CATHOLIC CHURCH AT SOUIH DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 3, 4 November 1892, Page 20

CATHOLIC CHURCH AT SOUIH DUNEDIN.

In view of the approaohing bazaar to be held in aid of the building fund of St Patrick's Church at South Dunedin a short description of what the Church will be when finished may possibly interest the readers of the Tablet. Tbe general dimensions of the building are such as not only to meet present requirements, but also to make provision for the future inevitable development of the congregation. The accommodation provided will be as follows :— A semi-cir-cular colonnaded portico 25 feet in diameter, having three doors communicating with an interior porch 25 by 13 ft., over which will be the organ loft, of similar size. On one side of this porch will be tbe Baptistery jencloesd within an iron screen and on the other, the stairway to the organ loft, etc. Four arches each 17 by 9ft. 6in , heng with Cordova leather curtains will give access to the nave and aisles from this porch so that on crowded occasions the curtains may be withdrawn, and the space thrown into the church. The maiu body I of the Church will consist of a nave 80 by 25ft, two aisles each 80 by 12ft. 6in., two side chapels each 9 by 12ft 6i0., and a sanctuary 24 by 24ft., in addition to which there will be two sacristies, each 20 by 12ft.. connected by means of a corridor 25 by 6ft. The general design of the church is on the lines of tbe Roman Basilica, the principal features consisting of largeness of proportion in tbe external outline reserving tbe interior for tbe decorative effects. Viewing the church externally, the two principal features are the semi-circular colonnaded portico, which will be of stone, in the Corinthian order, approached by a flight of eight semi-circular steps, and the central dome, which will rice from an octagonal base of stone and brick, with a colonnade of 18 Corinthean colnmns, each 12 feet high, carrying it up to a total height from the ground level to tbe top of the cross of 89 feet. The dome itself will be 24 feet in diameter, constructed with a wooden frame and covered externally with metal tiles, finished with colonnaded statue canopy and cross of metal. The general finish and decoration will be in Roman renaissance, I treated entirely in the Corinthian order. The arcade dividing the nave from the aisles will consist of five arches, each 16 x 9ft 6in, with decorated and moulded archi volts, and imposts, beaded piers, and on each face of the piers fluted pilasters, supporting a moulded entablature with decorated cornice. Above this again the clere-story walls will be sub-divided into panels between paneled pilasters finished with a moulded course, carrying the decorated corbels of the ceiling beams, the whole rising to a height of 32 feet from the floor level. The ceiling throughout the building will be fiat, subdivided by means of the longitudinal and transverse beamß into coffers, each paneled in wood, well moulded and richly decorated. The interior dome, whicn will be 50 feet from the floor level, will be finished in decorated glasswork. set in iron rib 9, causing a flood of delicately-tinted light to fill all the upper part of the nave and sanctuary. Ultimately, in order to finish this church as it should be, the whole must be treated with colour and gilding, and all the BpandiiU of the arches, the back of tbe altars, the panels of the sanctuary, etc, will have to be finished in fresco paintings, treating of suitable subjects. This in the Basilica takes tbe place of the stained glass so necessary to the finish of the Gothic church. The present contract provides for the construction of tbe carcass of tbe whole of the building except the portico, the inside porch, and the dome.