New Britain herald., 1923-01-04
ARCHITECTS Will
HONOR SIR wren
To Observe 2OOth Anniversary OIL
Famous Enslishman's Death

Chicago, ian, i,=AmeFiean aFehi'
teets are preparing "a observe neNi
February the 2o0th anniversary o.
The death Of Sir Christopher Wren
famous English astronomer and arehi'
teet, who has left an indelible i'm
preston on American architecture,
sir Christopher died in London
February s6. iTsa, and Is buried IN
81 Paul's cathedral, which he planned
The American observance will he
consistent with the celebration In
England where the Royal Institute OF
British Architects has set aside the
entire week beginning February 90,
issa, as eammemaFatien week in
honor OF Wren, procession will
march from Mansion House 10 81,
pauls 10 hold memorial services in
the cathedral, followed by the visit
10 the crypt where the president OF
ihe Royal institute will lay wreath
on wren's tomb.
Treasures Of many learned societies
will be exhibited during the week
Wren spires.
In this country there is hardly a
city that does not boast one or more
Wren spires on its churches, The
White House is distinctly Wren; the
national capitol shows his influence:
independent hall. Philadelphia, Pa,
with his palladium motif OF one tall
arch window, hanked by square top
ned ones, is Wren. In Boston the
state capitol. designed by Charles
BulIhnch, who drew his inspiration
from Wren, and the old South and
North churches are among the nota-
BILE Wren examples.
Christ church, Alexandra, Va
where Washington worshippcd. is
another Wren example. designed by
James Wren. who was said TO be a
descendant OF the man who oNerthrew
the severe Gothic style with the
lighter and more graceful French and
Italian classic type. The records OF
Christ church show James Parsons
originally contracted to build 1t for
GOO pounds sterling. but threw up the
contract and it was finally COM
Melted by Col. John Carslyle for an
additional 220 pounds. making the
total cost OF the edifice less than s4,-
600.
Washington paid SO pounds and 10
shjllings for his pew, the only one
IN the church which remains in It's
original state.
Other Churches
New York boasts one of the finest
Wren spires in the country on 81
Paurs chapel. which stands with Its
face turned away from Broadway
other noted Wren spires are seen on
trinity church, Newport; the First
Rantist church of Providence; Christ
church, Philadelphia; the First Chris
,,an church, Hartford; Park street
church. Boston, First Congregational
VINE. Conn, and others. In Chica-
go the best example of the Wren type
rs st. Paul's of the Midway. Here,
however, the spire has never been
completed.
Early colonial architecture in New
England and the south was praclcal-
Nv all Wren. The Virginia mansions
with their red brick, stone trimming
and classic columns followed closely
the same motif Sir Christopher used
In rebuilding Hampden Court, one
time home of Cromwell when he was
protector Of the commonwealth.
Originally an astronomer Sir
CHRISTOPHER Wren, born in 1882, re
ceiyed his opportunity as an architect
when the great fire destroyed most
Of London in 1865. He designed the
great fire monument known in Eng
land simply as THE Monument 1t
stands at the intersection of Pie cor
ned and Pudding Lane, where the
fire was supposed to have started
Other Works
Besides st. Paul's cathedral, wren
was the designer of London bridge
the western towers of Westminster
Abbey, the libraries of Trinity college
at Cambridge and Queens college at
oxford, and many of the 50 churches
OF the old city of London. Eighty
six city churches were destroyed IN
the great fire, but many were not re-
built. Eighteen of Wren's city
have been destroyed and 10
others have been selected for demoli-
tion. because Of the lack of congre-
cations in the city and the immense
value of the ground they occupy. The
finest examples, however, are to be
preserved.
Wren's inspiration for a classic re-
yival came from another great archi-
tect, lingo Jones. Wren's work
shows more of French influence, as
compared to the pure italian Of Jones.
partly due to the fact that Wren was
present and studied the building of
the Louvre in Paris, while he never
visited italy.