New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-19
WELLESLEY'S NEW CHAPEL
A HANDSOME STRUCTURE NOW BEING
BUILT. THE GIFT OF ELIZABETH
AND CLEMENT s. HOUGHTON


ton and Clement s. Houghton. Of Boston. had
given to Wellesley College $4,000 for the cree
ton OF a chapel In memory OF their father. VIII
lam s. Houghton a well-known benefactor and
late trustee Of this college
As the present chapel accommodations have
long been inadequate. this munificent gift was
doubly welcome. delay in selecting the site
for the place OF worship was due TO the
vigorous protest made by faculty. alumnn and
students alike at the choice OF a noble piece or
woods lying the lake east or College Han.
In view Of this protest the trustees reconsid-
cred their decision, and announced, al the an
nual commencement last June. that the NM
choice had fallen upon the "oak knoll" lying
to the left Of Stone Hall between the main ave-
nue. and Music Hall. Here. accordingly, ground
was broken about midsummer. and the "orA
was pushed so rapidly that the customary cere-
monies in connection with laying the corner
stone we're held on the morning OF November a.
In general the style Of the new chapel, pom
exterior and interior. will be that OF the Ola
Gothic cathedrals the building being in the FORM
Of a cross The underpnnng Is OF redd'sh MIL
ford granite. and the walls will be or pun Am
herst sandstone, similar to that used III 'he
Farnsworth art building, on neghoorlhe eie-
walton while the copings and finish will be OF
terra Gotta. square lantern. or tower en-
riched with Gothic tracery ana lhcaSeu III
gheathing OF copper will surmount the slate
roof and a beautiful wrought iron cross nhia
will be placed at the summit Of this tower
According to the architects plan. the interior
of the chapel will contain nave, two transepts
OF equal width. and an apse of five sides. The
apse will be raised two feet above the man
door and will be furnished with a handsome
sedillia while above there will be three large
tracered windows. The side windows OF lhe
transepts and nave will be OF plain leaoen grass
with cuspd heads above. A dresslng-room ~
placed on the plans at the right and an organ"
room at the left Of the apse.
Entrance TO the chapel will be made on three
sides. the facades being alike. In beautifui cary
ing and massive effect.
The main entrance will he that on the horth
from the avenue, through a Vestibnle' thls
entrance will be somewhat more enriched
than the others, and above it will be large
traceried window, fourteen feet in width. The
o.,nr,a u,;u have panelled ceiling embellished
with carved ribs the whole being OF OAK TWO
stairwavs also of oak will lead from the vesti-
hu1e IN the gallery above and richly carved cas-
inqs Of oak will surround all the doors. Through
ont bur notified brick instead OF plaster, VIII
line the walls, which will be wainscoted 10
height of cix feet in quartered OAK win
heavily moulded top.
Poof and ceiling will be carried on large iron
rirders cased In quartered oak; and the mould
ed arches springing from each intersection OF
TRANSIENT with nave or apse, will rest on elght
co,urns Of iron incased with carved limestone
Massive pendants Of carved oak will hang from
.ach intersection Of the girders. The rafters
will he OF yellow pine oiled and left open TO In
.raase tho effect of height and space and large
skvljght will be placed in the centre of the roof
toft no cha nDl
given will be further enhanced by the r'ch iul'
n,sbinrs Of the apse and the design OF the gal
kry opposite it, An elaborately carved ran VI
chartered oak. in the English perpendicular
Gothic design, will be the cher feature OF the
gallery. carrying out to a prominent degree IN
the interior the Gothic style of the building.
Although the date OF completion cannot yet be
6xed Il is probable that the new building VIII De
ready for occupancy before another autumn
Meanwhile, the old chapel. designed by haiiihet'
pu;,es artist and architect. a part Of Col
lege Hall-the first building put up Oh inc
grounds in 1S75-76-is still in use This chhpei
hau with its vet beautiful color scheme In reos
.rd hrowns and it's Clafin memorial windows Is
warmly endeared to the Wellesley world and es-
reciaIlv TO the alumna, by it's many assocla-
t,ons: for here have taken place all the mo-
,nentous events Of the college life for the last
twenty years. - a.
Messrs Helms G. La Fargo. OF New-York, the
architects of the new cathedral or ST. Johh the
Y,irire In that city are also the architects OF
the Houghton memorial chapel. whose simplicity
Of design and richness Of material VIII commune
To make 1t one of the noblest buildings on the
Wellesley grounds as we'll as one OF the most