The Detroit times., 1910-09-15
RARE BEAUTIES Of
CHURCH RESTORED
Splendid Decorations Of Westminster
Presbyterian Edifce Look Like New
Church Reopens October 2.

When the congregation of the West
Minister Presbyterian church reassem-
bles for worship In that edlfice. Sun
day. Oct. 2, II will be agreeably sur
prlsed at the restored beauties OF the
audltorium, claimed to be one OF III =
most beautiful ana correct I'm archi-
lecture Christian temples in the
United States
The church has been closed To the
pubic since the early summer, while
an army OF wOrkmen has been In pos
session, making needed repairs to e.,
cry nook and corner. from outside roof
10 installing Il new furnace in the
basement. The church was erected la
1882, many thousands OF dollars be-
Ing expended upon IL, especially In
the interior decorations, which were
designed and executed by the late
Lewis Tiffany. OF New York, especial
ly for Westminster church. In all
these 2S years nothing had been done
TO the walls OF the auditorium, with
the result that the CRIME had dimmed
or almost wholly oblterated the dec
oratiye work. and now that IL Das
been cleaned and restored the result
10 such as to astnnish even the old s
member OF the congregation. The
work of restoration has heen done
with the same care and meth ID bG-
slowed upon the cleaning OF rare
oil painting. The church Is serni.
oriental In style and architecture aud
the interior decorations are taken
from the ancient Byzantine cathedrals
OF tho fourth century.
From the wainscoting OF oak, the
walls upward. ere "A reproduction In
coloring OF a sunset sky, running
from deep crimson TO neutral tints as
they reach the dome. The ceiling Is
a combination cf grays and blues.
Oak arches Use from eight points OF
the four walls aud are buttressed 10
meet overhead, forming Genital
dome, 20 feet square and 7G feet from
the floor This dome Is rooted Is n
lantern Of cathedral glass. also le.
signed and executed by Tiffany. as
we're all OF the magnificent cathedral
glass windows IT. the church. Seventy
one hundred candle power electric
bulbs have been placed On the four
sides OF the done which Sill provide
the artificial Lighting, ihs corner
heavy drop chandeliers having been
makes IL possible 10 bring the beam
upon which these lights are fasten-
ed to the floor OF the auditorium when
burned ont bulbs require to be re-
placed or necessary cleaning OF globes
accomplished.
The wall decorations are in fresco,
In a MOSAIC design Of subdued color
ing. every int employed having a ref
mi
The spandrels have a mosaic back
ground Of ancient design. the jewels
and semLprecious stones found In the
catacombs being reproduced upon
, these spandrels by skilful combina-
ton OF colois. On one spandrel is the
Alpha and Omega and upon another
the crossed triangle OF the ancient
Christian faith. Over the platform
are the letters Il. II. s." in the ancient
Christian form, on either side of which
are the monographs OF Christ as found
in the catacombs. All OF this decora.
tive work has been beautifully restor.
ed by experts so that the exquisite
tints OF the mosaic are preserved In
all their original beauty, mellowed
and softened by years.
The auditorium Is nearly rs feet
square with transepts at the sides.
and the floor slightly sloping towards
the pulpit. Back Of the pulpit is the
motto Of the church in heavy iron
letters, THE Lord. Our Righteous
ness" The entire floor has been re-
dressed, also the pews. The seating
capacity Is about 500. The organ has
been entirely rebuilt with the old wa
ter power contrivance replaced by q
modern electric motor. All OF the
pipes Of the instrument have been re.
voiced. Westminster organ Is one OF
the best In the city, despite its years
OF usage. II was built in Westfied,
Mass, In 1882, and has many stops
not fcnnd even In the more modern
organs OF the city. The organis.s
bench has been brought forward and
the seats for the quartet-choir set
back SO that the organist is able, also,
10 direct his singers.
Special music is being prepared by
Richard Keyes Biggs. organist and
choir director, for the opening ser
vices, Oct. 2. The quartet-choir e =.
sists Of Miss Elizabeth Emery, so
prano Miss Elizabeth Bennett con
tralto; Harvey Merker, tenor and Al
Ian Wallace. baritone. The pastor, the
Rev John Britain Clarke. Is just en-
tering upon his thirteenth year, at
Westminster. DR.. Clark Is assisted In
HE parish work by Egbert Hayes and
Miss Wells. The chapel, which has
been used for services since the
church proper has been closed has
been thoroughly renovated also the
Sunday school and class rooms, so
that the long-delayed cleaning up"
process has been very thorough.
or all the Protestant churches in
the city Westminster probably can lay
claim to the greatest artistic worth
In decoration with the First Unitarian
church, with its magnificent and price
less Lc Fargo windows having also
right TO distinction.