KNOX CHURCH

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 213, 8 September 1899, Page 2

KNOX CHURCH

THE DEDICATION SERVICE. Last evening the dedicatory service of the new Knox Presbyterian Church, Parnell, was held in the church, which is a beautiful edifice, and a real ornament to Parnell. The church occupies a splendid position on the crown of Parnell, near the Domain, and it has been constructed with an eye to beauty as well as convenience and comfort for the worshippers. The church was crowded to the doors, and much admiration was bestowed on the handsome appearance of the interior of the building. The Presbyterian ministers present were: The Moderator of the Assembly (the Rev. D. J. Steele, M.A.), the Revs. Hugh Kelly (minister of Knox Church), J. Milne, R. F. Macnicol, R. I Sommerville, Thos. Norrie, Mac Donald, and R. Ferguson. Other denominations were also represented. The service opened with the singing of the "Old Hundreth," and the lessons were read by the Revs. R. Ferguson and Thos. Norrie. The "Te Deum" was sung by the choir (which was a very large one.) and congregation. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the Rev. D. J. Steele, Moderator of the Assembly, who took as his text the words: "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house .of the Lord all the days of my life, ■to behold the beauty of the Lord to

inquire in his temple." In the course of an eloquent address he said that they should dwell "always in that state of moral beauty and blessedness which consisted in heart and mind being in harmony Avith the will of God; and they should inquire of themselves whether their lives were all that they should be—honest, pure, and unselfish. To inquire into the beauty of the Lord they must inquire into and amend their lives and seek to live better. On concluding his sermon Mr Steele said: "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Great King and Head of the Church, we now humbly and solemnly dedicate this house to the worship and glory of Almighty God." The Rev. H. Kelly then offered up the prayer of dedication. The congregation sang the dedication hymn "Be with us, Gracious Lord, to-day." The choir then sang the anthem "The Heavens are Telling," the opening recitative "In Splendour Bright" being taken by Mr Trenwith. Mr F. J. Bennett acted very efficiently as organist. The offertory resulted in the sum of £34 3/ being taken. The opening services in the new church will take place next Sunday, and Avill be conducted by the Rev. Hugh Kelly. The design of the church is decorated gothic. From the vestibules, on either side, are passages into the nave. The transepts projecting from the nave are 20ft in Avidth. At the rear of the nave, and with entrance to same, are the vestry and session rooms. The former is 14 by 10 and the latter 28 by 10. The nave is hand-

some and lofty, the height of the walls being- 20ft. A dado, sft higli, of alternate kauri and rimu, placed vertically, Avith a neatly moulded cap, runs round the walls, above which the Avails are panelled with kauri mouldings, filled in betAveen with alternate kauri and rimu. Diagonally above this is a frieze of stop-cham-fered framing in rimu, backed witk kauri and rimu laid horizontally. The roof is a king-post and collar truss, and moulded circular rib resting on a hammer beam, supported by a framed stop-chamfered bracket. The spandrills of the ribs and brackets are filled in with foiled and moulded frets in kauri, Avhich looks Avell against the heavier framing of the roof principals. The roof (35ft from the floor), is very handsomely panelled in between each principal diagonally with kauri and rimu, the centre of each panel containing a foiled and moulded kauri fretwork ventilating centre-piece. Along the front of the nave, and over the vestibules and cloakroom is a gallery AA'ith a pretty front. On the front of the church facing tho harbour is a Aery beautiful stained glass AvindoAV. There is a handsome and roomy pulpit, in rimu and. kauri, Avith a lectern. On the back wall behind the pulpit is a panelled reredos, surmounted by a large rose window, glazed in leadlights. The building will seat 525 persons, and the seats are designed to match the interior of the church. A large organ, to cost close on £400, from Hill and Sons, has been erected by Mr W. T. Wilmette, organ builder, of this city. Provision in the foundations has been made for a toAver, at a cost of £400, in the future. The total cost of the land, buildings, and organ is about £3000, of which onethird has been raised. The opening services, and a bazaar, to be held in March next, will no doubt considerably reduce the amount. Mr Grandison Avas the contractor, and Mr R. W. de Montalk Avas the architect.