EASTER SERVICES.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13094, 20 April 1908, Page 7

EASTER SERVICES.

The usual Easter services were held in the various ohurches yesterday.

At the Cathedral yesterday the Dean preached in the inorning. The music included selections from, "The Messiah." In tbe evening the Rev. C. W. Carrington preached from the Epistle to Timothy, and in the course of his sermon pointed out that tbe message conveyed by the Festival they were that day celebrating was that life, not death, was at the end. The music included "Worthy is the Lamb," "The Hallelujah Chorus," and "The Trumpet Shall Sound," the latter being sung by Mr J. Hawker. The Cathedral was filled at each service.

At the Roman Catholic Cathedral, Barbadoes street, his Lordship Bishop Grimes celebrated Pontifical High Mass and Pontifical vespers. At the eleven o'clock Mass the Bishop preached on the lessons of tho Festival. Gouinod's Easter Mass was sung by the choir. Tbe -altar and sanctuary were beautifully decorated with flowers and pot plants. At vespers Rev. Father Price preached*on the Resurrection. The Cathedral was filled, with large coaigregations.

At St. Michael's the decorations were, as usual, very beautiful. In the chancel wero 6ome magnificent palm trees, and on the communion table was a in—as of white flowers. I—c front of the pulpit v. s almost covered with white chrysa..._ieniunis. white summer chrysanthemums, and Japanese anemonies, slightly touched out with green. The pillars of the chancel and tbe Pilgrim's Chapel were wreathed with scarlet and" white flowers and greenery, and the baptismal font was covered with a profusion of flowers of all colours. The services commenoed with Holy Communion at 6, 7, and 8 o'clock, the latter being choral (Agutter in B), and after Matins, the Vicar being celebrant, assisted by the Roy. Mr Carrington, the communicants numbering between fivo and six hundred. At Aiatins the Te Deum was sung to •Garrett in D, and tho anthem was, "Blessed is Ho that Cometh in the Name of the Lord, Hosannah in the Highest" (Gounod). Th© Vicar preaui*_, „..__ng for his text, Psalm cxviii, 24: "This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad." At evensong the Magnificat was sung to Garrett in D, and the anthem was: "Break forth into Joy" {Bar_by). The Vicar again preached, from Mark xvi, 3: "Who shall roll away the stone." Th© congregations both morning and evening were very large. At St. Luke's the services throughout the day were well attended. A very large number of communicants were present at the early celebrations, whilst the church was quite full at Matins and Evensong. These latter services wero fully choral, and the beautiful Easter services, with their hymns and anthems of joy and thanksgiving, reflected the feelings of the congregations in their happy The vicar. Rev. W. W. Sedgwick, preached throughout the day, as well as at the children's service, when the beautiful St. Luke's Sunday School's banner was carried in' the procession. The church was very tastefully decorated, the colour .scheme being white and green, which was artisticallj carried out. At St. Matthew's, St. Albans, on Easter Day the communicants numbered 185. The services throughout the day were conspicuous for their heartiness, the singing of the choir being especially good. The music included the anthem "The Strife is O'er" (Bruce Stein). At the close of tho evening service "I Know that M_ Redeemer Liveth" (Messiah) was sung with great feeling by a member of the choir, Miss J. Hamilton. The church was beautifully decorated with a wealth of flowers, the altar decorations being peculiarly tasteful. The building was crowded 'at each service.

At St. Barnabas, Fendalton, on Good Friday there were large' congregations. The offerings, amountirn** to £7 £_ Bd, were divided between. t_ie St. Mary's Home and the Prison Gate Mission*. The Easter services were attended by full congregations, and the services were of a hearty character. The Rev. T. A. Hamilton officiated throughout the day. There were three celebrations of the Holy Communion a total of 226 communicants for the day. The floral decorations were exceedingly beautiful. The ant-hem "Awake Up My Glory" was given by the choir, Miss J. Black being organist. At AlliSaint's, Sumner, services were held on Good Friday at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., "The Story of the Cross" being sung at eaoh service. On Easter Sunday there was a celebration- of the Holy Communion at 7.30 a.m. and the Matins and Evensong, services at' 11 _.m. and 7 p.m. The vicar officiated at all the services. The churoh was prettily decorated with white flowers. At St. Many _ - Roman. Catholic Church, Manchester street, the services were festal in character. The sanctuary and altar were tastefully decorated and appropriate musio was well sung by the choir. At tbe St. Albans Methodist Church there were large congregations at each service. The Rev. John Nixon preached) in the morning and- Rev. W. A. Sinclair in the evening. The church, especially the pulpit and! chancel, was beautifully decorated by Miss Rose Jones with white flowers, palms, The music inclu-died* the anthem "Christ is Risen-" and "Worthy is* the Lamb," and Mr Shirley sung "I know that my Redeemer Livot'h."

At A_hburton, St. Stephen's Church was tastefully decorated and* there were large congregations. The Rev. E. Whitehouse conducted the services At the Catholic Church of tlie Holy Home tho Rev. Father Ahem officiated. Tlie church was tastefully decorated and the services were laraelv attended.