NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH, TIMARU.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14481, 30 June 1911, Page 2

NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH, TIMARU.

The Catholic Clinch, new Wng erected on Crajgfe Avenue is nearmg completion, and as'it bids fair to "become one of the architectural gems of tho town, a "Herald" reporter recently paid a visit-to the building, and was courteously shown over it by the Rev. father Tubman, P."P., th'o man who j lias financed and been solely responsible j for tho project,, and Air J3. Mariarty, j the building.surveyor, wiXio has had solo charge of tho building. Tho foutidaiion stone was laid on February Oth, 1010, .on a site at .the extreme northern end ol ; tho church, property, ami almost i'acUig Heaion Street. Surprising . progress! has been | made, for now the stone worlds practi-j tally finished, the roofing almost m the | same condition, • and the finishers, modellers, painters, copper-workere, ' carvers and kindred trades, a 1 aro push' i ing forward vigorously to h* ve it completed about tho middle ct ' October, two months after the silver jub.lee of its fcunder, tho Rev. Father -Tubman. The building will bo in a measure a worthy memento of the energy he has displayed, and the courage he has shown in -undertaking such a vast ■work. Colossal !have been the labour and anxiety involved.. At one time the-cask to tho uninitiated skeined veil nigh hopeless, but with careful "management and assiduous perseverance everything is now in a prosperous state. The magnificent copper dome cannowbaseenfrom all over Timaru, and is a familiar landmark to residents of the whole country-aide. It stands 115 feet high, surmounted by' a huge I copper cross, . 15 feet liigh { from medallioned base to. summit. Approaching; by Heaton Street, the effect is very fine. The two fiont towers rise to 115 feet, and flank a "facade" of striking beauty, the effect being enhanced- by the wideband handsome flight of steps and landings, leading up to the floor level, 9ft Cin. above the footpath. Between the towers, 'which will be completed by. j the addition of a dome to each, the great central dome stands out. The -wide spreading transepts further enhance the' effect, and the magnificent proportions, perfect- unity and balance, all in classically finished Roman Renaissance, lonic order for detailing of the lower . portions, and Corinthian order abovej produce the sensation, not merely of pleasure, hut of a mind strengthened, and.- surrounded by artistic grandeur. There -'s a magnificent lonic portico over the front entrance. It is supported by four turned stone columns of the order named, resting on large pedestals of solid, concrete. Th» tympanjm of this portico is to be shortlv decorated with a pattern in Mosaic, symbolical of til© Sacred Heart, after" which the new building, in keeping -frith tha traditions of ihe parish, and the -wishes of the priests and people, is nanwd.

Thay are of square structure, and each, with a base measurement of 23 feet, is carried up to a height of 70 feet, and terminates in heavy aroh r piers, from which springs the base of the oetagonvslmped campaniles. These will bp used as belfries, and by the lofty position of tho louvres, and surrounding siJaoe, the proposed .sefr'of ! bells, semi-octave, shonl(l be heard at a i ocnsiderable distance. I The masonry of the campaniles Will, 'be 25 feet high, ' surmounted by pinnacles, (j feet Jiigh .at''eabii corn-frr aftue octagon; 2f* feet from-this will rtaeh the top of tho cross on the surmounting domes. [ - GENERAL. ,

The walls are. of great strength, and have a boncreto heart, embedded in brioii, wMchvhas been sparingly 'used, with stone for the -salient' points, windows and gables; -ft'lie building excels in all those qualities of elegance and grace which-depend upon tho; nice adjustment and masterly execution of details. To give an. idea of the stability of 7 the 'Work, and its inassiveiiess, one has hut to look -at the thickness of the walla an shown m the reveal* of the windows. It may be stated that it is about the heaviest structure erected in Canterbury, and so' far no traces of unequal settlement are noticeable. The foundations and hanging reinforced floors are the only places where concrete is visible ,though over £I9OO lias been _ spent in cement alone, a great quantity of it being used in hearting the-walls. The building'is roofed with Marseilles tyles,. which with the white stone and pressed brick facing!?, complete tho «-'olou T * scheme of the .exterior, and produoe a blending and sharpness of outline that feast the ! artistic eye. ... THE INTERIOR. MAIN BODY. Tii© interior of the. church is in keeping with the anticipations raised by the external examination of the building. The great aisle, wide- and lofty, without a break in its length, terminates at the semi-dome, the transepts as they open out to right and left giving a still greater impression of size and nobleness. The ceilings are deeply coffered, and are artistically worked out in a colour scheme of green, cream, and brown tints, the combination having a pleasing and chasfc effect. The inner dome, as before istated, is the foundation in tho composition of the interior design, and uotv finished, decorated, and resting on pendentives, gives size and dignity to the centre -without interrupting tho v:sta of the aisles. The zinc, used in the ceilings and spacious inner dome is heavily gauged and embossed in patterns.

