Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-05-29
BY Mary Bradstreet Chadwell \

In this centennial year of the State
of Maine, we look for buildings bear
ing the date Of 1920 OF these none
is more conspicuous for it's beauty
and perfect preservation than Christ
Church, standing on one of the hills
of the picturesque and historic town
Of Gardiner. The cornerstone of
this building was laid May 81, 1919,
in the presence of large company.
From the Portland Gazette of June
Is. 1919, we learn the plans of the
superstructure: THE walls of. this
building are to be constructed en-
tirely of granite of an excellent quail
ity, which is obtainable from an ex-
tensive quarry in the neighborhood.
(This granite came from the land
owned by Mr.. Gardiner and situated
some three or four miles up the Cob
boSsee river. 1t was brought down
this stream on clumsy scows or horse
boats, and was so disposed by the
masons, that it's outer face exhibits
the cleavage of the rock) The order
of architecture is Gothic, and for
neatness and elegance it is presumed
the plan Of this church will not suffer
by comparison with any one now
erected in the country"
At this time this church and new
one at Hartford were the only ex-
amples of Gothic Architecture in
New England.
From the admirable history of this
parish by Miss Evelyn Gilmore, pres
ent librarian of the Maine Historical
Society, we Gull the following items
of description.
The walls are crowned with battle
ments, which partly conceal the roof,
merely a band or rib of stone cor
responding with that of the water
table below. The arches of the win
dows form an equilateral, spherical
triangle which is of most perfect
proportion. Each of the windows is
divided by three principal mullions
and the spaces between these in the
arches of each window are divided by
smaller mulions resting on the in
tersection of small arches. The chan
cei window which is about fourteen
feet in width is divided by four prin-
cipal mullions. These together with
the quantity of wood in the sashes.
arising from the small size of the
diamond glass, darken the windows
so as to produce an agreeable light.
1t was intended to increase this eff
feet by an ornamental screen behind
the altar on which were to be in
scribed the Greed, The Lords Prayer
and the Ten Commandments. This
screen was never placed, but in 1890
a reredos was given as memorial to
Robert Hallowell Gardiner, Second,
son of the Mr.. Gardiner for whom the
tablet was placed in the church.
The spire is of brick, and together
with the tower. forms an elevation Of
100 feet. In this tower immediate
ly over the door. is a large window
nearly thirty feet high. which lights
the staircase leading to the organ
gallery, and which when seen from
the church, through an opening over
the gallery door, produces a noble
and sublime effect. BY this double
light it was intended TO give the idea,
though a faint ono, of the effect pro-
duced in Gothic cathedrals by the
Lady Chapel. seen from the choir,
through a door, or what is technical
ly called the artificial infinite.
There are no pillars within. except
ing those supporting the gallery and
two at the corners Of the chancel;
but the arches of the ceiling termi-
nate in corbels, and those over the
side aisles arc ribbed and groined,
with roses in the intersections. The
floor Of the chancel is raised SO high
that when the clergyman is at the
altar he may be seen in every part Of
the church. The altar is Of oak and
early replaced the communion table.
The interior was not exactly as 1t
is now; the pews were once high, like
those in ST. Paul's, Boston, and in
the back of the building two pews
were elevated above the rest. The
pulpit was n high one with an ascent
of five or six steps. and a door which
the minister closed behind him as he
entered. The reading desk (now no
longer in the church) was also fur
nished with a door, and was APP
preached by three steps leading from
the robing room. The chancel rail,
now as formerly, stretches across
from pillar to pillar.
The church contains manvememo.
rails. Cemented into the wall on the
right side of the chancel is a ceno-
taph Of black marble cut in three