SAWN IN HALF.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 199, 23 August 1937, Page 8

SAWN IN HALF.

ST. HELIER'S CHURCH.

MAKING IT CRUCIFORM.

SHIFTED BACK 32 FEET.

Shifting a building is a matter of little consequence these, days. New methods have simplified the work. The speed with which experienced men can do the job is exemplified on one of the hills overlooking St. Helier's Bay, where the Catholic Church of St. Ignatius is being transformed from the ordinary oblong form into the cruciform shape.

Operations were started this morning, the sanctuary being detached from the rest of the church by the simple expedient of sawing it down from roof to ground with a hand saw. Two men, one working on each side, took half an hour to complete the work. Heavy slides had been placed in position under the sanctuary and within a few hours the whole piece had been shifted back 32ft. The main body of the church remained stationary. With the church in the cruciform shaj>e, by the addition of transepts, it will become the nave. The plan is to build the north and south transepts in the gap.

Thin morning it was not considered necessary to shift the ornaments in the sanctuary. The altar rail was removed, the slides were greased with kitchen dripping and the block was moved back with the help of timber jacks, which were adjusted and screwed to capacity until the sanctuary had been moved back the required 32ft. To a group of onlookers the high altar, the altar furnishings and hangings, the crucifix and the jrold-lettered sanctuary text were revealed.

The moving of the sanctuary was completed to-day, but several weeks will be occupied in building the transepts.