CATHOLIC CHURCH AT NEW BRIGHTON.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14001, 25 March 1911, Page 10

CATHOLIC CHURCH AT NEW BRIGHTON.

FOUNDATION STONE LAID

The foundation stone of the Catholic Church now in course of erection in Londsdale street. New Brighton, was laid yesterday afternoon, by his Lordship Bishop Grimes, who was assisted by Father Price, administrator of the dioofse, Father Hoare and Father Dignnn, assistant priests of St. Mary's, in whoso district the new church will stand. Father Hoare also acted as master of ceremonies, and several acolytes from St. Mary's were in attendance on the Bishop. The new church, which was designed by Messrs S. and A. Luttreil, and is being built by them, will, on completion, prove a very handsome structure. The Gothic design has been followed, and the church will "be mainly constructed in brick and stone, the roof, also Gothic, being built on the open principle. The nave measures 50ft by 27ft, the entranco porch 10ft by 12ft, the sanctuary 17ft by 14ft, and the sacristy 10ft by 12ft. The church has been under construction for three weeks, and already good progress has been made, and it is expected that it will be ready for consecration towards the end of next month. The cost of the whole structure is about £1600. In the cavity below the stone there were placed yesterday, among other articles, copies of "The Press," "Lyttelton Times," and "New Zealand Tablet."

After the solemn ceremonies of blessing the building and laying the stone were concluded, a short address to those present was delivered by Bishop Grimes. The Bishop said that the laying of the stone that day was in the first place due to the zeal and devotedness of the Venerable Dean Ginaty, of St. Mary's. The Dean would have liked to bo present that afternoon, but he was called away to Wolington, and could not get back in time, and it was a great grief for him not to be there. There was another, one also whom all would have liked to see present, one to whoso generosity was due the fact that they were enabled to go on with the work. He referred to Sir George Clifford, who had generously given a donation of £500, which would defray a very large proportion of the total cost* of the new church. Sir George Clifford did not want his name mentioned, but ho consented at length to waive his own personal consideration in the matter, and ho (the speaker) thought it was only right to praise those who acted in a- generous manner to assist in the erection of a building to be used towards the honour and glory of God. The people of the locality would rejoice to see the work dono, for the new church would bring a great blessing not only to thoso instrumental in erecting the church, but also to thoso in the neighbourhood. His Lordship then explained briefly the nature and meaning of the ceremonies connected with the blessing of the church and the laving of the- stone. There was used, he said, the old language of the church which, like her dogmas, was undying. The church was so jealous of preserving her dogmas that she had adopted the Latin language,- which expressed things to-day as they were expressed hundreds of years ago, whereas, as, was well known, modern languages changed a good deal in course of time, and the original meanings of words and phrases were lost. That was one of the reasons why the Catholic Church kept the Latin language for her dogmas and her liturgy, but when she spoke to the people the vernacular tongue was used. His Lordship then explained the ritual followed step by step, and in conclusion, said that the new church would not only be a solid and substantial building, but one which would be •pleasing "to look upon. In the near fnture the church would be completed and dedicated; and the Holy. Sacrifice of the mass would be offered. If it were only offered, once, that would bo quite sufficient reward for erecting such a building;. He was sure all present would unite with him in congratulating the Dean and the priests of St. Marys parish, and at the same time in expressing; their gratitude to the generous donor who had <>ns>T)led fi>« work to be started so quickly. He was also sure that those who wished to bo associated in the grand work would flpsist in due course, and he hoped that all would be snared to be present at the solemn and impressive opening.