A NEW CHURCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3794, 17 July 1899, Page 5

A NEW CHURCH.

BASILICA 01' THE SACRED HEART. THE FOUNDATION STONE LAID. The ceremony of laying the foundation atone of die new Roman Catholic Church which is about to be erected in Hill street on the site formerly occupied by St. Mary's Cathedral, was performed yesterday by Archbishop Redwood. There was a large gathering of church adherents and the general public. Those present included the French Consul (Count do Courtc) the Premier (Right Hon R. J. Sc-ddon), the Hon Captain Russell, and several members of both Houses of the Legislature, besides many prominent citizens.

At about three o’clock his Grace, tiie clergy, including the yen. Archdeacon Devoy, the Very Rev Father Lewis and Rev Father Holley, and the acolytes, walked ,in procession from the Archbishop’s house," and after an opening prayer teok up their station on a platform above which the foundation stone had been suspended. The ritual laid down for such occasions was then gone through, and Uu stone having been blessed was lowered into its place and laid. The Archbishop used a handsome silver and ivory trowel, which boro the following inscription ; "Presented to the Right Rev Dr F. Bt’dwood, Archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand, on the occasion of laying foundation stone of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Tliorndon, by Frank W. Petrc, architect; James Small, contractor. July 16th, 1899.” On the stone is a Latin inscription, of which the following is a translation : —“This foundation stone is duly laid in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Francis Redwood, S.M., first Archbishop of Wellington, this 16th day of July, 1899.” In a cavity under the stone was placed a canister containing copies of the local daily paper's, the “Tablet,” coins of the realm, etc. The ceremonial was completed by the clergy walking around the foundations of the church, which were also blessed by the Archbishop. His Grace then returned to the platform, and addressing the gathering, said:—“Ladies and gentlemen, in the first place, I have to express my very sincere thanks to all of this very large gathering of persons who have come to honour this ceremony with their presence. I am very much flattered and dej lighted to see the Premier of the colony here, and also so large a number of members of both Houses of the Legislature. It is on their part an act of condescension and 'great kindness, and proof of the interest they take in the event of this day. It is indeed, for all of us, a very great event. Wo have been expecting for months the day when wo would have the consolation and happiness of laying the foundation stone of a vast and enduring architectural structure in the place of the old St. Mary’s Cathedral which used to stand on this splendid site. To very many of you St. Mary’s Cathedral suggests a very world of sad, and a very sea of deepest, fondest association. How many of you must remember St. Mary’s as it stood here for years and years, for you grew up under the very shadow of that building with all you hold most holy in regard to yimr religion. You looked to it as something most sacred and touchingly united to you in every spiritual way. No one can express the extreme grief and sorrow you experienced on that day when the building, so dear to you all, suddenly became the prey of cruel flames. But, my dear brethren, it would be unnecessary to refer to the past of that cathedral. It was, indeed, a historical building—small, but graceful; in.good taste. For •.ho time in which it was erected it was'reahy a noble monument to the faith and religious affections of those concerned in its erection. ,It was the soul and life of my predecessor, Doctor Yiard,whose remains are interred here, and will soon have over them a spacious and noble building. He was proud indeed of .St. Mary’s Cathedra!, and also to honour those who had any thing to do. with its erection. But now it.has"been the will of Providence that that building should disappear, and though the site is picturesque and was suitable before it is not central enough now. We are going, therefore, to build a cathedral in a more central part of the city. It will be St. Mary’s still, and the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mayy widen ornamented the old cathedral will adorn the new one. To-day we have come Here to lay the foundation stone of a fine architectural church, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We are entering into a new departure in ecclesiastical architecture in Wellington. The church will be of brick and stone, and, therefore, entirely in contrast with themiany wooden churches which adorn tno city. The new cathedral will also bo of stone, a building, substantial, majestic, durableworthy of tne. talent which devised it. However, we arc here now not so much for speaking as for doing. Great men are not so remarkable fer speaking as for doing; that is the main point.” The Archbishop then went on to ask his hearers to contribute towards the building fund, and incidentally referred with gratification to the many expressions of sympathy that -had been forwarded to him after the destruction of St. Mary's—from the Governor, the Premier, in tact from all parties and denominations in the length and breadth of the colony. A collection was then made by several gentlemen with the result that a sum of ,£877 in cash and cheques was contributed towards the building fund. THE NEW CHURCH.

The new building has been designed on a much more elaborate scale than was generally supposed, and when completed —by the end of the year, it is hoped—it will be a striking' addition to the architecture of the city. The site is, or course, an admirable one,’tmd well suited for the erection of an ecclesiastical edifice. The design of the church will bo the Roman basilica; the lonic order having been selected both for the inside and the outside. The total length is to be 136tt, the breadth 61ft and the height 07ft. The foundations and base are to be of concrete and the outside, walls of Oamaru stone and pressed brick. About a thousand tons of Oamaru stone will be used in the work of construction. The heart of the walls will bo filled in with concrete cement, and as the roof is to be of Marseilles tiles, it will be seen tnut tho building has been designed on fire-resisting lines. Concrete will be used in the floor construction, and this will be covered with tiles and wood blocking. The ceiling inside will be covered with embossed zinc, arranged in decorated coffers. From the dimensions of the sanctuary 27ft x 26ft —it is apparent that this'portion of the building has been designed on spacious lines. It is arranged inthe form of an arch, rising to a height of 40ft , and canned on a cluster of fluted pilasters. In the centre of this, a canopy will rise, on four fluted columns and punsters The first division of the church is into'a spacious portico, 48ft x 12ft. from wliicli cutrnnee is "to. 'be obtained, bjy three large folding doors into the vestibule.’Tho baptistry entrance is situated hero, and also the organ loft stairway. Then comes the nave, 72ft long by 41ft 6in in breadth, with aisles on either side. There are to lie two confessional chapels near tho sanctuary, and two sanctuary chapels on either side. The corridor oi the,reredos'will have a length of 6ott by 6ft 4in. Provision is also to bo made for the erection of a sacristy and strongrooms. The aisle roofs will form a balCO nv on three, sices of the building, which will* bo pierced by. thirty-eight- windows. There will -bo no stained glass in ■ the ■ ! windows; they will contain toned glassy The rule with

| all Roman basilica schemes of architecture is that the internal colour effects must be obtained by fresco paintings. From this brief description of the building an idea may bo gained of the general intentions of the architect, Mr Frank W Petrc, of Dunedin, who. by the way, has had specially wide experience in the erection of church.cs. When- completed the church will bo a credit to the zeal of the Catholic community of the diocese.