The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-10-29
THE NEW CHRIST CHURCH.
Work of Restoration Is Now Practi-
cally Completed.

Eplscopalians of Montpelier will soon
return TO worship in the old and
much loved place. The carpenter
work on the edifice is practically
finished the stained glass windows
are placed, and all that now remains
is the installation of the organ and a
few finishing touches here and there
to entirely complete the restoration.
The general committee in charge of
the work consisted Of W. T. Adams,
George Brainerd, T. p. Gleason and
W. Z. Dewey, aud in the work they
had the avle assistance OF the ward
ems, Hon. Charles Dewey and Col
Fred e. Smith, as advisers. OF no
little importance was the work of the
soliciting committee consisting of S.
A. Moss, Clifton M Heaton. treas
urer, and Hon Joseph A. DeBoer,
who assumed the burden of raising
funds for the restoration and have
successfully fulfilled the mission.
Others, not actively engaged on any
of the committees, have labored earn
estly for the project and among these
must be prominently mentioned the
ladies of Christ church guild and of
The Kings Daughters The former
assumed the burden of replacing the
stained glass windows, and every win
dow in the edifice, with the exception
Of the memorials, has been paid for
by them. The King IS Daughters vol
unteered to replace the carpet, and
this will be completed ready to put
down when the organ has been in
stalled The wardens had direct
charge OF replacing the windows and
organ and when the latter is in place,
which will not be before January,
Christ church will be itself again,
only that it will be more beautiful
than before
Soon after the committees were Sc
lected last winter the task of making
plans for the restoration of the church
was given to Architect f. A. Walker
of the firm of Smith and Walker of
this city. He was instructed to make
the new interior as nearly as possible
like the old. making some improve
ments in construction and arrange
ment that would improve and beau
tify iU. That Mr. Walker did his
work we'll is forcibly impressed when
one studies the interior as it is today.
Mr.. Walker had difficult task and
those who were engaged with him in
the work are united in saying that he
did it we'll in every detail.
The contract for restoring the church
was awarded to A. l.. Bragg, the we'll
known ST. Johnsbury builder, and
the committee is unit in praising
the manner in which he has fulfilled
the task from beginning to end. The
condition of the structure after the fire
difficult in many instances, but every
obstacle was successfully overcome.
The contractor was "A frequent visitor
while the work was under way, and
gave it his personal attention, but no
little share of the success is due Mr..
Bragg's brother, George Bragg of
Thetford, who was master workman
on the contract and whose skill in that
line was always in evidence.
The first work done was to replace
the roof and the heavier woodwork in
~ ha oh
came the plasterers' work and later
the more difficult task of replacing the
burned portions of the black walnut
work about the chancel. This was
originally made in Boston and about
one-half of it was destroyed by fire.
The matching of this wood and the
various panel and other designs of the
chancel wainscoting and altar rail
called for great skill. but it was ac-
complished in manner that leaves
nothing to be desired. The chancel
new arches put in on either side, those
on the right opening into the upper
part of the organ room, where they will
later be beautified by the pipes of the
new organ. New choir stalls for the
chancel are now being made at ST.
Johnsbury and will be put in place
soon.
The painting, tinting and decorat-
ing, also a part of Mr.. Bragg's con-
tract, was done by d. p. Clark of this
city and is worthy of note that one
of the decorators engaged in the
work, George L. Wade of Montpelier,
has performed the same service in this
structure three times, first when the
church was erected and the second
time when il was redecorated few
years ago.
The walls of the church are tinted
in light buff, the woodwork gray, and
the upper portions blue, all in light
shades that harmonize beautifully.
These more sober shades are relieved
by modest decorations of carmine. gold
and green which add much to the