Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-29
{. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.
Work on the New Building Begun To.
day.
All the Church VIII Not BE Erected u
This Time-What the Plans
Comtemplate.

The hrst work on the new st. Matthews
Church. to be erected on Rhode Island ave-
nue. was commenced this morning. This
work consists In the demolition and re-
moval Of that part OF the old buildings
which interferes with the portion OF the
building now to be erected Then will come
the excavations for the new foundations.
the new walls. &C.. and the concrete foot
ways and the flooring Of the cellar. The
contract for this work has been awarded to
Mr.. Michael Shea of this city, and it will
be pushed forward without any delay
The plans for the completed edifice. which
were made by Messrs. Helms & La Fargo.
architects Of New York. call for cruci-
form church. The nave which forms the
lower part Of the cross from the arms
down, is not to be built at present. When
Ii shall be erected there win be added two
large side chapels. opening into the nave
and transepts. There will also be added
two other chapels. likewise opening into the
transepts. as well as the head Of the cross.
A high dome, sixty feet in diameter. will
cover the crossing. The dome VIII be sup
ported by four sets OF large iron columns.
which are now to be erected on each OF the
four piers The erection of the dome ike
that Of the nave and the four side chapels,
will be postponed for the present.
The dimensions OF the ground plan OF tne
transepts now to be built are 40 by 60 feet,
and the head of the cross will be 20 by "
feet.
Ultimately 1t is intended to have the in
terior present a very grand appearance. put
for the present there will not be any at
tempt at adornment. 1t will be Handsomely
decorated when the nave shall be completed
When that time shall come the exterior
walls, now to be Of brick. will be faced with
white marble. Consequently the walls now
erected will be the inside walls ana OF
brick.
The work of demolishing the stables and
the part Of the building necessary to clear
the site for the excavation ana laying the
footing WILL 1t Is thought, take at least a
month, and perhaps more, II the weather
should not be favorable. III everything goes
well II Is pretty certain that the founoa-
tions will be sufficiently advanced so tnat
the corner stone can be laid with suitable
ceremonies early in November. Then the
work will be pushed right along as lar INTO
the cold weather as will be found pracu-
cable.
Rev. Father Lee on the Ground.
Rev. Father Lee, rector Of st. Matthew
Church was an interested spectator OF the
beginning of the work today. and until the
new church is completed will give 1t the
closest personal attention. He says that
from the foundations to the dome only the
very best material and the most skillfui
talent viii be employed. The building is to
stand as long as the Capitol and therefore
nothing but the best Of everything Will De
used in its construction. As suggested, tne
church Will De laT from us uitiinatS
tectural beauty and finish when IL will be
first used BY the congregation In a couple
Of years or SO.
Only the main portion will be finished
now, and instead OF the magnificent dome
which will at the end crown the sacred edi-
nce the octagon-shaped interior VIII be
temporarily rooted over. For the same
reason-that OF the great cost-the chapels
which win sprround the central nave vii
not be included In the part commenrsd
now4 The foundation walls VIII be bull!
solid and substantial character. The iron
columns which will support the dome-eish,
in number-will be seventy and more feet
high and will be riveted together on the
ground The use OF these iron columns In.
stead of masonry piers for the support oi
a dome 10 unusual When the dome Is built
It will be held up by g network OF stee
arches and supports.
In the plans of the architect the greatest
| care has been taken to utilize every part OF
the site.
The old St. Matthews Church will be
used by the congregation until the new
church il ready for occupancy.