CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION, ONEHUNGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9307, 9 March 1889, Page 5

CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION, ONEHUNGA.

To-morrow morning, the now Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption, at Onehunga, will be solemnly consecrated by His Lordship Bishop Luck, the service commencing at eleven o'clock. The sermon on the occasion will be preached by tho Very Rev. Father Alphonsus O'Neill, Superior in Sydney of the Passionist Order. Mozart's grand composition, the "Twelfth Mass," will be sung by the choir. In the evening, after vespers, Father O'Neill will again preach. The new building stancla upon an excel-lently-situated site, immediately opposite the present church. It is built of brick, with ground mortar, the foundation being of bluestone, quarried from the site. The church is in the Gothic style, and contains a nave, transepts, chancel, oratory, sacristy, tower, and porches. The dimensions are: —Total length, 96 feet; width of nave and transepts, 30feet; height<of walls, 20 feet, and to apex of roof, 46 feet. The floor is of concrete, finished with Portland cement, the aisles being laid with tiles ; the roof is an open-timbered one, covered with galvanised iron. There is a three-light traceried and six lancet windows in the nave, and a five-light window, also traceried, in each of tho transepts. In the chancel, .above the altar, is a three-light traceried window, filled with stained glass, with a representation of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. This window, which is of a beautiful design, was imported from Tours, France, and is the work of Leopold Lobin. A handsome Communion rail divides the sanctuary from the body of the church, and at the eastern end of the sanctuary is an oratory for the use of the Sisters of Mercy when attending mass. A choir gallery, to which access is secured by a staircase in the tower, has been erected at the southern end of tho church. The sacristy is immediately at the rear of the building. The tower at present is only built as high as the main walls, but when it is completed, with spire, the total height will be 117 feet, and the appearance of the church will then be exceedingly neat and tasteful, especially as it is intended to finish the outer walls with Portland cement. The churclnvill be lighted by gas, there being four sunlights and the usual large number of brackets. Tho architects were Messrs. E. Mahoney and Sons, whose work has been performed in the excellent style characteristic of that firm. Mr. Kemp was the contractor for the building, whilst Mr. J. Henderson did the glazier's work, the gas-fittings bein" 1 placed by Mr. Randall.