Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-07-13
TO REMODEL THE PR0-CATHEDRAL.
st. Peters Church TO he converted Into a
Practically Rev Edifice.

Practically New EdIfice.
ST. Peters Pro. Cathedral, at Sixth
and West streets, is to be remodeled.
A practically new edifice is to take the
place of the present structure, which
will be used for the foundation upon
which the improvements are to be
built.
The matter was referred to by Bishop
Monaghan in the course of his sermon
at the Pro- Cathedral last Sunday. He
spoke of the contemplated improve
ments and assured the congregation
that the architect, George f. Lovett
of Philadelphia, who is so well known
for the many beautiful ediiices he has
designed here and elsewhere, has SUBJ
mitted plans for Identifying old st.
Peters, which will prove a revelation
to the whole community.
All that remains to be done, he said,
is for tho people to contribute the
they would do in good time. The
coored drawings of the improvements
are on exhibition in one of the show
windows of M. Megary ~ Sor IS store,
Sixth and Tatnal streets. Architect
Lovett, in considering the proposed
changes to the interior, has given con-
siderable thought as to what style of
architecture would adapt itself to the
church So that its present con-
structional lines would not he ma.
terially altered. After considerable
study, the English Perpendicular,
a Gothic style of England, was con-
sidered the most fitting on account of
its general proportions. Tho low
pressed effect of the present structure
would not be lost as tho "perpendicu-
lar" style of the thirteenth or four
teenth centuries, particularly the
country church, had the low trussed
hammer beam open timber roofs, with
its perpendicular tracery, the low
Gothic four centred arches with their
deep undercut mouldings, carried on
the heavy piers on pilasters built en-
tirely OF brick, together with fine
window tracery all lend to give the
interior that solemn and church like
effect, which is so often lost in edifices
of this kind.
In st. Peters, tho architects plans
show the above style carried out. An
entire new roof is to take place of the
old one, to be what is known rs a
hammer beam truss, rising to greater
height than the present and filled with
elaborate tracery. These trusses are
shown, carried on delicate columns
which run down the wall and group
with the many, small columns con-
structed to carry the new four centre
arches, dividing the side aisles from
the nave and at the same time carry
ing the clerestory walls and windows
above. The old walls are to remain in
tact, the old windows are to be re-
moved and replaced with new ones
hnrplnnt1inn nj tho efa,,aral oh ptat
of the interior. Where the side aisles
are now located the plans show these
cut away from the main body OF the
church by wood screen and trans
formed into memorial chapels; this
effect is most pleasing, but Father
Lyons hesitates of this point, due to
the sacrificing of the seating capacity,
be fears it would necessitate. The
present galleries now standing in the
Transcripts are to be taken down and a
magnificent large English Gothic WIN
dow will be placed in each wall, occu-
pying most of both transcript walls.
The effect of these. large windows,
filled with the rich antique glass will
be to throw volume of light on the
structure, thereby making the main
altar. as it should, stand out more
prominently than any other part Of the
church. At the intersection of the
nave and transcript, directly in front
of the sanctuary, is called the choir.
Directly over the choir will rise low
English castleated tower, running
above the roof for distance of about
90 feet. This tower is carried on heavy
stone or brick arches and is finished
On the inside with light gray brick,
pierced by numerous small windows on
all sides, which in turn have to he
filled with painted glass. The effect
of the softness should be most striking
and at the same time aid in lifting the
interior into a strong English massive
grouping. The sanctuary, organ loft
and other parts are ably taken care of
and show the careful study.
After this work is completed, st.
Peters Pro- Cathedral will have one of
the best and purest architectural in
teriors known in this section. The
estimated cost of this work is between
$40, 900 and sl2, COO.