The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-05-08
CONSTRUCTED OF RED SAND.
STONE. WITH GREEN
TILE ROOF
Combined Seating Capacity OF Sunday
school Rooms and Auditoriurn
Nearly 1000 Persons.

Erected and furnished at a cost OF
exceeding si25.o0O. the Thomson
Methodist Episcopal church. which IL
TO be dedicated tomorrow. undoubted-
ly In the finest church edince IN West
Virginia There are larger churches
In the country. and many which cost
much more than did the Thomson.
but from the standpoint OF complete
ness and modern arrangement. and
beauty. as well. few. n any. surpass Il.
The church stands at Broadway and
Ohio streets. Island. a short distance
from the brick structure IN which
the congregation has worshipped since
1871.
Not only IL the church the finest in
the state. but II is said to be one OF
the very largest.
OF Red Sandstone.
OF red sandstone. with green tile
roof In pleasing contrast, the color
appeal TO the eye Is very strong. but
the lines OF the church, strongly sug-
gestive OF the Gothic. are still more
attractive and give the proper IN
spring sentiment Soaring up into
the air to a height OF over 80 feet.
afording ample space for a huge
stained glass window. the lofty gable
above the main entrance on South
Broadway gives the worshipers n Mt
ting sense OF the dignity OF the place.
Another architectural feature worthy
OF special mention is the magnificent
bell tower on Ohio street. The top
OF the highest pinnacle is more than
100 feet high, and can be seen over
the trees and houses from all points
on the Island
The main doorway, in Gothic
arch OF craven red stone, leads into
a stair hall with two flights up TO the
main hoor OF the church. One night
gives access TO the choir room ana
the other directly 10 the foyer. Inc
foyer is separated from the main au-
ditorium, and runs almost around IL,
back OF the big room and next TO
the street, shutting out all external
noises and affording a place conven-
lent for awaiting the conclusion OF a
prayer or the end OF a musical num-
Der.
The partition dividing. the foyer
from the auditorium IL of ground
glass, except where there are doors
az the head OF aisles. To the right of
the entrance stairway the foyer has
been designated as the welcome
room, where the pastor may meet his
people and strangers attending serv-
Ices. The choir room is a continua-
ton OF this room
Description Of Auditorium.
The auditorium is. roughly. a square
with four great Gothic arches, inter
spersed with four small ones On the
street sides. the arches have balconies
IN them. and great stained glass win
dows. On the west side is the Sun.
cay school room, while the fourth side
is taken up by the choir and lighted
by the one memorial window OF the
ehurch-that TO Mr.. and Mrs f. J.
stone. through whose untiring efforts
nearly nfty years ago the future OF the
congregation was made possible.
Of the smaller arches, one contains
the main stairway from the entrance
on Broadway, one a stairway from the
entrance IN the tower, one provides
retiring room for the choir. and the
other IL taken up with the pulpit.
The auditorium does not appear 10
De large. being arranged in nearly a
complete semicircle around the pull
pit, but on the main floor and In the
Two balconies there are seats for $50
persons. By the addition OF the Sun
day school room, made possible by
the raising OF the curtain I'm the west
arch, seating capacity for 500 more is
obtained. Altogether, 100 auditors
may be accommodated
The auditorium IL finished I'm dull
golden oak. pews. pulpit desk and