N the last three numbers of the NA- | two have basements entirely above ground, IN TIONAL we have presented views and drawings of six different churches, four of which have just been built or are in progress in this country. Of these four, HICKS - STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BROOKLYN, N. Y., is a new church now in process of erection under the pastoral supervision of REV. T. H. BIRCH, of the New York East Conference. It is to be of brick, with brown stone trimmings, and of the Romanesque order. Its size is seventy-five by fifty-three feet exclusive of the tower, with an arcade in front. The basement floor is but slightly depressed, and the whole interior arrangement is in good taste and very convenient. The walls are to be painted in imitation of brown stone, and the ceiling to be frescoed. The perspective view exhibits the relation of the parts to each other with tolerable effect. On the right may be seen the end of the lecture-room, with the outside entrances thereto, and the large Gothic window in front. The form of the six side windows is also apparent, and the open arcade and magnificent front window are seen on the left. The latter will be more distinctly exhibited in the accompanying front elevation, which we commend to architects as a "study," though some may think the drawing superfluous after the beautiful perspective view previously inserted. But as this is emphatically a "model church," we shall devote more space to its plans and drawings than we did to our favorite "Trinity." The main audience-room, and also the lower floor of the lecture-room, are about three feet above the level of the ground. The front entrance is by an open arcade, from which three doors lead to a vestibule opening into the three aisles. The form of the altar, &c., may be seen by the plan. The main windows are of light stained glass, mixed with ground flint in alternate diamonds. The effect is remarkably pleasant, and the room light and cheerful. The tracery of all the windows (which are of varied and beautiful designs) is of stone. The splendid front window, of which the arcade seems to form a part, is twenty-five feet wide by fifty in height, and is probably the largest Gothic window built of stone in the United States. The Gothic style is maintained throughout the building, the roof being open timbered, with richly molded paneling in wood instead of plaster or frescoed imitations. The roof is collar-braced, fifty-eight feet span, and is divided into six bays, each bay being subdivided into thirty-six panels with bold heavy moldings. The principal timbers are molded, and the whole is finished with polychrome decoration, in harmony with the rich stained glass of the windows. The traceried cornice and spandrils of the roof produce a very fine effect. The wall pieces and braces run down the sides of the windows, and terminate on massive stone corbels about eight feet from the gallery floor. An opening through the moldings of the ridge throughout the entire length of the audience-room leads into a ventilating shaft above, which communicates with the turrets. The ventilation thus obtained is regulated by a trap-door with cords and pulleys conveniently located. The gallery front is tastefully ornamented with long panels, filled with tracery, in which the Tudor rose is introduced; and on the top of the end gallery a running Tudor flower, terminating on each end by an elegant Gothic standard, skillfully protects the elevated floor of the choir. The gallery front, seats, and all the wood-work, excepting the roof, is grained oak, which, together with the deep color of the seat trimmings (port-wine damask) and of the carpets, adds much to the general effect, supporting the air of solidity and durability which characterizes the whole structure. The whole is then tastefully painted, which gives to the interior an elegant, chaste, and finished appearance, The class-rooms (of which there are five) are all on the lower floor of the rear build FRONT ELEVATION. ing, on a level with the main audience- | odist preacher must have other books, and room. They may be entered by two study them too, or he will soon find his doors in front and one in the rear, and by congregations leaving him, and his usetwo doors from the main audience-room, as fulness at an end. We like the idea of shown in the plan. The largest of these church libraries, or libraries for the church rooms (No. 1) is used by the Bible class. and congregation, and hope hereafter to This is ultimately to be converted into a see the experiment fairly tried in the city library, we believe, following a suggestion of Newark and elsewhere. of BISHOP JANES. The gallery is entered in front by two doors opening out of the arcade, as shown in the plans, and by two other doors in the rear, opening out of the lecture-room. The end gallery, commencing on the top of the inner vestibule, is continued back over the arcade through a large or The pastor's "study" will be seen in the most retired and quiet corner, and yet the most convenient of access from the rear of the parsonage. The private entrance may be seen near the "turret stairs," and a door into class-room No. 3 leads directly from the study to the pul-namental Tudor archway to the front winpit. We can conceive of nothing more dow, and is appropriated to the organ and convenient than the arrangement of these choir. class-rooms, and their relation to the main The plan of the lecture-room, and its building, and that "study" is a wide, but relation to the gallery and the room below, happy departure from "the ancient land- will be readily understood by the engravmarks." A Bible, Hymn-Book, and Dis- ing. The large four-light window in the cipline could be carried in the saddle-bags end is thirty feet high, filled with rich fifty years ago; but in these days a Meth-stone tracery and stained glass. The The lecture-room will seat about four hundred and sixty persons, and being N? 1. STAIRS The cheerful and elegant interior, unobstructed by columns and roof is of the same height as the main | abundantly lighted, is every way in keepbuilding, but of a steeper pitch. It is collar-braced, the main timbers being all molded, and the molded paneling continuing up to the ridge beam, so as to give forty-three feet clear height from the floor. The whole ceiling and timbers are grained in imitation of oak; and in the open gables suitable stained - glass windows are inserted, which serve for ventilation, and throw a pleasant light through the massive timber frame-work. ing with the imposing exterior, and eminently adapted to the purposes for which the house has been reared-the enlightened and spiritual worship of the one true and everlasting God. MAIN AUDIENCE-ROOM AND CLASS-ROOMS. built first, has been used by the congregation during the erection of the main building. The organ for the lecture-room may be seen in the accompanying plan. The perspective elevation, given on another page, though a very good one, gives but an imperfect idea of this magnificent structure. The side buttresses, projecting five feet from the walls, and counterbalancing the thrust of the roof, have a very massive appearance, and are in fine contrast with the delicate stone tracery of the windows. The elaborate window and arcade in front are well balanced by the turrets with their crocketed heads and the large blank space of wall adjoining them. The long, slender stone mullions throughout all the windows (there being no transoms except in the end window of the lecture - room) well sustain the vertical feature of Gothic architecture. There is a simplicity and majesty about the whole exterior that we much admire. On the whole, though we have spoken strongly in favor of other churches brought to view in these articles, and some of them are very superior, we cannot resist the conviction that, taking everything into the account-size, material, architecture, arrangement, and workmanship-this is the best Methodist Church America, if |