The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-02
CONTRACT TO BE LET FOR ENSLEY BAPTISFsCHURCH One Of South's Finest Structures To Cost 2 Over S15O,OOO
 MODERN CONSTRUCTION FEATURE OF BUILDING Sunday School Department To
 Have Seating Space ,.
 For 3,100 :
(ENsLEY BUREAU)

ENSLEY, Ala, March 1.-Contract for the $150,000 church to be erected by the Ensley Baptist congregation is expected to be let Monday. The church is eager to get the building und,r way for,it has transferred its present prop critics to the Howard high school, to be opened in September, and must have a new place of worship immediately.
 1t was stated Saturday that the building would be the last word in modern construction and will contain features rendering the structure equal to iany church building in the state. Nationally known experts have seafched the plans for defets and find as fdrawn, there will not be q more efficient or modern Sunday school budding in the country.
 Among the many and varied features of the new bAilding will be the Sun day school room which will have a caIhcity of 3,100, and a banquet hall capable of seating GOO. Other special feaeasSes are incorporated in the build ing.
 The congregation has grown from small number to over ,250 members and Rev. David M. Gardner, pastor of the church, is lining up, an organization of aezworkers and providing heads for all Appointments of church activities, whicE will, he believes, place the local church in position to render better service to this community.
 The new building is described by the committee as follows:
 Trimmed With Cast Stone
 This buildings exterior walls and wide buttresses of multi-colored Orien tai red range brick, laid in wide rough grey mortar joints, will be trimmed with natural cast stone, run in vari- ouS shapes characteristic of the style and forming the segmental arches over thei numerous entrances and windows. Tho latter will be further enriched by vertical stone tracery and jambs, in which will set adjustable metal case meSt sash, glazed with rough ham, mered natural cathedral glass; held within conventional lead cases, fas found in most examples of period art glass wofk. x '>..' '', |.
 4hes building will appear < as cone hoIhologeous design eand uniform in style throughout. sIt will rise seventy feet from the sidewalk to the. main ridge Sof the church auditorium roof, thes tiles of twhich will contrast warmly with rich coloring of the fascade and entburage.~
 Upon approaching the front steps one will note the lofty central motif" with it's tri-part composition and arches. leading up and in upon an open brick vaulted portico and cloistsr from which three entrances lead directly into the sehurch auditorium, and one entrance 1t kack side leads into stair tower which in turn gives access to the audi torium balcony and to the ground floor. ''-
 With its bowIed floor, and sloping all spews to the pulpit, choir and ele vatSd baptistry, and with com muhicating stairs leading down from each side of the balcony to the pulpit to- facilitate evangelical serv- ices; the auditorium will accommo- date a total of 1900 persons. It will be lighted by double tier of seven large windows, each subdivision into eight small units, on each side, and will have openings leading ,on the right and left of the pulpit.
 Auditorium a Feature
 Other details of the main auditorium include dignified treatment of the panel ling behind choir stalls and baptistry wood panels with niche for sculpture and floral decoration, and wood organ screens which will cover the divided Norgan chambers on balcony level and at night and left of the baptistry. The in terior effect both by day and evening will be most quiet and inviting for meditation and prayer.
 Under the main auditorium the space consisting of the ground floor will be used las banquet and social room, so arranged that same may be automatical- ly subdivided into five class rooms or assembled in one large unit, with all 600 seats facing the main platform or roster from which the Baraca, Berean, Fidelis, Philathea and Matrons' classes will be directed. Connecting on one side at the rear portion of this social