CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.

Press, Volume XXIV, Issue 3220, 27 December 1875, Page 3

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.

„_.,-.——..-*-. — — ■ ♦ , — CHRXBTMAE, 1875. As is ureal at the annual recurrence of the festival of Christmas, the good old English custom of decorating the various places of worship, and thus evincing outwardly the joy at the anniversary of the glad tidings felt "by Christian people, was almost universally carried ont in tbe various, churches of the city and other parts of the province. This year we may note that those engaged in the work of decoration have relied more for the effects produced upon masses of natural flowers and floral devices rather than illuminated passages, and the'general result from the combination o£ color and the taste evinced in the arrangement of the flowers has been very successful. All who have taken part in the decorations certainly deserve very great credit, and the only regret is that, owing to the materials of which they are composed not being of a lasting nature, they cannot remain longer as a memento of the event which has just been celebrated. It has been usual in former years for most of the churches jot the city to hold vigil services on Christmas .eye, at which, in addition toother music specially arranged sn.it- : able to tlie season, Christmas carols were song.' This year this practice was followed fey three of ; the churches, viz, 8t Michael's, St John's and €t Luke's, the former having choral evensong at half-past seven, and the latter at eleven -o'clock. At the Catholic Ohnrch, which we may note was also very "handsomely decorated, mass was celebrated on Christmas eve, and, as on former occasions, was very largely attended, indeed there was not sufficient room for nearly all who wished to be present. The full details of the decorations and services at the various churches will be found below. Commencing with the town churches, we first have to > notice ST. JOHN'S, LATIMER SQUABE. Aj; thjs church the ladies and gentlemen - of the congregation had evidently taken great pains with the decorations, the greater part of which were executed with natural - flowers, grasses, ferns, &c, having a very pretty effect. The west window was filled in with bouquets and feetoonß of flowers, interspersed with evergreens, ferns, &c. The arches spanning the chufch were also decorated with flowers, evergreens, toi tois, &c, running partially up the pillars. In these floral decorations very good taste had been displayed in the grouping of the different masses of color, so as to make the general -effect very pretty indeed. The font was filled with white lilies, ferns, and evergreens, the foot'being festooned with wreaths of lowers and ferns intermixed. In each of the windows of the church were bouquets of flowers and ferns. The lectern and pulpit were : ornamented with flowers, festooned aronnd them, having bunches of flowers fixed at the corners. The choir stalls were wreathed with white lilies and geraniums, and along the chancel floor was placed a number of pot T>lant»i lent Mr Wm. Wilson. Over the •wooden arch of the chancel was an illuminated text, " Praise the* Lord," and over the table a very beautiful floral crOBS of white lilies and flowers. The services at this church .commenced at 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve, ;when a vigil service was held. There was a very large attendance. The music arranged for this service wsb very,nicely rendered, and was as 'follows :—Processional Hymn No 36, " Q come, O come, Emanuel;" Canticle from King's Evening Service-in F ; Anthem, *' O Thou that tellest •" recitative, solo' and •chorus, from the" Messiah." The following carols were also sung—"Good King Wenceslas " (traditional) ; " Once in Royal David's city" (Dr Gauntlett) ; " It waa the very noon of night " (Barn by) ; "A virgin unspotted" (N. G. Barnett). The recessional was "Christians awake." His Lordship the Primate delivered a short address, mainly touching on the thoughts suggested by the recurrence of the season of Christmas. On Christmas day full choral service was \held, for which the following music was -sung—Processional, ," O come, all ye faithful"; Te Deum (Boyce in A) ; special -anthem, composed by Mr N; G. Barnett, organist of the church, consisting of soprano and baritone solos, and two choruses. Offer--tory sentences were sung during the collection, and the "Hallelujahchorus" following. In connection with this church, we may notice a great improvement which has been effected in connection with the organ. The front pipes have been brought but level with the chancel, the wind being conveyed on from the old round block, with ornamental work from the old organ case; to the