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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 228, 28 November 1866, Page 3

Clergy i n Surplices. The Officiating Minister of the District. The Eishop of New Zealand. Mrs. Blundell. On reaching the stone, an appropriate service was read, the large congregation joining with heartfelt zeal and devotion in the responses. At the rear of the stone was a beautiful triumphal arch, with the inscription, " The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof," worked in leaves and flowers. At the south of the stone was a raised dais, which was oocupied by the Primate and clergy, together with Mrs. Blundell, the church choir, and the harmonium, at which Miss Blundell presided. The ceremony of signing the parchment being completed, it was then read by the Hon. N. G. Morse, Chairman of the Building Committee. " "Waimea West, Kelson, N.Z. On the 24th day of November, in the year of' our Lord one thonsand eight hundred and sixty- six, this foundation stone was laid by Mrs. Blundell, in the presence of the Right Rev. Dr. Selwyn, Primate of New Zealand, the Rev. Arthur Towgood (officiating minister), the churchwardens, and others. This church is to replace and be called by the same name as the present Parish Church of St. Michaels, now from its age in a state of decay. The building expenses will be defrayed by the members of the Church of England resident in the parish, aided by contributions forwarded from other parts of New Zealand. England, and India, by friends of the late Captain Francis H. Blundell, to whose memory it is proposed to erect this building, as a tribute of respect and gratitude for religious ministrations, gratuitously and faithfully rendered in this district for a period of fourteen years. Signed by The Right Rev. Lord Bishop of New Zealand Rev. A. Towgood, Officiating Minister of tho District Rev. G. IT. Johnstone, Commissary of the Pro, vince of Nelson Rev. F. Tripp, Incumbent of the Waitneas Rev. W. D. Lewis Hon. Colonel Richmond, C.B. Mrs. Blundell Lady Monro Mrs. Morse Sir David Monro \ • W. Higgin / Thomas Price > Building Committee Francis J. Blundell ( K. G, Morse, Chairman ] Thomas Brunner, Architect William Hastilow, Contractor R. Morris, Foreman." The parchment, together with other documents, and a lew coins of the present reign, -were placed in a bottle, and inserted in a cavity in the stone, which was then lowered into its place ; and Mrs. Blundell, pronouncing the words, "In the faith of Jesus Christ, we place this foundation-stone in the' name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost," took the silver trowel, kindly lent by the Masonic Lodge, and laid, the first stone of Michael's Church. Before concluding the service, the Bishop, with a depth of feeling which was highly appreciated by all who heard him. introduced the last clause of the prayer for the Church Militant, commencing with the words. "We bless Thy holy name for all Thy servants departed this life in Thy faith and fear." Nothing could have been more appropriate than this indirect allusion to the circumstances under which the building of this church had been undertaken. Thus ended an exciting yet pleasing scene, each one wing with the other to make the most of an occasion of such vast importance to the future welfare of the church in this district. The plans of the new building which had been generously presented to the Building Committee by T. Brunner, Esq., were on the ground, and were the subject of general admiration. Stoke, Richmond, Spring Grove, and Wakefield, together with the City of Nelson, contributed their share of visitors, who expressed their hearty good wishes that the work so auspiciously commencod might be brought to a successful termination. After the conclusion of the ceremony, a tea party was held at the Village School-room, open to all the children of the district. Cricket and other game 9 were kept up until dark, when the party broke up, each one well satisfied with the manner in which the afternoon had been spent.

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