The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-23
ST.JOHN'Sw DEVELOPMENT
Pastor Stoddard Saws the
Growth of the Congre-
cation Causes the
Need of More
Room.

~ NE
The proposed extensive improvements
to ST. Johns Episcopal Church. on sum-
NIT avenue, are no longer purely vision
ary, and doubtless will all have been
made before the summer vacation Is
over. The contemplated renovation m
braces a plan for enlarginR the church
also, an Improvement rendered necessary
to accommodate the constantly growing
parish.
The Rev. E. L. Stoddard, rector OF st.
Johns, spoke to his parisnlonerS Vester-
day concerning the condition OF the
church, and, without hesitation, boldly
said that he wanted the parish TO raise
SIS. 600 by Easter. He referred to the
crowded condition OF the church ana
the fact that the insufficient num-
Der OF pews compelled the sexton
to place seats in the aisles very frequently,
The rector said it would require from
thirty to forty additional pews TO relieve
the pressure, aud the only way to secure
| these pews would be to extend the front
of the church fifteen feet nearer to Inc
street. A new vestibule that De
properly heated will also be constructed.
The style of architecture will be Gothic,
to correspond with the present style OF the
church, and the proposed addition Will be
as ornamental as useful.
GENERAL RENOVATION.
DR.. Stoddard said further that it had
become necessary to give the mechanical
mart of the organ q thorough oyerhauling
and rebuilding. The SIS, 900 he asked for
would probably be sufficient to make all
the improvements required. including
new decorations for the interior or the
church. He earnestly requested The con-
gre CATION and those of the parish
who were absent to help him with a
hearty cooperation In securing the
/ money required. He believed that there
was no good reason for it's not being Sc
! cured by Easter and he hoped to be able
on that dav to say the money had been
furnished, and the needed improvements
would be made. Mr.. Stoddard said the
fnnd had q good foundation to build on
| for seven men had contributed $4,000, to
the project. The names OF the men We're
not given.
Last week DR.. Stoddard and the vestry-
men gave out a number of SUBSCRIPTION
books, and yesterday more were issued.
There are now about eighty members of
the parish supplied with these books,
ana 1t is expected that those holding
them will solicit contributions from any
| one willing to aid the church in the pro-
posed improvements. The amounts SO
donated will be the only Easter offering
the church will ask tor this year, aud, in
consequences, the rector said he hoped
that all would give as much as possible.
WILL NOT BE LEFT BEHIND.
AS an extra lnducemenU 60 the members
of the parish to work with Il will for the
project, Mr.. Stoddard, in the course of
his remarks, referred To the many church
| improvements in New York and this city
| He spoke of the st. Johns Cathedral and
the generosity that enabled it's projectors
| to build it, and here at home he referred
to churches of other denominations that
had recently expended much money IN re-
pairs and rebuilding. The mag
niicent structure of the First
PRESBYTERIAN Church aud the
Emory Street Methodist Church,
were mentioned by name and then the
rector spoke OF the halt St. johns had
made and how it had stood still while the
other churches were being enlarged, un-
til now the church could not possibly do
Justice to its rapidly growing parish. In
regard to the debt which is now on st.
Johns Church. the rector believed the
contemplated Improvement would not re-
tard It's payment, for the extension, when
built, would be paid for and the debt of
the parish would not be increased
thereby.
The members of the parish appear to
be in accord with the rector in this new
project, aud its ultimate success is almost
guaranteed.