front in its new position. The work has been executed very artistically by Mr Farreih, a-newarrival amongst us, from designs by Mt Barnett, the organist, and 'the : manner iri which it has been done is snch as^fo'reflect very great credit upon Mr Fnfrell. "The'organ now only wants the pipes illuminated a little to relieve the bareness how apparent, to render it -complete. - - ' , ST. MICHAEL'S. At this church the usual services >were held, choral evensongvbeing celebrated on Christmas eve, but contrary to usual practice, there were no decorations. ST LUKE'THE EVANGELIST. ' ' The Church of St Luke, the Evangelist presented, on the occasion of'the great -festival of Christendom, a pleasing 5 appearance. -With'materials chiefly culled from the river banks, the shrubbery, and the flower-garden, an ornamentation was j produced evincing alike elegance in .design :and execution. ' * In 'the eastern window, immediately over the-reiedos, a lily cross of lustrous whiteness, with the word "Emmanuel" in white letters-.pn, a. red ground, formed the sole decoration. The chancel screen was festooned with greenery and flowersj above the •chancel *teh was another white" lily cross, supported by two red bannerets bearing sacred symbols, and underneath the inscription, "Now is come salvation and strength." A.floral star pendant from the centre of the arch completed; this portion of the ornamenitation. The coramu uion rails, lectern; and ischeir seats «were wreathed with evergreens -and Jlowers, intermingled with the feathery plumes of, the graceful toi-t;ai' gra*s, ju.a similar ornaments woo mi toolo .Ch*s t» \n i a is -of the pilli-.i-H su.d A nc , ;a „ ciHiiu,!. .«Itchancel fkidr,:«a's citie.-cJ wkh ;. , Aw «-.•'■> < ■ of rich pattern iv crimson oncl >>>. ■■■■ ■-.. j? : front of the coaiiiucrtion miis had X.z*> X. i.-l ajewly cycrshioaed id crimson. " " window bore a transpnxrncy representing a rising star, with the legend, ■ Ji Behold; thy Sing cohietfa." The'western dorjrwayj Was decorated with flowers and ■toi-toi grans, and on either side was a white banner with sacix d symbols worked in green leaves, .The font was "encircled .with evergreens, ferns, and white lilies,' and aronnd the walls of the chorob. was the inscription. worked in green leave?—" Ditto us a child is "born ; unto us "a son is givten ; nod the government .shall bs npon His shoulder ;,'aud his "name shall be called Wonderful,' Counsellor,; The highly" God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace?' ' - ; '••' ' The services commenced-with, evensetss* at eight o'clock on Christmas ..Bye. On Christmas riny there was a choral early celebr'atiou fit 8 a.m. Matin* commenced at 11 n.m. -The service was.' full choral, aad. the sermon ■was preached' by ! -the incumbent. Revß. A. Lingr.id.fruiu Luke. ; if, 14, •', Glory to God in the highest, ami on earth peace anil goodwill toward mciV:" The offertory arnonnt«d to -The incumbent officiated nt aU the services,, and Mr Morshead presided at the organ; •■•'' '-■ ■-'■ ■A-A : HffOtT TRIKITI'. AVOKSIDE. The decorations at this church are simple and effective, having "a very pleasifcg appearance oii -. entering, The new chancel j arch, temporarily closed with boarding, is covered with cloth to the yrhite rock stone of the arch, relieved with tre!ii?ed greenery, having white. Hiics .interspersed. 57f* it he ? grbun3-wbrk •• is a, blue star on silver fbnriing a 'frrfme crescehted and .fringed with greenery, enclosing'the word *■' linmatmei x " in large' letters, and underneath the words " God with us " in. various colors r~ work,"relieved •With lilies, and- greenery, Civer .the sides, raS^ijg As*£ temporary, chancel jsomewhat ffi% tb&i A crQES of wnitelilies rising ¥$$£ liliesand iyj r fills ; the pjchancel, t window. The various

candelabra throughout, the, church are decorated in ivy and white lilies, and the.font is adorned with tendrils of fern and ivy, flowers, &c. ' The desks are ornamented with out flowers, while "Alfelulia," and other texts adorn the walla. The beautiful -corona lucis, suspended in the is an ornament in itself, and on Christmas eve the effect, when the church was lighted np, was exceedingly pleasing. The general work of ornamentation was performed by the ladies of Avonside, the design and work of filling in the ohancel aisle being carried out by Mr Holloway, the churchwardens, and other gentlemen. The services were conducted by the incumbent, the Rev H. Glasson, BA, commencing on Christmas eve with choral evensong at 8 p.m. On Christmas" morning, a choral celebration of the Holy Communion took place at 8 a.m. The service at eleven o'clock was also choral, with the exception of the celebration of the Communion. Evensong at half-past six o'clock closed the series of