City’s Most Arresting Church In St Martins

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28268, 4 May 1957, Page 6

City’s Most Arresting Church In St Martins

The most arresting church in Christchurch will be officially opened for the Presbyterian congregation in St. Martins tomorrow afternoon. Last evening the lofty splay walls of glass panels glowed amber and red from the interior lighting, and by daylight a similar effect will be gained inside.

A slim white -cross, lit from within, stands out against a blue wall in the sanctuary, and perforated spun-metal shades, suspended lower than usual, will throw light over the congregation.

This building discards almost all the conventional forms of church architecture. Carving and applied ornamentation is absent; but a unique atmosphere for worship is provided by lighting, colour. and texture of materials. The approach to the church is striking. The gable roof extends in the normal way, but is supported at the corners by slim steel columns. The front panel is plain brick, relieved only by the foundation stone with the exhortation, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God.”

The front “corners” of the building are replaced by the splayed walls in a staggered pattern of coloured glass panels with the roof overhanging. The church will be joined directly to the street by a “carpet of paving” in which the slabs will be relieved by ornamental mosses. Entrance Porch The royal blue entrance porch doors are picked out with a chequered pattern of glass lenses Inside one wall is heart red pine veneer; the other is plain brick. Between them an off-set screen will bear a huge map of the parish on which coloured pins will mark every Presbyterian home in the district. The broad, shallow dais within the church proper will bear only the communion table with a moderator’s chair behind. On either flank are the simple pulpit and lectern with elders’ benches nearby. Above stands the cross. The bare brick interior walls are gold coloured, relieved only by columns and beams in white, set in recesses of grey. The south side wall is inset with square glass lenses of amber, blue, and red. Below them will be ranged the choir, set to the side of the congregation. The roof is 21ft at the apex and 16ft at the walls. The west wall appears as a huge panel of clear-polished heart tim-

ber but it is actually composed of three sliding doors which may be moved to bring the lounge into the church for large congregations. At other times it will screen the area in which informal gatherings are held. This room, too, has one outer wall of large glass panels. Nearby are the minister’s study-vestry, a kitchen and servery, and a small meeting room on a mezzanine floor. The whole builing is unified by brick-red \ cork carpet. Other Features Other features are gas-fired heaters hung high on one wall and a built-in amplifier in the church for playing recorded sacred music. The architect for the building was Mr A. E. Plishke, of Wellington, and the supervising architect, Mr G. W. Luckie, who is a member of the congregation. The builders were N. Caldwell, Ltd. The whole project cost about £14,000, exclusive of furnishings. It is expected that this “stewardship” church will liquidate the small mortgage in five years. Because everything about this building has been chosen with a modern Biblical conception, the minister (the Rev. C. R. Sprackett) will hold a family service on Sunday week at which he will explain for children and adults the significance of each feature. Mr Sprackett believes in “the church of the open door” and the building will always be open for quiet reflection.