The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-17
CHEVY CHASE IS
TODED|CATE
CHURCH
Chevy Chase Presbyterian
Services Mark Real
Achievement

The dedication Of the new Chevy
Chase Presbyterian Church. an.
nonnced for o'clock tomorrow
afternoon, marks an achievement
Of Importance in that fast.growing
district and illustrates the reward
of vision and faith.
DIR. johnson, to whose efforts the
erection Of the church il largely
due. is anxious that the community
generally shall participate in the
services.
Five or six years ago, this church
with a membership of only 200,
saw that the rapid increase in popu-
lation in Chevy Chase would ncces-
state an early expansion Of church
facilities. The small building then
occupied, erected in 1911, was
crowded, and plans were laid for
a plant including auditorium and
assembly room, now completed, with
Sunday school house and manse
to be built in the future, involving
n cost Of &225,000 for structures
alone.
On Circle.
Y. The new auditorium and tower,
occupying a commanding site at
Chevy Chase circle and Patterson
street. is, Of Tudor Gothic design,
constructed Of local stone with
cast stone trim and ornamental
slate tiles. The, heavy variegated
slate roof is particularly noticeable.
The plans of the architect. F. A.
Nelson, Of New York, received the
highest award at the exhibition of
the Architectural League of New
York in 1921. The interior com.
bines in rare beauty the rugged
strength Of the bare stone walls
and the sturdy roof of, dark South.
ern pine, the deliMte tracsry of
cathedral loaded glass in the arched.
stone windows with the ornamental
carving of chancel furnishings.
'narthex screen and pews, all in
weathered white oak.
The dedicating exercises will be
strictly OF q devotional character.
The speaker win be Doctor Howard
Duffield, moderator of the Pfesby-
terry of New York, and for thirty.
five years pastor Of the Old First
Presbyterian Church on lower Fifth
avenue. New, York city. He viii be
assisted by Doctor johnson and
Doctor BRINE. Special music will
be under the direction of Warren
w. Grimes.
Monument to Pastor.
In a large way, the new church
is a monument to the life work of
the pastor, the Reverend Doctor
Hubert Rex johnson. In the fiji
teen years OF his pastorate, the
church has grown from a. few
scattering families to an institution
typifted by this magnificent build.
ing. 1t is with deep sorrow tina:
because Of his frail health the con-
gregation has been obliged to &C.
cept his resignation taking effect
after the dedication, but retaining
his leadership and counsel as pastor
emeritus. His successor is the Rev
erend Doctor Douglas Putnam Birnie,
for a number Of years a resident
of Washington, and the pastoral
work will be further aided by an
assistant pastor to be appointed.
The new church seats 100. The
chancel provides for an antiphonal
choir of eighteen voices, an organ
console. elders seats. and com.
nunion table. Ths assembly room.
under the auditorium, used for
Sunday school and other pur.
poses, seats 500. A large stage
is provided equipped with foot
lights, curtains and other proper.
ties. A commodious kI.:hen. com.
pletely equipped, in the first floor
OF the tower, opens into tho as.
6cmbly room.
The pastors study and confer.
ence room is on the street floor
of the tower and opens into the
auditorium and chancs'. The two
upper floors Of =. the tower are
used for organ, loft and belfry,
The Organ.
The entire action Of the three
manual organ is contained within
a chamber In the tower imnledi.
Gtely above the pastors study, and
the ornamental screen, with its dis.
play pipes in. the natural metal
without coloring or decorations Of
any kind, fills the arched front Of
this chamber.
The organ is OF the electro.
pneumatic type. The bench is go
placed that the organist faces the
choir as well as the organ front.
Stairs and corridors connect the
new building with the old church
which has been converted and re-.
fitted as a chapel and Sunday
school room. Another Temporary
building is also used for Sunday
school purposes, both to be later
replaced by permanent construction.
Ground was broken for the new
church in July, 1922. The corner
stone was laid January 2l, 1928.
and although not entirely Completes
has been occupied since April 6,
1924.
The dedication arrangements have
been in charge OF a committees az
twenty-five, Of which f.. 6. Daniel
is general chairman. The sub.
committee in charge OF arrange.
ments Is headed by e. d. Hatha.
away; music, by Frederick s. Stitf.
program, by w. b. Reed, and