Renovation of St. Peter's Church, Bainbridge, NY 1877

Renovation of St. Peter's Episcopal Church

Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY

Bainbridge Republican, June 21, 1877

 

During the past six weeks the interior of this church has been completely renovated.  The walls and ceiling have been neatly painted and frescoed, the wainscoting newly painted and grained to correspond with the chestnut wood work of the church.  The pews, which were formerly arranged in an old fashioned and inconvenient way, with only two aisles, one on either side of the nave, have been taken up, thoroughly cleansed, and nicely varnished, and put down so as to form a broad aisle in the center, with one on either side next the wall; thus adding very much both to the looks and convenience of the interior of the building.  The frescoing is of a particularly neat and tasty pattern.  The dome and concave sides between the ceiling and side walls being handsomely paneled in very light blue.  Over the organ is the appropriate text, "Praise ye the Lord."  In illuminated text, and over the Chancel window is the text, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever"--in the same style of lettering.  All the chancel furniture has been newly varnished which adds very much to its appearance.  owing to the indefatigable efforts of the ladies of the parish, the carpets have all been taken up, thoroughly cleaned and made to look almost new, so nicely do they appear on the floor.  In fact the whole interior of the church has been completely changed, and that, too, for the better; and all that is lacking to make the whole building appear as nicely as any church in the valley, are two pairs of nice stone steps in the front of the church, which, it is hoped, will soon be obtained, for the present ones look very badly indeed, and should be replaced by handsome ones as soon as possible.  As the ladies did so much towards improving the interior of the church, it is hoped the gentlemen will not be behindhand in improving the exterior, and so begin at once by removing the old steps which are an eyesore to every one on entering the church and place nice new ones in their stead.  When that is done the church building will no longer be a dishonor to God nor a disgrace to those who worship in it; on the contrary it will be an honor to the One, and a credit to the other, and more especially so as all the improvements made so far have been paid for with, the exception, probably, of about fifty dollars; certainly not more than that.  It is but due to the ladies of the parish to say, that most of the money which has gone to defray the expenses of these great and beneficial improvements mentioned above, was made through their earnest efforts, for which may the good Lord reward them.