MOTHER CHURCH OF CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13740, 23 May 1910, Page 8

MOTHER CHURCH OF CANTERBURY.

CONSECRATION JUBILEE

SERVICES

In commemoration of the jubilee of the consecration of the Church of Holy Trinity at Lyttelton, special services were held yesterday (Trinity Sunday), ami were attended by crowded congregations, which included a number of

very earJy settlers and many representatives of their families, and of those who have nassed away.

The little church is an historic building, possessing an interest peculiarly its own It was tho first etono church built.in Canterbury, if not in New Zealand, and is now the oldest church in the diocese. It was not, however, the first church to be built on the site. The original church, built shortly after the arrival of tho first four ships, and kr\nvn as the Cathedral, "was of a handsonio design by Sir Gilbert Scott. It was a lofty building constructed of timber framing with brick-nogging, but .after standing in an incomplete state for some years, it had to be taken down. The church was originally to have been known as the Church of St. Thomas, and was used as the Cathedral of the diocese, Lyttelton. in those days, ranking ahead of the intnnt settlement of Christchurch in importance. The church was, however, given the name it now bears. Tho present Church of the Holy Trinity was built in 1859, and consecrated on April 10th. 1860, Guided by the experience gained in respect of tho original building, the church was constructed in a very substantial manner of tho familiar red-stone quarried in Lvttclton.

Tho church contains some interesting memorials of the earliest settlers of Canterbury, ami numerous gifts and articles of furniture., which were brought out from England in the first four ships. Among tho latter are two largo and massively : bound Bibles, two large Prayer-books, and several smaller volumes. These are all printed in large, clear type, and, as the inscriptions on tho fly-leaves bear testimony, were presented, before tho ships left England, by Mr Vaux, to "The Church of St. Thomas. Port Lyttelton, New Zealand, August 24th, 1850." They were regularly used in tho church services up till a few years ago, but as their pages were becoming tattered and torn with long service, they were replaced by new volumes.

Other interesting relics in the church are an alms-dish and a set of altar vessels of solid silver, of simple but exquisitely beautifut design, presented m 1850, as is shown by the inscriptions, by the • late Mr Robert Hiehens, a well-known pioneer. In the chancel is a snlendidlv-designed 'corona of brass-work," the gift of the late Mr Martin Heywood, another Canterbury pioneer, who came out in one of the first four shins. The brass candlesticks in tho chancel were presonted by the Rev. Mr Jackson, Bishop-designate of Lyttelton, as the diocese was originally to have been named.

The Church of the Holy Trinity is rich in beautiful niemcrials'of a number of the .pfoneer settlers of Canterbury, among them being three stained glass windows of rich and exquisitely beautiful design. The western 'window, placed in tho church by the Masonic lraternity. is a memorial to the late Dr. Donald, who settled in Lyttelton before the arrival of the first four ships and who took an active and prominent part in" nublk: and church matters in the early days. Tho south .window in the transept was placed there by friends as a memorial to the wife of Dr. Donald; and the east window of the church is in jr.emory of tho late Miss Louisa Andrews, who came out in one of the first foivr ships. The j/resent altar was placed in the church as a memorial of thn Diamond Jubilee of the reign to? tho late Queen Victoria, the baptismal font was built in commemoration of the jubilee of the parish, and the lectern is a memorial to the late Mr H. Alhvright, a notable figure in the public life.of Lyttelton, who represented • hi) constituency in Parliament, and vho was also Mayor of the borough. The organ in tlte church was built under the direction of the 'late Sir I'rederick Gore Ousloy, and was brought out from England in the fifties. It is of beautiful mellow tone, and has never been altered' \j.* enlarged. Tho church 'bell was. a gift of tho Canterbury Association, and was brought out from England in one of first four ships. Kor some timo ,past tho church buildin z has beqn in process of U ins thoroughly renovated and repaired. All defective timbers and portions of tho stonework, which were badly weatherworn after standing for fifty years, bp.ve been renewed, and the'windttw • ills and the steps of the porch have; been replaced with "arkilite." The cuilding has new born restored, and as many gifts have been received and raiuch work given, the cost has been a cry greatly redur-ed, .and the whole of tho expense is expected to be fully covered by the , subscriptions of present and former parishioners. . A special feature of the decorath-e scheme of the church is the work of the Rev. Canon Coatos. who-lias been vicar parish for over nineteen years. Some fifteen years ago he himself carried out the v.-holo of the beautiful decorative painting of the chancel, and at present he is engaged on the completion of his labour of love, and i.s executing a series of fourteen mural paintings on the splays of the church windows, of scenes in tin life of Christ. So far the Rev. Canon Coites has comr.leted five of these, "and the delicate erlour-work and beauty of the designs proves him an artist "of considerable piiilitv.

The service yesterday morning comir.onced with a celebration of the Holy Communion, followed by Matins and Communion, the " celebrant being the Rev. Canon Coatee and the poacher the Rev. AY. Walmsley Scdgwick, vicar of St. Luke's .-arish.'Christchurrh. There was a large attendance, among those present being the . Rev. Canon Jvikhvlos. who iras vicar of the rarish of Holy Trinity when the church ■was built, fifty years ago. The preacher thvelt on the- significance of the Trinity, and in the course of a powerful address referred to the marvellous faith ci the early settler.s. to whose devotion they owed so much. It was a great privilege to be able to -worship in the first church built in Canterbury, every stone y>l which spoke of the love and devotion and couraga of the men who founded the settlement, and who have since .passed away. The preacher concluded with a strong appeal to vhe crntircixation for corporate strength. Thi-re was strength alone in unity, and it was to corporate strength that the early settlers owed all their miccc-s

A children's servir-e ivas hold in the afternoon, and :it eveosone the sernon was preached to a crowded church ov Bhd'-op Julius.