PLAN. T!h» plan of tho building is cruciform. the hall mark of the Christian Basilica, the designer cleverly getting over the supporting column 'difficulty with the unique single, instead of the usual three aisles. The interior will, when completed he elegantly detailed on the eolumnal-fenestrated orincinle. The total length is 160 ft x ■JfH't. and the cross arms of trancepts 100 ft x 40ft, the latter alone being larger than any similar building in Timaru. CENTRAL DOME. At the intersection of the crossing aisles, supported by massive lonic stone columns, and buttressed by the external walls, is erected the large internal dome . rising to a height of 70ft. from ' the floor, and over the dome rises the cupola. The inner doma is the. principal t feature in the internal design. This inner dome is the largest in the Dominion', and from an architectural point of view is an. enduring monument of the talent and professional knowledge of its designer, and of the finished workmanship of all connected with its erection. Looking from tlie floor below it is seen to bo pierced with 16 stained glass windows, and abova these is a canopy terminating in a very large central pendant, From which will be suspended an eighb-light-electrolier. The immediate support of with a corresponding number of the cupola is a. square tower-like .structure, resting upon the pillars before mentioned. It is fenestrated by 2(J windows, which light the lantern within, and J*3 capped by an elaborate aiid' heavily projecting Corinthian entablature, the height being the Mime as the two front towers. Tho copper dome, ,40ft. in diameter at the bu.so, and 95 feet above the floor, rests on a circular ferro-conerete base, superimposed on the supporting wall?. There is a walk round the base from .which the whole town lies at the feet of tlie ouloolcer- From it the horizon <-an ho J seen _ over every pinnacle and chimney 'top in the town, and with powerful glasses Temuka and Geraldine can be seen and recognised. Looking close round, the Priory and the great pile of the Convent buildings appear small, and of tho earth, earthly in comparison, and the hills and hollows on which tibe town is built, as it- were., hist l their abruptness. and mellow out into | straight and less abrupt slows. The | panoramic view-point is readied by circular concrete steps and straight flights, and the Per. Father hns thrown it open to tlie general rmhlio at cm'tabV I hours. FLANKING TCWEPS. These are most ornately desirnrd, and the fenestration is a mastem.'ece.

SANCTUABY. . Though the body of the church is r'chly it easily yields pride of ( place to the' sanctuary for grace and 'elaborateness of design. . Behind the space reserved for; the h'gli altar, ranges a semi-circular colonnade of thirteen richly carved lonic columns, pilasters above, backed by a (happy scheme of fenestration, all terminating in a beautiful central dome which clueflv springs -from the interior of the apsical roof. The floor is richly designed in "English tiles, which material , will be u»ud for passages and porches. „ THE HIGH ALTAR. The renaissance design for the High Altar was selected from a large number of designs submitted bv the leading marble works in ' the world. lb will have a circular tabernacle with bronze sliding doors, and noble exposiiton surmounted by an arcade supporting canopy and cross. It is richly carved, and.is a gem of marble work; The baldachino rises directly behind . High Altar, - and .covers and sup. ports the exposition. The altar tabk> wsii be bnrue by carved cherubs, and the side altars will also be of marble, but of less elaborateness. These will j be recessed into the walls. i GENERAL. j The choir gallery will be approached , by a. winding staircase in the southern Tower, partly of concrete, and partly 1 V r lrm }- It : will be 40ft. x 16ft., 2*o test high, with room for choir practice and library room in the opnosite tower. ihe Baptistry within the narthex. and immediately under tile, right tower, has three very fine windows, which will be decorated with appropriate subjects; t wjl} ho tiled, and a handsome I ett-r Head granite baptismal font has been donated, The hells to be installed will ring a full peal, the tenor in the north, and bass in the south tower. An urgan o!' the latest pattern and suitable to the size of the building, is being procured. The pulpit is also in hand. The building wdl be lighted throughout bv electricity. Tlio wiring is now completed, and twenty* richly designed electroliers arc being procured for the eihurch proper. r J he> .sacristy is large and spacious, am like the rcsl of the inside of the building finished with Keen's cement. It. has a zinc ceiling, and is fitted up with two safes, tiled floors, and all t'ho necessary cabinet ware and conveniences. Besides the view noints at the domes, the public can also gain admittance to tli<* space between the two towers, and also to a semi-circular walk above the sanctuary. About one hundred pews are now being made on the works by the joiners, and these by their massive appearance will add to tho ness. of tho interior, and. will provide seating accommodation for 1000 people, and more seats can be added when required. The timber used is kauri IW liite stoi.-e Ui largely used ioside. &tni/

RAPIDLY APPROACHING COMPLETION. AN IMPOSING BUILDING,

the contrast gives the- highly polished Keen s cement & marbl,<Mikc appearance. Tho wipdows, numbering over . 100, will i« glazed temporarily with cathedral glass; later tlip more.desired material will probably'be inserted. STAFK - Tho building /staff now number® thirty hands, plus the workmen of other trades. This is the smallest- i i numbe'f" that has been employed for a. : [long tune, tho usual staff bc-ing' over forty men. ' Doubtless tho .number- em- I ployed: has -helped to keep, the labour market '.steady in Timaru for the past eighteen months. Over £6OOO lias hc-en paid for labour, • and the Rev. Father Tubman, spoalcs in the highest 'terms of the willing work done by all concerned. The work has been executed by day labour,', and the.Rer. Father considers that unjier the superintendence of Mr Moriarty, not» only will tin* building bo completed six months before the anticipated, time, but an appreciable pecuniary saving will be effected. It is worthy of mention that the copper on the central dome -cost over £6oo< and the smaller, domes will be covered vith similar material. The edifice gives Timaru another city-liko impulse; indeed many a' cathedral dees not possess the same qualities, either as to size, proportion, or wealth of detail and finish. In conclusion, the church is being faithfully and truly built, and will be a source of pride, not only to the Catholics, but., to .every resident of South Canterbury, for such a building cannot be hid, but even apart from its religious purpose will be a landmark and show place for the whole district.