Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-05
ST. THOMAS CHURCH
A Handsome Edifce Going Up Near
Dupont Circle.
A YOUNG But PROSPEROUS PARISH
The Remarkable Record of a Few
Brief Years.
B RIG HIT WITH MIS- E

A notable addition to the number of hand
some church buildings in this city will be
the new edifice of St. Thomas p. E. Church.
which Is now in course of erection. 1t is
situated at the corner of 18th and Madison
streets northwest, near by and just east of
Dupont Circle, in one of the finest sections
of the city. and in neighborhoCd where
there is pressing need for church of that
denomination. Both the parish and church
are young. The new edifce was commenced
last fall. but hardly had the foundations
been laid and the walls started when win
ter interrupted the work. Now. however, it
has been begun again. and the walls of The
new church are rising rapidly.
The history of Calvary parish is as brief
as it's rise has been rapid. For several
years back, the increasing growth of the
population in the northwest supplied one of
the conditions creating a demand for a
church of the Protestant Episcopal faith in
that neighborhood that on May Is, 1884,
the Calvary parish was established by the
diocesan authorities The territory COM
prised within the limits OF the new parish
was taken partly from the parish Of st.
Johns and partly from St. Andrews parish,
and includes the portion of the city in the
neiShborhood of the church. The parish
was Immediately organized and Rev. john
A, Aspmwan called as rector, while at the
same time lot was purchased which is
the site of the new church building. The
entire lot has frontage of ninety-sIX feet
and depth of about 40 feet. \ chapel
was soon erected in the rear portion of the
lot. and 1t was first occupied by the congre-
CATION in January, 1892, and has been in
use ever since. The chapel is a pretty brick
structure with a seating capacity of four
hundred and fifty persons. 1t was at first
intended 10 serve the congregation much
longer than will now be the case.
Rapid Growth.
A large number of persons, how aver soon
connected themselves with the new enter
rrise. and the little chapel became SO
crowded that last winter new and lar. er
church began to be talked of for the near
future. The result of it all was that about
this time year ago plans were drawn and
new structure was decided upon. Worn
was begun in October but was interrupted
as stated. by the winter weather ABOUT
Christmas time. and has just recently been
commenced again. The walls are up about
. doz IN feet from the ground now and are
gaining in height daily.
The new building win cost about ISL go
The idea is to build the church only as
fast as it can be paid for, ana this viii
probably delay its completion somewhat.
SlS.oO has already been subscribed. of
which $1,000 has been paid in. The church
will be Gothic in its style of architecture
Will be built of Port Deposit granite. a
erayish granite from the quarrles at Port
Deposit. Md, and trimmed with Indian
limestone Its dimensions viii be % by TO
feet and il will seat $50 people. There Will
be but one story, with no gallery. The
main front will be on 18th street, with two
SIDE entrances on Madison street. The
whole edifcc will be built entirely of stone
ard oak, with no plastered walls. Inside
every thing viii be finished in an artistic
and beautiful manner with hard woodwork
and handsome decorations. The building
now occupied for church purposes will r.
main standing in the rear OF the new eli-
iiCe. Part of 1t will De divided oil. giving a
room, with Il seating capacity Of about -"p
people, for parish hail, t. be used by the
Sunday school and other societies of the
church. while the rest will be utilized for a
vestry room, office and other purposes of
the church.
4 Handsome Structure.
The whole CT the new church outside
and in, will be a splendid structure, beau