Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-28
TO ERECT A CHURCH
LUTHERANs TO BUILD AT NORTH
CAPITOL AND R STREETS.

Al business meeting of the Church Of
the Atonement held recently for the pur-
pose of taking steps to erect house of
worship the plans submitted by William
Franklin Wagner and Haswell r. Williams
associate architects of this city, were adopt
ed. The buildings to be erected on the lot
at North Capitol street and Rhode Island
avenue, purchased by the congregation a
short time ago, will have a frontage of los
feet on Rhode island avenue and extend
back 119 feet along North Capitol street
The floor plan is divided into the church
proper. the chapel and the Sunday school
The church proper will occupy the corner,
and Is of the cruciform plan, with nave,
transept and aisles, and vaulted ceilings
The clever design of the architects in ar
ranging the columns supporting the clear
story along the sides, dividing the nave
and the aisles, so as not to obstruct the
view, is very desirable feature, securing
the beautiful and churchly effect without
the annoyance of an INSTRUCTED view The
recessed chancel is spanned by richly
treated chancel arch, following the lines
OF the groned ceiling.
To the right of the church. and fronting
on Rhode Island avenue, will be the chapel,
with seating capacity of $50, and SO ar
ranged that the church and chapel by an
ingenious system of rolling partitions, can
be thrown into one large auditorium hav-
ing a total seating capacity of about ], 100.
10 the rear of the church proper, with an
entrance on North Capitol street Is located
the pastors study and the Sunday school,
with class rooms arranged in a semi-cir-
Gle and fitted with movable partitions d.
Vldlng the space as required for the yari-
Gus classes, the whole making when the
partitions are removed. an auditorium with
all classes fronting and in full view of the
superintendent desk. This ARRANGEMENT
yEa ada tod tn he
system of instruction used by the Church
of the Atonement.
The Style.
The style of architecture, both exterior
and interior, is the late English Tudor
Gothic. prominent feature is the main
entrance on Rhode Island avenue, consist
ing of three large doorways,s flanked on
either side by massive stone buttresses
supporting the arched doorways and ter
minating in a rich final and characteristic
Gothic tracery. richly carved, the whole
forming an imposing group. An attrac-
tive entrance from North Capitol street to
the main vestibue is also provided, but this
has been carefully designed SO as not to de-
tract from the main entrance.
The elevation on North Capitol street
shows the aisles and clear story supported
by flying buttresses. To the right of the
main entrance, dividing the church from
the chapel, is beautiful Gothic tower
with heaVy broad buttresSeS and an open
belfry with handsomely carved tracery, sur
mounted with small characteristic spire
terminating ninety feet above the side
walk. The design of the chapel conforms
generally to the lines of the church, COM
pleting an harmonious grouping, and max
ing an imposing and characteristic struc-
ture which will rank among the finest
church editices In the city. The buildings
will be constructed of Port Deposit granite
and Indiana limestone.
The chapel will be erected at once and II
is expected to have this completed ready
for the congregation to enter by fall. In
addition to the church council, consisting
of Rev. |. 0. Baker, George o. Berger, J.
Henri Wagner. Harvey A Benner and
George F. Hane, the following have been
appointed to serve with the council as a
building committee: Alfred Heitmuller,
Charles Read and Joseph Beck.
Church's History.
The Church of the Atonement was for
mally organized on December TO- 1909,
under the auspices of the board of English
home missions of the general council of the
Lutheran Church, and is at present wor-
Shipping in rented rooms above a barber
shop at 10 r street northeast. Although.
with the exception of the synodical con-
ference. the general council is the largest
organization of Lutherans In America. this
Is the first church in the national capitaI
connected with It.. Since the organization
of the church under the aggressive leader
ship of~fts pastor, Rev. /. O. Baker rand
and substantial progress has been made