The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-16
IMPOSING NEW EDIFIcE WILL
SOON BE ERECTED IN MINNIE.
APoLIs-PLANs UNDER WAY.

luis III the lake district or Mime
apolis. The plans have been drawn
by Mr.. Masqueray, the architect of
the st. Paul Cathedral and of st.
Mary's Pro-Cathedral. The edifice, as
shown by the cut on page eight, is an
example of the modern adaptation of
the Byzantine style of ecclesiastical
architecture, built on the traditional
cruciform plan. 1t has a breadth of
one hundred and twenty feet at the
transepts while it's greatest length is
one hundred and fifty-fve feet. The
belfry tower, crowned by an illumi-
mated cross at the height of one hun
dred and fifty feet, has the form of
an Italian campanile. The seating
capacity is twelve hundred, and the
building will cost approximately
800, 900.
The Auditorium.
The half round vaulted ceiling CT
the nave is sixty feet high and is
divided into five broad arches which
are treated in antique oak. The walls
and architecture of other parts are
treated in pressed face brick. Two
side naves or ambulatories parallel
to the main nave are marked off from
it by row of piers supporting
series of arches above which are the
windows lighting directly the main
body of the auditorium. A second
row of archways outside each ambu-
latory and corresponding with that
inside, opens into the side chapels
which form series of alcoves along
the outer walls of the nave. Each of
these little chapels is lighted by a
double window. Two of them on each
side of the church are designed for
confessionals and the others are for
small affairs or statues. A larger
chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary is
provided for in one of the transepts,
and in the other, one of similar plan
for st. Joseph. The side elevation
shows plainly the side aisle, the break
in the transept with the clerestory
above lighting directly the main nave.
The choir gallery over the YES
tibule is arranged in series of steps
so graded that the altar is easily seen
by every one. Apart from the space
reserved for the choir there is seating
room for about one hundred in the
gallery. Beneath the front of the
organ loft the floor of the auditorium
has an elevation of about eighteen
inches and thence it slopes toward
the sanctuary so gently that it is not
noticeable, yet sufficiently to give
decided advantage to those occupying
the rear pews. The altar and sane
tuary are thus within view of every
one in the church and the elevation
of the sanctuary floor gives still
greater advantage in this respect.
The Sanctuary.
The Communion rail is raised one
step above the main floor and ex-
tends across the full width of the
nave. Another fight of three steps
inside the railing carries the floor of
the sanctuary proper up to a height
of about two feet above the main
floor
The sanctuary wall takes the form
of a half dome with three arched
openings in the rear, rising above the
altar and forming a background for
it. These archways are designed to
afford an artistic setting for flowers
and shrubbery with which to set off
the altar and on the great festivals
of the year will admit of wealth of
decoration. In the sanctuary itself,
however, there is ample space for
decoration as well as for the carrying
out of all the solemn ceremonies of
Catholic worship. The space between
the Communion railing and the arch
back of the altar is thirty-siX feet
deep while the semi-circular wall
sweeps round in an arc more than
fifty feet wide.
A door at the south side of the
sanctuary leads into the sacristy
which is a large rectangular room
we'll arranged for the vestry furniture.
Space is provided for the vestment
cases, closets and sacrarium. A large
| vesting table will stand in the middle
of the room and confessional will
occupy one corner. On the opposite
side of the sanctuary Is the boys
vestry. Here provision is made for
clothes presses and lockers so ar
ranged that every member of the
acolytes' company will be able to keep
his cassock, surplice and slippers in
perfect order. Communication be-
tween the two vestries Is had through
room or wide corridor back of the
sanctuary where cases and closets of
various kinds are arranged for altar
supplies, and where sunny nook is
provided for the storing Of the sane
tuary flowers.
/ The Facade.
A series of Doric pilasters support.
ing balustrade above the main en-
trance gives an impression not unlike
a classic colonnade to the facade OF
the church. Between these massive
columns three archways lead into, the
vestibule. A broad flight of stone
steps extending almost the full width
of the nave forms an easy and dig
nified approach from Pleasant avenue
up to the entrance porch.
Il Above the ba1ustrade, which gives
q crown-like finish to the main en-