PROPOSED NEW CHURCH FOR CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume X, Issue 498, 27 October 1882, Page 11

PROPOSED NEW CHURCH FOR CHRISTCHURCH.

A proposal has for some time been in consideration to construct a new church in Christchurch, and as the plans, etc., are now sufficiently matured to enable a judgment of the building to be formed, I take this opportunity of giving the readers of the Tablet as clear a description of the various features of the church as space and present data will admit. The period of Gothic architecture selected is that known as the Early Decorated, which belongs more especially to the later portion of the 14tb century. This style has been chosen as best adapted to the requirements and materials at hand, not forgetting an occasional shock of earthquake to be provided against, and although it is sot quite so rich in effect as the later Continental style chosen for the Dunedin cathedral, yet the general impression is, if anything, more majestic, and it is certainly more suitable for a flat 6ice. The whole church will stand on a platform in the shape of a parallelogram, with an octagonal end, and accessible by means of stone-faced steps on all its sides. This platform will have an entire length oi 240 feet, with a breadth of 150 feet, and a height from the street level of 4 feet, constructed almost entirely of concrete, with' stone facings to the steps. The object of this system of construction is not only to raise the entire building well above the street level, but also to give the foundations an additional means of strength. The east end of the nave will face the street line at a sufficient distance back to give a clear view of the nave gable from the main entrance gates. The general dimensions and form of the church will be as follows :— Nave divided into seven bays of a total length of 105 feet with two aisles, each 15 feet wide. The height of the nave to the top of the clerestory walls will be 60 feet from the street level, and to the point of the gable will be 80 feet. The aisle walls will have a clear height of 26 feet ; there will be two transepts, each 32 feet long and of similar height an«J breadth to the nave, and in their centre j£|l rise, on four piers of clustered columns, spanned by moulded arches, a tower 28 feet square, with a height from the street level to the spring of the spire of 132 feet. The epire will be four-sided, constructed of strong timber framing, and covered with lead, decorated with bands of embossed and gilt copper, making the whole height of tower and spire together from street level 222 feet. The sanctuary will be constructed with an octagonal apse, having a total length of 40 feet, and a breadth <-' 30 feet, and of equal height with the nave At either side of the •'uuary, and immediately facing the aisles, will be two side-cbapel-, each 15 feet by 20 feet. The west end of tht. nave will be crossed by two wings, or lesser traaeepts, projecting 15 feet beyoHd the aisle walls on either side. This portion of the building will contain, on the level of the nave floor, two internal entrance porches, 15 feet by 20 feet, the baptistery 20 feet by 30 feet, cloak- roam and a registration office, each 15 by 20 feet. On a floor, 24 feet from nave floor, will be the or^au loft, 20 feet by 60 feet, choir library, 20 feet by 15 feet, and archives room, 20 feet by 15 feet,

The exact position and dimensions of the sacristies, etc., are not yet determined on. The general external view of the church from the street may be described as follows : The nave gable which will be brought over the organ loft will form the central feature, and the wall trap porting it will be strengthened on either side by aa octagonal turret, strongly buttressed, richly decorated, and terminating with crocketed and moulded pinacles. W ithin each of these turrets will be a bell for minor purposes. Between the two turrets will be constructed a richly-moalded and carved pointed arch rising well into the gable and carried on capped and clustered colnmnal jambs. The entire height from point o£ arch to street level, will be 68 feet, and about one half of this height within the arch will be occupied by the great east window, consisting of a stone tracery rose, developed in quartrefoil and trefoil, from Hexagonal base, and carried on six tracery headed lancets. (Concluded in our next.)