ST. STEPHEN'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PONSOBY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5638, 11 December 1879, Page 6

ST. STEPHEN'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PONSOBY.

Church architecture, we are glad to see, has beeu receiving a fair nodicum of attention during late years. The new ecclesiastical structures which are springing up iu various parts of the city, to keep pace with the requirements of the increasing population, contrast very favourable with the older ones, which are looked upon as remnants of bygone days. Auckland can boast of several handsome and imposing churches, and the latest addition to the number, St. Stephen's Presbyterian Churcb, Ponsonby, may very fairly be classed among the?e It is situated on the junctiou of Shelly Beach $nd Pensonby Roads, the front being on the latter road. At one corner there is a tower sur. mounted by a spire, and at the opposite corner a porch. The front on Ponsouby Road is divided into three bays by two buttresses, iu the centre bay is a large fourlight window, and in each of the smaller bays a single lancet window. On two faces of the tower there are two entrance doors, and in the porch there are also two doors, oueon each side. All these doors are Gothic-head'-d. In the towe-, the story above the porch is lighted up by four lancet windows, and above that it becomes an octagon, with four lancet windows, filled with louver boarding over each gable with ornamental verge- j board. Above this rises the spire, the total height of which from the ground to the ■ summit is G5 feet. The front gables of the | main building, and all porches, are all ! finished with ornamental verge-boards. The side elevations of the church are divided into six bays by buttresses ; the tower ami the porch occupy one bay esich, and in each I of the other "bays there is a two-light I Go-hic window. The total height of the wall from the pround to the eavo of roof is j 22 feet, and the total height of the wall from the ground to the apex of ridge is 45 feet. The inside of the building is Jined throughout with plain boavding, the lower part being wainscoted, 4 feet G iuches hi*b, with upright boarding, and riuished oIT with skirting and capping. The building is furnished with sea's, and an ornamental pulpit, in perfect harmony in stj'le and keeping with the whole of the surrounding?. The ventilation of the Church has been fully provided for, by the upper portion of the windows being all huug on pivot?, and also by an air-shaft in each buttress, with an outlet to admit the external air, and carried up some distance, vertically, into the wall, and then turned inwards. There is also ventilation in the roof, for the escape of foul air. We may mention that it is contemplated, at some future da}*, to add one transept to the building, by which means the seating capacity of the church would be very nearly doubled. The seating capacity of the building as it now exists is 270, with the utmost cumforfc and ease. The architects, Messrs. Mahoncy and Sou, have adhered strictly to the Gothic in the style they have adopted for this building in all its details, and the result is a very neat and tasteful structure. It is by no means what would be called a showy or a costly structure,but it is one which reflects credit alike on the desiguer, builder, and congregation for whom it has been erected. The site on which it has been constructed is oue of the most beautiful in that part of Ponsonby, and Stephen's, with its graceful spire, giving additional height and a beautiful fiuish to tho whole, forms a very pleasing feature in the prospect. The builder was Mr. J. W. James, of Ponsonby, who took up the contract in the month of June last. The price was £12G0, which includes the seating and finishing of tho building throughout in every respect, as agreed upon. I Dirine service will be held in it for the first time on the last Sunday of this month. It will be seen, therefore, that the work has be?n pushed cn to a successful issue with the most praiseworthy energy. Properly to the Building Committee would be accorded the credit of the success which has attended the erection of the church, but, in fact, the whole of the members of the church have been, so to speak, the committee, and have each taken so active a part in the good work that it would be invidious to mention any names at all. One-half of the sittings have been already taken up, and the progress made in collecting money to pay for the erection of tho building has been so far satisfactory, but the liabilities of a new structure are always so heavy that the committee would gladly receive any contributions toward defraying the cost that anyod© may feel disposed to send them.