Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-19
SAINT MATTHEW'S
TO BE REDEDICATED
MONDAY, sept. n

On Monday, st. Matthew's day, the
newly decorated and renovated
church edifice of st. Matthew'S
| church will reopened and be re-
, dedicated. The speaker on this oc-
casion will be Rev. Stuart B. Purves,
rector of st. Marks church, Augusta,
and arch deacon of the kennebec. st.
Matthew is the patronal saint of the
local church and it is most appropri-
ate that these services should come
upon his feast day. There will be an
early celebration of the holy COM
munion at s A. NJ, and evening pray
er with address at 7.30. Since this is
the feast of the patronal saint the
octave will be observed and. the SER
vices of the following Sunday will be
as those of a high feast.
The members Of the local church
have every reason to be grateful and
| thankful as well as proud ON this
solemn occasion; for the interior of
their church edifice has been trans
formed into quiet beauty. The
walls have been done in soft shades
of grey. The dado is the convention
al eucharistfc design of grapes and
grapevine, in strict accord with the
architecture of the church, which is
pun z SolillC VI lllC Olu LHSliSn pei
iod. The architect of the Hallowell
church was the well known Mr.. Up
john, who designed number of
Maine churches, and he was most
scrupulous in keeping to the ole
English model. Harry Cochrane of
Monmouth, who has been in charge
of the decorating, made his work to
harmonic perfectly with the struc-
ture it was to ornament. The design
used is symbolic of Our Lord as the
vine and the members of the church
as the branches.
The sanctuary is done in soft
shades of red and blue. With the
exception of the central dot in the
conventional figure which is English
vermilion all the shades used are
tints only, not pure colors, and the
effect is artistic and restful. The
panels of the sanctuary have the two
crosses and the trefoil. These are
intended to draw the eve to the CEN
tral cross of the altar. sym boliziny
the Trinity. The designs for the
crosses were made especially for the
particular spot they occupy and are
original in character This particu-
Jar period of design is unique in the
TACT that the French fieur de lis was
USED IN union with the cross. The
designs used on the walls at ST. Mat
new are also an original adapta
uon OF the models to their snec;.1
purpose The walls of the churcb h
are paneled. hui cli
body and BACKGROUND are given to
.his scheme of decoration bv tbe
pews, which have been grained in =
beautiful shade of dark oak The
cushlons nave been removed and are
replaced by moulded seats of dark
YAK; Ihe floor is a deep grey, This
work was done by Frank Raynes of
augusta. The granting of the news
Vas tne work of George r. Stuart of
oauneiu' Inc organ has been
p.aeeo IN recess to soften its tone
ana 10 leave more space. The organ
papes nave oeen re-gilded and the or
Sah itseil over looked and returned by
n. Z. Harrison of Portland. IT is
f ,opeu 10 nave oak choir stalls in the
future. Sacristy, tower room and
Nestry have also been redecora
A great part of the expense of the
work, half in fact. has been horne nv
1he women of the Women's auxiliarv
VINO nave been working and saving
towards that end for the past twelve
years: st. Matthews guild has also
raised a substantial portion. There
, nave peen no outstanding donations,
p ne work mas been for the most mart
oohe by the church people them
selves and is splendid examine IF
Whal can be accomplished by work
ana enthusiasm. Very much credit
Tor the work is due to the present
rector, Rev. Rush w. D. Smith. who
mas put interest and hard work. as
well as devotion into all the activi-
ties of the church.
st. Matthews parish was organized