There is a great want of suitable designs calculated to meet the tastes
and necessities of those communities whose funds are too limited to
admit of anything approaching to architectural display. Our object,
therefore, in presenting the two which illustrate our remarks, is to
show the way to others to do likewise.
Churches of large dimension and assuming appearance call forth
professional skill, because the expenditure will be commensurate with
the expansive ideas of the wealthy for whose benefit such edifices are
constructed. But a plainer class of erections, as much wanted, should
draw out the efforts of our brethren, if only for the good they may do.
There are few architects who are not subject to the often occurring
claims on their donative services in behalf of poor congregations,
and, we say it with pride, that we have yet to hear of the first
instance of those claims not being promptly attended to by even the
busiest of our brethren. Although it too frequently happens that
their liberality is severely and most thoughtlessly taxed; for there
generally is in every community some spirit too restless to cease
troubling even those whose time is very limited. In a serial like
the ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW there is an opportunity presented to give,
from time to time, sketches and instructions, by which the wants of
the bodies we allude to may be met. The pastor in the backwoods, and
the minister on the prairie, as well as the servant of God who teaches
the poor in our crowded cities, and skill are freely given, not to
them personally, but to the sacred cause they are supposed to have an
interest in. But let that pass.
[Illustration: FIG. 1.]
The illustrated works on Ecclesiastical Architecture, which come from
the press, usually treat of a class of edifices altogether beyond the
reach of the congregations whose means are limited—will each and all be
benefitted by the information given, and a truly good work will thus
be done. The two small churches here presented are now in course of
construction in this city.
The one on the upper part of the page is a Chapel of Ease to the
Calvary Presbyterian Church, now building on Locust street, west of
Fifteenth street.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: TWO DESIGNS FOR SMALL GOTHIC CHURCHES.]
Its dimensions are fifty-seven feet front by ninety feet deep, outside
measurement. It will be two stories high, with gallery.
The first story will be sixteen feet from floor to floor. This is to
be the Lecture Room. The second story will be twenty-five feet at the
walls, and thirty-nine feet to the apex of the ceiling in the centre.
The Gallery will be six feet wide along the sides, circular on front,
and the ends curved at the rear. Its floor will be level.
[Illustration: FIG. 2.]
Besides the Lecture Room, the first floor will contain two class rooms
and the ladies’ parlor. Immediately over the Lecture Room, and of the
same size, will be the Sunday-school Rooms. And over the ladies’ parlor
there will be the Infant School.
On the gallery are three class rooms on the front, two of which are
over the Infant School Room, and one over the eastern stairway. There
are two class rooms in the rear. The walls will be of rubble masonry.
As high as the level of the first floor, and projecting two inches,
with a wash, the exterior will be hammer-dressed. Above that, the
superstructure will be all laid broken range, pointed off, except the
rear wall, which will be rubble with rock face. The whole will be faced
with Trenton Brown Stone.
All the dressings of the doors, windows, buttress, caps, cornices,
pinnacle caps, etc., will be distinguished by a finer class of work.
The roof and its dormers will be covered with best Blue Mountain slate,
of medium size, varied with green and red color.
The interior as well as exterior finish will be Gothic in style,
inexpensive yet expressive.
FIG. 1. The plan of the Lecture Room is here shown: A, A, the
entrances, with stairs in each, leading to School Rooms and continuing
to Gallery. B, Ladies’ Parlor. C, the Lecture Room. D, Platform and
desk. E, E, Class-Rooms. F, F, Water-Closets.
FIG. 2. This is the arrangement of the Second story, which contains: G,
the Infant School Room. H, the School Room. J, J, Class Rooms. K, K,
Water Closets.
Fig. 3. L, L, L, the Gallery. M, M, M, Class Rooms in front. M, M,
Class Rooms in rear. It will be seen that, by means of sliding glass
partitions, each floor can be considerably enlarged in accommodation.
There are nine class-rooms, and school room for over six hundred
children. The galleries will hold two hundred and fifty.
The illustration below that of Calvary, is the design of the TRINITY
REFORMED CHURCH, now being erected on the east side of Seventh street,
south of Oxford street, in this city.
It is also Gothic in style, and although smaller than that just
described, will, nevertheless, be a very convenient and tasteful
church, and well suited to the wants of its growing congregation.
[Illustration: FIG. 3.]