New Britain herald., 1927-01-14

chNrch seems 10 be the logical church to set the example aud make the move, and in so moving is in accord with church practice in all other growing cities.
 That parking space. increasingly essential to the convenience of church worshippers, is altogether in adequate at the present location.
 That the existing noise of trolley cars, bus lines and downtown traffic is often a hndrance to effective church worship.
 That location away from the center of the city would be more free from the dust and dirt from the streets.
 "In view of the above it is hereby recommended
 That We re-affirm the action of the church taken at a special meet ing on December 1lth. 1924. as fol- lows:
 'Movcd--that il is desirable to sell the property of the First Ecclesias- tical society located at the corner of Main and Church streets at such prfC" and upon such terms as are satisfactory 10 the First Ecclesias- tical society And further recom- mend that in the sale provision for sufficient tim" 10 construct and move iHio a new church cdifce be allow cd
 After a careful survey of yari- ouS possible locations, it was found that the West Main street site is the bcsr available unimproved pro- p"rty in the city for our main church building, and ii is hereby recom- mcndcd that this location be the site of our new church. West Main street is one of the city'S main arteries of traffic, running directly from the center of the city. and both West Main and Lexington streets are broad and well paved. , Trolley transportation facilities are adequate for our needs and parking facilities for automobiles would ap- pear to meet all requirements. The land now owned including the par sonagc lot is sufficient for present needs at least. and this committee feels very strongly that if our main church buildings are erected on this , site. our church will not only lose l hone of its dignity, prestige and pres ent democratic character of mem bcrship. but will gain in all these respects.
 After T careful study of modern church buildings in other cities and consulting with our own church of ! iicers and the leaders Of all church i organizations and the staff. We rec ! ommend. as an ideal, new church i plant on the West Main street lot, in which tho church will be of Colonial style with a connected parish house and with q rcCrcational building, all planned for q modern program of religious education and also for fu- ture growth.
 The parish hous" and reCreation- al building are to be designed to ac- commodato the following activities and functions: ttIere the committee outlines facilities for the various organizations. including a hall 10 aC- commoiato 500D
 "Th" committee has not attempted 10 makr any definite rccommenda- tionS IS 10 tn" detailed arrange mcnt or inc parish house. but for the purposes of this report has, as previously stated, considered ii to h" a building, attached to tn" rear Of the church, having two stories and an amply lighted and ventilated basement, thus giving the equivalent of three story building.
 "Sulficien. studies have been made 70 indicate that these requirements can be taken care of in q satisfactory way on the land available at West Main and Lexington streets by in cluding tpe lot now occupied by the parsonage.
 In the foregoing paragraphs we have outlined an ideal church plant without stating estimated costs, II is now recommended that 75 per cent of tho proceeds of the sale ol the Main street property shalt bc avail able for tn" buildings and equip mont to be located # W'sI MHi0 ani Lexington streets. Assuming that at least SGo0.uQ0 will be realized from the sale, there will be $45o,0o0 available for the building and equip mcnt Of said church. parish house and recroational building.
 Estimates which have been made after conference with various archi- iccts and builders and a comparison of costs of recently built churches, lead your committee 10 submit the minimum and maximum estimates:
 New church building, minimum, $2O0,oOo; maximum. $234,00o.
 Parish house and recrcational minimum $1S5,ooo; maxi mum, $215,000.
 Organ, minimum, S95,ooo; maxi mum, 5000.
 Furnishings, minimum, S20,0oO; s20,0o0.
 Parsonage, minimum, $25,00O; maximum, O.000.
 Totals: minimum, S455,000; maxi mum, S524,000.
 This indicates that unless the ee- inmates are too high, some revision in our plans will have 10 be made
 "It is recommended that up to 75 per cent of the proceeds of the sale of the Main street property shall be available for the building and equip nent included in the above sketch of an ideal plant