ORPHAN HOME CHAPEL.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 53, 3 March 1919, Page 9

ORPHAN HOME CHAPEL.

CONSECRATION CEKEMOWY. HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS. The chapel lately erected at the Orhpan Home, Papatoetoe, was consecrated on Saturday morning by Dr. Averill, Anglican Bishop of Auckland, in the presence of n large number of friends and supporters of the Home. The ceremony was similar to that used at the consecration of a parish church. Outside the chapel door the Bishop received a petition signed by the members of the Orphan Home Trust Board and the members of the ladies' committee of the Home, asking him to consecrate the building. This was read by the honorary treasurer of the board, Mr. Carl ton Hay, and presented to the Bishop by the chairman, Mr. C. J. Tunks. The Bishop, who was accompanied by several clergy, then enj tered the chapel, and after he "had visited the altar, font, and prayer desk in turn, the deed of consecration was read and signed. A short address was then given by the Bishop, who said that a chapel had long been needed at the Homo, and the building now erected there would undoubtedly be of great assistance in shaping the lives of the children. The service ended with a celebration of the Holy Communion. In the afternoon a children's service was held, and the Bishop baptised the infant dauehter of Mr. C. .T. Tunks. The chapel is a simple Gothic building of dark red brick, with facings of white stone. The foundation stone was laid on September 21 last, and the total cost of the work has been £1,200. Almost all the furnishings have, been presented by various friends, including Archdeacon Calder, Archdeacon and Mrs. Evans, of Taranaki, Mr. C. J. Tunks and the scholars of St. Paul - s Sunday School. The font, which is of buff-coloured alabaster, was given by Mrs. C. Kinder, of Remuera, as a memorial to the two principle founders of the Home. Archdeacon Lloyrt and Dr. T. B. Kenderdine. Every effort has been made to prive the chapel an historical interest. The foundation stone was secured by Bishop Neligan, and is a block of yellow Caen stone from the great central tower (the " Bell Harry Tower"! of Canterbury Cathedral. The foundation stones of the chancel were taken from St. John's Collepe. and from the ruins of old St. Thomas' Church, West Tamaki. The steps leading to the font are taken respectively from the ruins of the old missionary printing house at Paihia, Bay of Tslands: from those of Bishop Selwyn's school for Maori girls at Paihia; from the library building at Kerikeri; from the Marsden Cross, and from the summit of Ruatara's Hill (associated with the chief who befriended Samuel Maraden). The top step is made of a tile from Winchester Cathedral.