The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-02
FEW B|G CHURCHES IN NATIONS CAPITAL Movement Af0Ot to Beauti- fly Washington Churches REMARKABLE SQUARE Only Churches in Washington Worthy of Mention Those Built Imme-
 diately After Revolution.
 Two Being Erected
REMARKABLE SQUARE
By JONATHAN WINFIELD

l Washington, June 1-(Special)-Al though it is more than ordinarily en- dowed with splendid buildings indicative of the temporal power of an ascendant capital, Washington has not among its public edifices very many notable exam pies of church architecture. There are of course, numerous chapels and churches In Washington. In fact, a man may stand in any quarter of the city and see from a street corner two or three wor- shipping places, but few of them are structures of imposing appearance. Many capitals of the world are justly famed for their churches and for little else, so unless there is an uplift in this direction Washington will have to depend on its other glories for distinction. This deficiency, however. Is keenly felt and even now there is movement afoot among all sects to beautify Washington churches.
 The only churches in Washington at present worthy of mention are those built during the decade before and the decade after the Revolution.
 Probably the most exquisite survival
 
 | ing is Old St. Johns Episcopal church. which stands just across LaFayette Square from the White House. This is indeed a remarkable quarter from an architectural point of view. The historic square is lined with notable structures, among them the Commodore Decatur House, the John Hay House and the Arlington hotel. Old St. Johns itself is classic in type and follows closely the dic- | tates of Inigo Tones. It's graceful porti- | co of the Roman Doric order faces Six | teenth street, while its length extends along the square. It's belfry is the most | typical feature about the edifice, it's classic lines pyramided to spire, call ing to mind the best of London steeples. There are other churches in Washington belonging to the same period, but smaller and less noteworthy. One of 50 years later, however, is worthy mentioning, in that 1t is a remarkable example of church architecture, although built during pe- riod of depression, It is the cathedral of St. Dominic, a Catholic church, in south west Washington, a little frequented sec tion of the city. The church Is the most perfect gothic building in the city and while not as ornate as continental gothic cathedrals, 1t is of hig hplane of ex- cellence. It is not among the churches shown to slght-seers who come to Wash iuBtOil, noWeNeTs ana IS SeluOtn seen save by those who frequent it.
 Another of the churches built in the "black walnut" period Is Grace church, in Georgetown, which Is contiguous to Washington and now a part of 1t. Grace church is of red brick and gothic. It's chief merit lies In a remarkable belfry, although the entire structure is unus- ually graceful.
 Two notable churches, however, are now being erected by the advocates of better church architecture In Washing ton. The one which Is to stand at the head of Washingtons list of ecclesiastical edifices is the cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, at Mount Saint Alban. which overlooks the entire city. This cathedral, which Is just rising above its founda- tons, will be of the most elaborate gothic design. It will resemble York Minister, an Old World church of fame pointing twin towers high above a maze of flying buttresses and carved images of saints. The chapel of the Holy Nativity, a part of the cathedral, has already been dedi- cated, but the main cathedral will be nearly as long in building as the cathedral of St. John the Divine. in New York.
 Another notable Washington church now under construction Is the First Church of Christ. Scientist, nearing com pletion on Columbia Heights. fashion able residence section of the city. This church is classic in deosgn, and is built on the lines of the Pantheon. It will be the most imposing church of it's type in Washington. Equally as fine will be the Temple of the Scottish Rite but that structure will not be completed for months and probably years to come.
 This general movement toward better church architecture will In the next de- cade put Washington on a plane with other cities of its size as far as excel lence of such edifices Is concerned.