NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22983, 1 April 1940, Page 8

NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH

Proposed Building For City COST OF ABOUT £32,000 L The construction of St, I Mary’s Catholic , costing | about £32,000, and capable-of seat- ! ing 960 persons, will begin before • the end of this year. With £ 10,500 ; in. hand, the Presbytery has now taken steps which it is hoped will 1 result in the laying in February next year of the foundation stone of the church for which parishioners have been waiting for 20 years. A direct appeal has been made to bring the sum in hand to about half the cost of the proposed building. The site selected for the church is in Salisbury street, between Colombo and Manchester streets. The occupants of three houses at present on the property have been given notice that building will begin this [ year. Dominated by a tower, _sur- ' mounted by a gold cross, and rising ! 85 feet above the ground, the church will be clearly visible from the northern sections* of both Colombo I and Manchester streets. The accepted design, prepared by Mr A. H. Manson, of Christchurch, is simple and modern, the frame structure being of reinforced concrete. Walls of multi-coloured tapestry bricks will be pierced by long windows into the aisles, and small clerestory windows. The interior will be finished with natural coloured plaster. The principal aim of the design has been to ensure that, as far as possible, every member of the congregation will have an uninterrupted view of the high altar. As the sanctuary and nave will be of the sain* wrdth, the sanctuary will be open to t&e full view of the. congregation. The\ building will be heated by warm aur, and except in the sanctuary, the\hghting will be direct: