seventy three in width 1t consists further OF a
central space cighysx feet square, with four lesser
spaces placed at the faces Of the central square,
crIciform in plan and unoDstructcd py 'oF
umns II contains o1.OO0 square feet OF moor
space. which the architects believe Is achieve
mcnt unprecedented in the Of the Gothic models
This will allow the seating Of 5000 people wilhih
10 feet Of the preacher
The usual tripartitc arrangement OF tho nave anu
aisle, has been retained about the central space.
This. il is believed will add to its grandeur and
majesty. At the east end OF the nave "a nave oi o'o
span three arches open into the choir and Its aSic'
The difficulty Of carrying arches and vaults over
space Of such extent Is met by the four towers paoeu
in angles where they and countciact pS '"o''
mass and the weight Of their walls the ou'""'u
thrust Of the arches and The vaults Gi tic cr'''e
"That the services may be brought nearer 70 ne W."
shippers the choir stall, have been brought boldly 'o
,bc north arm Of the c1clform space and outside the
choir arcbr confines the description. "1hcy arc
raised well above tho level of the central space o
crossing and are incl. by chancel screen. lhe
civcnc,, Of the choral service Will be greatly en-
h1nccd, IL Is believed, by thc d'"u-"' ""''''''7
irr from the position II the choir stalls
The architects have not I'll wed pr c'ccntlh the u'lF
rert ~ the floor levels This ha, been done parity - III
crease the appearance Of the internal length Of he nave
SIX chapcl- have been Incorporated Win the do'- i'
the Use of congregations which do not speak h"N''
Tins the cosmopoitaa character Of the city hL' been
,oroizcd and the architect, believe tliat an additional
iurcrc, Will lie added thdr cathedral for that ret
SON The chapcls are situated that service may
be held In them while the main -crvcc Is IN pfo-c''
I'm the central part of TIE cathedral lh' af,nF %
| lay sire, upJn the Ia't 'ni, I'IF va -.
cathedral may b: built and u,cd while ID; rest - o'lh-
Tho plan hls four sp.tcs The extreme icnsth
~ IN. interior of the hidiug from the inside Of me
.autb wall over the gallery, 10 The inside ap,e Wh
| is 44G f.ct. The total width acr"-' thc nave "Lu
| aisle, of the nave tHu-rpie ana chof ,,,, IS e. -
| vail /, .-3 feet Ihc central -quarr measures -
feet each WAY. and the arms OF IN" cru,iioim '.h'n
su,r, ar. -6 feet by - feet. From the cathedral
ccutrc Ia the centre II the nave pier, is 43 feet Inc
drpth from The front of t" ohanc"l ercn to the ap,e
wall !, 1Gl fc'. The d.pth "i the % %rhmr pr"pcr
scvcutvtwo social choir stalls and 100 stalls In te
rr bnnfl,try Is placed at the west side Of the nave
near thc entrance The opening I, IL Is IN the Inst
bay ncAt 10 the south 'front.' il is an "'Ae'l' t"cup
,ix feet in diameter. The chapter h"H,e - 'as,i
,,on-c,r II T. connected with u hy coIonnadcd
aicadc The vcstiirs placed 10 the east oi ilc
choir and contain library and cho!I. ve'tV IN inc
Tl@ n ornin- chapel +, contiguous 10 the ycsty. In
connection with TIE main ft-tN U.s. % 'I"-tF' "
,aoi,ty has been placed near the entrance ron tn
yc,-rv, to the choir. II contains strong vault fr
the reception OF the Plat" ana ornament, "i me air
,i,.cd .,rch ha- bccu uecd boz the vaultng Of the
t,iInrs. the t.uud arch for all others.
J. Ial-cy Wool again refused TO consent 10 =" ,i'e
public cNhlh lion ~ h!, plans Yesterday lie Will not
give q definite decision for some tmc'