News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1897-01-27
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
AN ATTRACTIVE NEW EDlFICE.
Dedicated Free from Indebtedness, With
Interesting Services.

Interesting Services.
To many interested observers with
in and without the church and con-
gregation, residents here and else
where, the important events in the
history of the First Congregational
Church of this village, eliminating
in the dedication of new and hand
sOmely planned church edifce, there
is brought to realization dreams of
the night and of the day, leading to
the practical thought and work of
the many.
In connection with this article will
be found engravings of the old edi6ce
which has given place to the new
which is also well represented by the
engraving, which shows to good ad-
vantage the architectural design, the
graceful lines of the tower, the large
gothic windows, and the general
points of attractiveness, so far as
the exterior is concerned.
To go into the details of descrip-
tion of size, style of finish, and fea-
ture of each room of the interior, is
not necessary. suffice it to say that
the long cherished hopes of its pro-
moters and friends have been fully
met, and there now stands complete
one of the best arranged, most at
tractive and practical church build
ings that Vermont has to show.
The realization of the hope for a
new. church is due to the untiring
energy and perseverance, the hearty
generosity and selfdenying effort of
the few and the many, both here and
now, and among those who, while
absent, have remembered.
1t is a very happy elimination of
circumstances that has, in spite of
the general business depression, made
it possible to bring about such ends.
There has been remarkable enthusi-
asm from the first, that same enthusi-
asm increasing to the very hour of
dedication, and making it possible to
announce the very best fact of all,
namely, that every dollar of indebt-
edness was pledged.
The plans were decided upon, Geo.
H. Gurnsey of Montpelier being the
efficient designer; the contract to
build was let, Mr.. F. H. Parker of
Essex Junction being the builder who
has carried to faithful and painstak-
ing execution all that was for him to
do.
The corner stone was laid with i'm
pressive and appropriate exercises
August II, 1896. and on Thursday
of last week, Jan. 81. 1897, the
church was dedicated, and was occu-
pied for the first Sunday service Jan
uary "a.
The entire arrangement of the in
terror seems to be planned for the
best and most pleasing results. The
large auditorium, with its lofty cell
ing, with its panels and arches, fin
ished and decorated by Victor Heath
of Morrisville; is seated with oak
pews contracted and furnished by a
Wisconsin concern. They are ar
ranged on the semi-circle plan, cor
nerwise of the room, the entrance
being at one corner from the tower,
and the large pipe organ, choir chairs
and pulpit being in the corner oppo-
site the entrance, which is from a
we'll lighted vestibule.
A rear vestibule opens in three di-
rections, into the auditorium, to the
vestry, and to- the parlor, and from
it descends the stairway to the base
ment, which extends under the entire
building, and has three furnaces for
heating the several rooms.
The small room for the organ
blower is directly back of the organ,
opening into a pleasant pastors and
choir's room, which has entrance
doors connecting with the platform,
both in the vestry and auditorium.
The vestry is a large, welllighted,
high-pOsted room, which, with its
additional seating capacity, opens
into the church proper by means oil
an immense door that throws up and
out of reach, and two large doors
either side of it. Connecting, with
sliding doors between, is the ladies'
parlor, a very pleasant room at the
west end. On the east end, opening
out of the vestry, is a large, COM
pletely equipped kitchen and pantry,
also a lavatory and water closet.
Connection with the corporation wa
ter works and sewer systems is made,
and everything is very convenient.
The illumination is by electricity,
sixty or more 16.candle-power incan-
descent lights being used. The church
proper is lighted by four hanging
electroliers, of very handsome design,
each having nine lights. Two of these
were presented by Miss Florence Bry-
ant-one in memory of her deceased
sister Lillian, the other a personal
gift; one was given by Mrs. Russell
s. Page of Hyde Park, and the fourth
by Mrs. Levi Hardy of Morrisville.
Back of the choir is a very pretty
double bracket light, given by f. G.
Fleetwood; and the lights in the two
vestibules were given by Wallace and
Walter Gilbert of St. Adams and
Middlebury.
MEMORIAL WINDOWS.
There are placed in the new church