The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-26
TO EXPAND
New Church Site To
Be Bought.
CHURCH TO FOLLOW
Swedish Congregationalists
Making Plans for Growth.

ted the religious life of the city, and
the latest church plan for an extern
sion of its influence and power is the
Second Swedish Evangelical Congrega-
tional Church of Quinsigamond, which
is one of the leading churches of that
thriving section of the city.
1T feels constrained in Its old con-
fines, and seeks a wider field in which
to work. The industrial life OF Quin-
sigamond Village has been illustrating
the beneficial effects Of expansion for
some time, and now that expansion has
entered into the religious life, the king
dom of God is assured a wider and
healthier potency in that portion of
Worcester. The church has a mem
bership of 361, and with its expansion
OF it's building and expansion of its
scope, it viii rise to IL plane of greater
usefulness in the future.
AT the meeting last night of the
members Of the church in the chapel
where they have worshipped for some
years, there were over fifty members
present. The meeting was called to
order by p. J.. Johnson, the secretary
of the parish, who read the call. Rev.
John Udd, the pastor of the church,
under whom it has made great and
gratifying progress, was present, and
spoke ardently Of the prospects of the
church with a new house of worship
and a new home. Long since, the
chapel at the corner of Greenwood and
Millbury streets, has proved insufficient
to accommodate the growing member
ship of the church, and plans have been
formulated for the selection of new
lot, and the erection of new house
of worship.
The spirit of expansion has become
SO strong that 1t was impossible to post
pone 1t further, and at the meeting of
last night, it was formally voted to
buy new lot adjoining the present lot
so that the church will have the benefit
of the two lots united.
The location is good, and the addition
of The new lot proposed will give am
pie space for the erection of a fine
religious ediflce. The new lot is owned
by Fred HUT, who shows a most &C
commodating spirit in the matter, and
is willing to assist the church. The
new lot is go feet by 100 feet by 100
letL, WIFI d IOLdl al Cth vi tOVV EQuttc
feet.
The price asked was $3.50, and upon
the recommendation of the committee
which was appointed by the church to
secure a site and make plans for new
church structure, 1t was voted to pay
this amount. The committee of
which Carl Norgen is chairman and Mr..
Johnson secretary, has made a. very
careful examination of the field, and
tho which he lie
proved very acceptable to the members
of the parish So enthusiastic is the
feeling for expansion, that at the meet
ing $3.50 was subscribed for the new
lot and edifice
That all views might receive atten-
tion, the committee secured the pres
ence at the meeting of Architect Ed
wiz 7. Chaplin, whose services had been
engaged to prepare plans for a new
church. Mr.. Chaplin submitted his plan
which called for an addition to the
present chapel, instead of the erection
of a new building entire. His plan
showed seating capacity of 440, with
total cost for the completion of the
building of $1,000.
This plan was made with the idea of
building an addition to the present
chapel on the one lot which has been
owned, but by the examination by the
committee it was learned that the adj
dition proposed would be too large for
the lot, as it would lap over the plot Of
ground on the adjoining property. The
church did not like the plan for an adj
dition to the present chapel, but prefer
red an entirely new structure, and fur
Their, the seating capacity as proposed
was not large enough to suit the ideas
of the people.
The present membership is 361, and
the parishioners thought it would be
but a short time before the member
ship would rise above 440, the limit set
by the plans AS the growth of the fu-
ture was taken into consideration, the
plans were not accepted, and Mr.
Chapin and other architects will be
asked to submit plans for an entirely
new church edihce to suit the two lots
combined.
The addition as proposed was 5S15
feet by 81 feet, wooden frame. The
existing committee under Mr.. Norgen,
president and Mr.. Johnson, secretary,
was continued with full powers to Sc
cure designs for new independent
structure, and meeting will be held
in the near future to receive other
plans.
There was no vote on building
church, but as the plan submitted did
not meet with the views Of the con-
gregation, action to this end will be
taken shortly. The vote on the purchase
Of the lot was practically unanimous, 81
voting in the affirmative and two in
the negative. With this desire for new
church building and wider scope in
which to work, the church is assured of
q very important place in the religious
life of Quinsigamond.