services, . It. ia intended to hold the usual vigil service on the eve of the new year, at 11.30 p.m. on Friday, 31st inst, when the choir will sing "Days and moments quickly flying," and usher in the new year with a solemn Te Deum of praise. SOMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. At this church High Mass was celebrated on Christmas eve and Christmas day by Father Chareyre. The church was very prettily decorated ! with flowers, evergreens, &c, and added to the solemnity and pomp with which great festivals are celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church, presented a very handsome appeearance. On Christmas eve the Mass in G was performed by the chair, assisted by several ladies and gentlemen, and a very good selection of high class music was sung. On Christmas day also, the usual service was held, which was largely attended. ST JOHN'S, FEKBY BO AD. The decorations at this church are exceed - ingly tasteful. On entering the door the words "Glory to God in the Highest," are placed across the wall immediately opposite the entrance, the words being formed of pink on a white ground, surrounded with'a border of holly leaves, interspersed with flowers of various colors.' The next striking feature is a large star composed of white lilies surrounded with a laurel wreath, these being affixed in the centre of the chancel window!. Immediately underneath are the words "This dp in remembrance of Mc " illuminated in blue and gold, having a frame of holly leaves relieved with scarlet verbenas and geraniums. The chancel is also festooned with greenery and flowers. The lectern and reading desk are festooned with variegated holly and flowers. Outside the chancel the walls bear several tastefully formed frames of evergreensand flowers, havingunderneath the word "Immanuel" on one side and "Alleluia" on the other. The walls of the church aTe tastefully decorated with laurel 'A and toi toi. The space devoted to the choir has on one side a scroll, bearing the words— " Sing nnto* the Lord," surrounded with a holly frame ; the other side, being decorated uniformly with the walls of the church. The font is decorated with very nice taste ; the centTe holds a tree fern, surrounded with cut flowers, and wreathed with Canterbury bells. Canterbury bells, and seeds of the sycamore, strung on twine, are woven round the chandeliers, the; flowers' drooping belllike, having an exceedingly pretty effect. The Most the Primate conducted the service on Christmas day. His Lordship preached an impressive sermon,-taking his text from Psalm 113, v. sto 7. The decorations were carried out by the ladies of the congregation.. The service held, yesterday at this church was conducted by the,Rey Walter Harper, the sermon being preached by the Very Rev the Dean. ' HOLY TBINITY,, LYTTELTQN.. The usual services on Christmas day were held in this church. The decorations of the church were exceedingly rich and effective. The porch, choir, stalls,, and aisle* were decorated with bunches of flax and toi toi, the chandeliers similarly dressed, with the exception of the corona, which was beautifully festooned with koromiko and scarlet gerauiums ; the ornamentation of .the lectern and reading desk was similar; .at the font white lilies predominated.;; The walls of. tbe nave bore the .inscription in laurel leaves V For unto us a child is born, &c." • A novel featare was the decoration of the organ, which bore onits front the sacred -monogram beautifully picked ont in red, white, and green, aud ." Alleluia " in laurel on a white ground, ; with bonquets of choice flowers at every available point. The eauctuary was. more profusely decorated than on former festivals ; the chandelier carried;a.apiendid wreath of lilies ; the superaltar was bordered with flowers and evergreens, and had in the centre a very, handsome floral cross, Over the chancel was the inscription " Glory to God/ &c. The services were quite plain, as On an ordinary day. The work'of decorating the church was carried out by Mrs Gibson,: the Misses Rargreaves, Miss Bunker, the Misses Bayfield, assisted by Dr Rouse, Captain Gibson, and other gentlemen of the congregation. CATHOLIC CHtTBCH, LYTTBLTON. The floral decorations' at' the Catholic Chnrch were as tasteful as last year. High mass was celebrated atmidnightof December 24th, according to custom, ; by Rev Father* Francis before a crowded congregation, and the services on Christmas day were equally well attended*- ' - -.;:.••,':..■: VKAIAPOI. Services were held ort Christinas morning, afternoon, and evening at the Episcopalian Churchy Kaiapoi, by Rev H. E. • Carlyton. The ; interior of the church was prettily decorated with evergreens, flowers, and paper ornamentation in wreaths, monograms, crosses, nnd texts.