NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR HAWERA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 1 August 1927, Page 6

NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR HAWERA.

A proposal for the rebuilding of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Victoria Street, Hawcra, which originated some six years ago, has become so far ad vanced that tenders will be called within a week or two, and the work will be commenced in about six weeks’ time. An announcement to this effect "was made yesterday by the Right Rev. Monsignor Power. As is indicated by the above illustration, the new church will be of a most imposing type and will be a distinct ornamental acquisition to the town. An elaborate design has been followed by the architects, who claim that the structure will be one of the finest in the

Dominion. It will exceed considerably in size the recently erected Catholic Church at Palmerston North, both in length and height, and will be slightly longer than St. Mary’s, of Wellington. A feature of the design will be the stately Gothic windows which will run in an unbroken line round the whole building. The total length will be 150 feet, of which 108 feet will be occupied by the nave, where there will be a width of 43 feet. The sanctuary portion of the church, with side chapels, sacristies and choir gallery will be 66 feet wide. The main walls will be 39 feet high and at the apex the building will have an elevation of 60 feet. The

nave will accommodate 850 worshippers and, with the gallery, a total of 1000.

Since the erection of a new church was first decided upon six years ago contributions to the fund have been steadily received, and the Alonsignor lias now in hand a sum of £II,OOO, which is over half the estimated cost. The provision of: towers to the new church has not as yet been contemplated, but it is believed that when the initial cost has been liquidated this matter will be considered.

In order that the new building may stand in front of Manse Street, the present church will he moved from the site upon which it now stands. This

will be utilised as a Sunday school and parish hall. The work of moving the chhrch and clearing the site will be commenced in about six weeks’ time.

A feature for the preparation of the specifications has been the employment for the first time in connection with a New Zealand building of a quantity surveyor, who has prepared details of the quantities of materials which will be required for the various portions of the church. This will be particularly helpful for contractors in the calculation of estimates. The architects are Messrs Cloro rind Cl ere, of Wellington.