NEW CHURCH AT BAYFIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 177, 29 July 1898, Page 4

NEW CHURCH AT BAYFIELD.

It is a very.rare:thing that we hear of anyone buying a large.plot of. r ,' ground and erecting thereoU a church, defraying- all the cost, and yet this has been dpUe by Mr R. Hohh^j: Avho has built the very handsome, church known as the Bayfield <r Misi&&ii.> Hall, situated at' the extreme endnfthe Ponsonby district. Mr Hobbs :iof_ .\> many months has seen from the large number of persons noAv. residing In the district that, something" ought .to j' S be done to have a church within '-'A --*V reasonable distance of the residents,:- - and one in which although identified :. with the Methodist Church as far as preachers are concerned, yet- uncon-. trolled by any sect \vhatever, so that persons of air denominations can worship' Avithout' being called upon to pay peAV rents or afiraid of trespassing. in -V the family peAv of somebody else. .Mr. Hobbs is the sole Owner: and trustee Ai:., of the property, and for the. present means" to ■■ control the services. He is . naturally in. sympathy with- . the- Methodist Church and in all pro-. - bability the church Avil ultimately be ' - given to Methodism, yet we under-' stand the gift may not be during Mr Hobbs' lifetime. The church is really - an elegant structure, built to hold; . from 200 to 250 persons. Chair seats; ._ are adopted instead of pews, and ..a" beautiful American organ, will arrive shortly to assist- the service of; -- song. The church is handsomely'; y illuminated ■ with gas, and a beil Avill call from Sabbath to Sabbath:'" the vvorslrppers to join in religious ; services. It is to be opened on Sup- V day next. The preachers are:—Morning, Rev. W. J. Williams; afternoon, .' : Rev. A. Mitchell (praise service); even- _• ing, Rev. H. R. Dewsbury. The open- . ing services Avill be continued by a '-/ conA-ersazione on Wednesday evening. ::Tinext. There will."be music' and ad- -.y dresses on the occasion. The 3rd of -, August- is the very date, 75 years ago, ■-- when the Rev. John Hobbs, father of #■ Mr R. Hobbs, arrived at the Bay of , ,-; Islands with the Rev. Samuel Marsden --- and the Rev. Nathaniel Turner. ■-.::..