KNOX CHURCH, PARSNELL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11162, 7 September 1899, Page 3

KNOX CHURCH, PARSNELL.

TO-NIGHT'S DEDICATORY SERVICE. Yesterday tho workmen worn busy putting tlio finishing touches on Knox Church, Parnoil (of which (he Rev. Hugh Kelly. A., is pastor), which is now ready for dedication for the purposes of Divine worship. The dedicatory services will take place this evening at half-past seven, when the service will bo conducted by the Moderator of the General Assembly, the Very Rev. D. J. Steele, M.A. , A personal invitation has been given to all the members of the Auckland Presbytery and ministers of other denominations have also received a general invitation. Special collections will be taken up in aid of the building fund. It may be stated that the new church, which will be an ornament to Parnell, occupies a commanding position 011 the crown of Parnell, in the vicinity of the Domain, and has a fine view of the oity and upper portion of the harbour. The foundation stone was laid 011 November 29, 1898, by His Excellency the (.iovornor, Lord Ranfurly, who is a lineal descendant of John Knox, the famous Scottish reformer, after whom the church is named. The following desciiption of the church will be of interest to our readers. The design is in decorated Gothic. The entrance to the church is by spacious flights of steps, ornamentally railed, to the two entrances— the one on the right to the tower, porch, and vestibule, and on the east by a porch, into spacious vestibules, which are divided by a cloakroom. From the vestibules, 011 either side, are passages into the nave. The transepts projecting from the nave are 20fl in width. At the rear of the nave, and with entrance to same, are the vestry and session rooms. The former is 14 by 10, and tlio latter 28 by 10. The nave is handsome and lofty, the height of the walls being 20ft. A dado, sft high, cf alternate kauri and rimu, placed vertically, with a neatly moulded cap, runs round the walls, above which the walls are panelled' with kauri mouldings, filled in between with alternate kauri and rimu. Laid diagonally above this is a frieze of stop-chamfered framing in rimu, backed with kauri and rimu laid horizontally. The roof is a king-post and collar truss, and moulded circular rib resting 011 a hammer beam, supported by a framed stop-chamfered bracket. The spandrils of the ribs and brackets are filled in with foiled and moulded frets in kauri, which looks well against the heavier framing of the roof principals. The roof (35ft from tlio floor, is panelled in lief ween each principal diagonally with kauri and rimu, the centre of each panel containing a foiled and moulded kauri fretwork ventilating centre-piece. Along tlio front of the nave, and over the vestibules and cloakroom is a gallery with a pretty front, the design being 111 keeping with the rest of the work. The approach to this is by a staircase springing from the eastern entrance. The gallery is lit by a large lead-light coloured window, 24ft by Bft, flanked by two smaller windows, which also help to light the interior of the building. The nave has four Gothic windows (with fanlights for ventilation) on each side, in cathedral glass, coloured alternately. The transepts are similarly lit by three windows, the centre one being a mullioned window in lead-lights. The screens in front of both transepts are in rimu, panelled, with Gothic heads and pillars, and backed with crimson cloth. There is a handsome and roomy pulpit, in rimu and kauri, with a lectern in keeping. On the back wall behind the pulpit, is a panelled reredos, surmounted by a large rose window, glazed in lead-lights. A communion platform is in front of the pulpit, 12ft by 9ft, 15in from floor, has a brass rail, and is supported by turned Gothic pillars of rimu. The transepts are divided from the nave by open timber arches, and the eastern transept contains the organ and choir stalls, etc. The building will seat 525 persons, and the seats are designed to match the interior of the church. Everything has been done to promote the comfort of the visitor, \cntilation has been provided for in the ceiling by 14 openings in fretwork, and in the roof are six of Boyle's patent concealed ventilators. The nave is lit by handsome incandescent lamps, and elsewhere are numerous gas brackets. A largo organ, to cost close on £400, from Hill and Sons, is being erected by Mr. W. T. Wilmette, organ builder, of this city. The approaches to the church are neat, and the ground enclosed by a handsome fence. There is a sufficient area of ground to permit of the erection of a manse at the side, and a schoolroom at the rear. Provision in the foundations has been made for a tower, at a cost of £400, in the future. The total cost of the land, buildings, and organ, will be about £3000, of which one-third has been raised. It is expected that the opening services, and a bazaar, to be held later on, in March, will considerably reduce the amount. Mr. Grandison is the contractor, and the architect, Mr. R. W. do Montalk. '