CHRISTMAS SERVICES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 61, 23 December 1935, Page 6

CHRISTMAS SERVICES.

HELD IN ASHBURTON CHURCHES. CAROLS AND. ANTHEMS SUNG. Special Christmas services were held at Ashburton churches yesterday, carols and programmes of Christmas music being sung. In addition carolling was carried out by four parties of the Ashburton Silver Band in the Borough, and by the Salvation Army Band in the country districts. At. the morning and evening services at the Baring Square Methodist Church Mesdames W. R. Featlierston, A. A. Black and Miss M. Brown took .solo parts in the anthem, while carols were also sung. Members of the combined Bible classes presented tho “Christmas Biblical Playette” in the afternoon, aftei\ which the Sunday School prizes won during the year were presented by tho Rev. G. B. Hinton. The choir, under Mr H. A. Humphreys, presented its annual Christmas musical festival after the evening service, giving the following items: Anthem, “The Brightness of Thy Glory,” “There were Shepherds,” and “Christians, Awake ; carols, “The Star of Bethlehem” (Miss Nancy Bishop, soloist), “The Fiist Nowell,” “Ring Out O Bells” and “While Shepherds "Watched”; chorus, “And tho Glory,” “Hallelujah Chorus (solos, Mrs W. R. Featlierston, Miss 0. Watts, Messrs W. Hosking and G. Warriner). Maunder’s cantata “Bethlehem” was presented by the St. Stephen’s Chinch choir last night under Mr J. C. Thompson, conductor and organist. Iho soloists were Mesdames E. M. Gabites and A. T. Smith, Miss L. Acton and Mr S. M. Cassidy. The cantata was interspersed with carols. There was a large congregation. Special Christmas services were held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, when the Rev. R. S. Watson gave appropriate addresses, speaking to the children on “Santa Claus” in the morning. Members of the choir attended at Tuarangi Home for the month y service in the afternoon, when Mr Watson expressed thanks to Miss Gates and Mrs Wilson for their help in these services. All inmate of the Home, in reply, expressed the appreciation of his fellows lor the services. Miss Winnie Bruce sang the anthem “Jerusalem” at the evening service. Special carols wero sung by the chon at the morning and evening services m the Ashburton Baptist Church, l’heie wero large attendances and appropriate messages wero delivered from the pulpit! Children of tho primary department of the Sunday School were entertained to Christmas tree on Saturday afternoon, when each child received a Christmas present. A combined service was held by the Ashburton South Presbyterian and Tinwald Methodist Churches at the Tinwald Town Hall last evening. The Bev. D. I) MncLachlan preached to a very large congregation. Presbyterian choirs from Tinwald, Lagmhor, and Flemington attended, and anthems and carols were sung. Solo parts were taken by Mesdames D. Shaw, Roffey, Miss Jean Taylor and Mr J. Taylor.