HOPES REALISED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 247, 19 October 1933, Page 17

HOPES REALISED.

HAMILTON ANGLICANS ST. PETER'S CATHEDRAL. CONSECRATION ON SUNDAY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. "With the consecration by Archbishop Averill next Sunday of St. Fcter's Cathedral, Hamilton, the visions and hopes of Anglican parishioners for many years in this centre will bo realised. Anglican worship in Hamilton dates from tho time when the early military settlers landed on the river bank on the gunboat Rangiriri in 18G4. At that time an old redoubt existed on tho site of the present Cathedral and it was there, on a rude altar, that the first Communion was celebrated. Ten years later a church was erected on "the church acre," a site in tho business area of Victoria Street, after a fire had destroyed tho building while it was in course of erection. In 18S8 this was either removed or rebuilt just below the site of the present Cathedral and was bounded by the old brick wall still standing. A year previously St. Peter's had been declared free and open. In its uncompleted state tho present building was erected in 1910 and the foundation stone was laid on December 10, 1910, by the Earl of Liverpool, then Governor-General. The installation of a bishop's throne in the church and its elevation to the status of a Cathedral was an important phase of St. Peter's history. It was on April 1, 1923, that Llio Waikato Diocese was established, though tho bishop was not consecrated and enthroned until December 12 of that year.

The Successive Vicars. Archdeacon L. Pritt, who was appointed Archcdeacon of Waikato in 1871, was the first vicar of the parish of Hamilton. An old record describes him as "a man of much individuality, nicety of perception and with a great power of organisation." Upon his death tho Rev. Vieessimus Lush was appointed Archdeacon, and he had charge of tho parish in IBS 2. After an interregnum the Rev. R. Biggs was appointed, and upon his sudden death in IS9O the Rev. 11. D. A. Major succeeded him. Dr. Major is now principal of Ripon Hall, Oxford, and is generally recognised as the leader of the Modernist Movement in tho Church of England.

In 1903 Bishop Neligan instituted the Rev. N. C. W. Radcliffe, of Oxford, to tho parish, and after five years of strenuous and progressive work lie returned to England, and the Rev. E. M. Cowie became vicar in 1908. In 1913, on the resignation of Archdeacon "Willis, who succeeded Archdeacon Lush as Archdeacon of Waikato in 1881, Mr. Cowie was appointed to this honoured position. He resigned the Hamilton incumbency after a wonderful record of service in 1927, and later resigned the archdeaconry. The Rev. G. R. Barnett succeeded him as the first Dean of Hamilton. When in June, 1932, .Mr. Barnett resigned and took up work in England, the bishop assumed charge of the Cathedral parish, and with the assistance of junior clergy has acted as vicar and dean ever since. Bishop's Enthusiasm. A bequest by the late Miss Annie McPherson contributed largely to the realisation of a. completed and consecrated Cathedral, but it is doubtful if the scheme would have readied fruition to-day but for the keen personal interest and indefatigable labours of Bishop Cherringtoii. Even now, the Cathedral is not absolutely completed. In the future it is hoped that the large bell, purchased as a result of the McPlierson bequest, and now installed in the new tower, will lie extended to form a peal of bells, and that a cloc.'i will also be installed.