Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-04-14
THE NEW
BAPTIST
CHURCH

Those of our people who pass up
and down Third avenue have had an
opportunity of watching the progress
of the new Baptist church and many
have been surprised at its magnif.
cence as stone after stone was placed,
and now as the edifice is nearing
completion it is beginning to dawn
upon all our people that Durango will
soon have another place of worship
that would do credit to a city of ten
times the population. A reporter of
The Herald dropped around one day
this week to note progress and was
agreeably surprised at the way every
thing is moving along. The building
has assumed such shape as to give Wis
itors very good idea of what it will
be when completed. In the first place
the stone work has been finished with
the exception of few finishing touch
es on the tower. The roof was shin
gled some time ago. The entrance is
at the corner facing Third avenue and
10th street. the vestibule being Sx10
with swinging doors. On the inside
all the heavy timbers, joists, etc, are
in place and ceiling is nearly ready
for the plasterers. The main audi
ence room will be 3S.6 by A feet. the
floor slanting at the rate of one inch
TO the foot. The ceiling will be 81
feet from the floor. Directly in the
center will be the pulpit platform and
back of the pulpit the choir gallery
which will hold a chorus of % to 30.
h.,
toward the audience, thus assisting in
throwing the voice. The choir gal.
lery will be reached by doors on
either side. one from the pastors
study and the other from the right
where there is a side entrance to the
church which can be used by those
attending. If so desired. To the right
viewed by the audience. is the baptis-
try. The baptistry will be entered
from the study and will extend back
Of the draw curtain, and when candi-
dates for immersion appear before the
audience they will have entered the
water which will mitigate much of the
nervousness experienced by many.
The baptistry is seated on this side
of the church for the reason that plans
are such as to enlarge the auditorium
25x44 when occasion demands, the
north side being boarded up and plas-
tered in the meantime. This will
make the baptistry in about the cen
ter of the building and by using the
right side of the pulpit the pastor
will also be nearly in the center.
The building will be lighted by ten
cathedral glass windows-one in the
tower, one at the side entrance and
eight in the main audience room.
These windows will mostly be furnish
ed by people outside of the regular
contract.
The basement is reached through
the side entrance and will be used for
Sunday school purposes. The main
floor of the church is on such an ele-
vation as to afford good light for the
basement Here will also be located
the furnace which will furnish heat
for the building and also for heating
the water in the baptistry; also toll
cts, etc. A cesspool has been dug
some distance from the building for
drainage of waste water, etc.
There are several other details that
might be mentioned but leave them
until the edifice is ready for dedica-
ton. The contract calls for compile
tion by May first and Contractor Pet
erson will undoubtedly be able to COM
ply with the requirements in this di-
rection. The Herald has simply given
this review at this time to inform
readers of progress being made and
also of the character of the work
which is substantial and first class
in every respect The pastor, Rev.
Mr.. Sarber, has been untiring in his
efforts, also members of the church
and Durango will soon have another
church building of which it may well
be proud.