ST. PAUL'S CHURCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22545, 9 October 1936, Page 15

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH

THE NEW CHANCEL WORK ALMOST COMPLETED DEDICATION THIS MONTH The new permanent chancel for St. Paul's Church, Symonds Street, is now almost completed, the actual structural work having been finished, and only a little of tho decorative operations remain to be done. Built of concrete and brick, the new chancel, although it seems rather bare in comparison with the older creeper-dad portion, is a particularly handsome structure, completely in keeping with the architecture of the main stone building. It is to be dedicated by Archbishop Averill on the evening of October 29.

Era-ted at a cost of about £6OOO, the chancel replaces the small wooden one which did duty from the time tho stone nave of the church was built in the early 'nineties. The addition varies from the decorated Gothic of the original design only in so far as it was necessary to suit present-day requirements, and it is a decided improvement artistically upon the old wooden building.

Because the church site falls steeply away from west to east, the chancel lias had to be constructed to a much greater depth than the rest of the church, and this has enabled provision to bo made for better accommodation tor vestry, choir and for social gatherings than St. Paul's has had in tho past. The total height of the addition is Stift. from the ground to the top of the gable.

The chancel proper measures 40ft. by 30ft internally, and has an open timber roof. The walls are plastered and there is a single east window filled with tracery and flanked by niches for statues. A lady chapel has been provided on the north side, with an organ chamber above. On the other side is a clergy vestry and against the south wall of the sanctuary there are three canopied stalls or sedilia. A recess nearer the nave will contain stones from historic churches of the Old World. I nderneath the chancel are two lower floors and a basement. Immediately under the chancel is a small hall or social room, 30ft. by 15ft., with a kitchen attached, as well as a sacristy, a vestry for men and boys and another for women. The two niches in the east wall of the chancel are to be filled respectively by statues of St. Paul and St. Barnabas. These are being made at the School of Art, and it is hoped thev will be ready in time for the dedication ceremony.