ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 220, 17 September 1930, Page 8

ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

THE 77TH ANNIVERSARY. CELEBRATION ON SUNDAY. The second oldest church in Auckland, St. Matthew's, will be celebrating its 77th anniversary next Sunday and Monday. St. Paul's Church is the oldest in Auckland, being practically contemporaneous, though it is now, on a site far removed from the original one. St. Matthew's dates from. 1843, having been established in the third year of the city's existence. The parish", was fortunate in receiving an early legacy that accumulated for a number of years and eventually permitted the building of the .fine stone church at the corner of Welloslcy and Hobso'n Streets—one of the most successful church buildings in the Dominion. Under the present vicar, the v Rev. C. H. Grant Cowen, the church has always maintained a prominent place in civic affairs, as befits a "city church," and has made its influence for good felt in many movements affecting the welfare of the community. This year the celebrations include special services throughout Sunday next, and a re-union of parishioners and fcld ■friends in the Parish Hall on the Monday. At the evening service on Sunday; the choir will bo augmented by an orchestra. . An interesting gathering should be the flower service for children at 3 p.m. on Sunday. After the service the flowers will bo taken to the hospital for. distribution to the patients.