ST. MARY’S CHURCH PLEASANT POINT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5015, 24 May 1889, Page 3

ST. MARY’S CHURCH PLEASANT POINT.

Iho want of a place of worship has long been felt by the adherents of the Roman Catholic Church at Pleasant Point and district, and when in December last the proposal to erect a church was given practical effect to by the laying of the foundation stone by His Lordship the Bishop of the Diocese, Dr Grimes, pecuniary and other assistance was most cheerfully given to the promoters. After an interval of a few months we now have the pleasure of announcing that the new church is completed, and is to be opened and blessed by Dr Grimes on Sunday next. The new building is situated on the terrace overlooking the Pleasant Point Railway Station and township. The Church presents a very neat and handsome appearance. The style of architecture is what is known as the Early English or the Perpendicular Gothic, and the dimensions of the building arc—length, internally, 60 feet; width, 30 feet. The foundations are of concrete, and are raised, on an average, two feet above ground. The walls from floor lino to spring of roof are 15 feet high, are built, of brick, and aro flanked on each side by seven massive buttresses. Between the latter are six lancet windows, two feet wide by eight feet high. The front gable is ornamented with a large rose window six feet in diameter, two lancet windows, and large Gothic-headed door, these being surmounted by moulded arcbivolts, resting on carved bosses ; the front-angular buttresses being also surmounted by ornamental pinnacles veitbjleur-de-lis crockets or flnials. The gables are finished with moulded copings, and surmounted with foliated crosses. The whole of the windows are framed with lead and filled in with cathedral glass, and triple coloured margin of ruby, amber, blue and grten, each window being differently treated. The gable at the southern end of the building has a triple window, which, like the rose .windows, has been filled in with tracery. The open Gothic roof is very solid, and (constructed of selected rirau, oiled and varnished, the effect being exceedingly handsome. Externally the walls are finished in cement compo., and internally in ordinary plaster. Over all the internal openings aro moulded arcbivolts and carved Gothic foliated bosses, and the wall posts of the roof rest on Gothic moulded trusses. Temporary sanctuary and sacristies have been formed by the erection of screens at one end of the church. The whole of the building both externally and internally, has a very fine effect, and reflects great credit on Mr M. do H. Duval, the architect and designer. The w jrkmanehip displayed by the contractor Mr .Tames Delaney is excellent, and the subcontractors—Mr Emil Hall for brick and plaster work, and Mr Healey for plumbing and painter’s work—have fulfilled their duties in a praiseworthy manner. The total cost of the building, exclusive of the value of cartage of material, such as bricks, cement, shingle and sand, which was done by the parishioners of Pleasant Point, is about £730. The ground on which the church has been built, comprising in all an acre and a half, is the generous and handsome gift of Mr James Sullivan, who has likeness given his services as clerk of works, and to whom, therefore, the congregation owe a debt of gratitude.