NEW CHURCH.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18552, 30 November 1925, Page 4

NEW CHURCH.

FOUNDATION STONE LAID. LINWOOD PRESBYTERIANISM. An excellent site has been secured for St. George's Presbyterian Church, Limvood, the foundation stone of which was laid on Saturday afternoon. The building is being constructed at .the north-east corner of the intersection of Gloucester street , and Linwood avenue, and the main door will face the former thoroughfare. Already the walls arc up several feet, andjihe coiK tractors, Messrs Rennell Brothers, hope to finish the church about the end of March. The materials being utilised, are brick and Oamaru stone, while the open roof will be constructed in Oregon and will be elaborate in design. The Gothic style of architecture will be followed in building the church, which will be €0 feet by'so feet and will have two choir vestries 16 feet by 11 and an entrance porch. Wfcfcn completed it will sea.t about 300 people. Jl r Roy Lovell-Smith prepared the plans. The new church was made necessary by the growth of ijhe Sunday school and Bible classes, which are held in St. George's Hall, where the church services have also been held. Thero was a large attendance at the ceremony of laying the foundation/ stone, those present including many visiting clergy? On the platform were tho Revs. J. V. Jacobeon, minister of St. George's, who presided; J. Kilpatrick. Moderator of the General Assembly; W. Rower-Black, ]?. Rule, and 11. M. Ayburn, Mr J. K. Archer .(Mayor of Christchurch") and Mrs Archer, Mrs D. Morrow, and Messrs J. Tennent, J. T. Caldow, B. Rennell, and R. Lovell-Smith. An apology for absence was received from the Rev. Brian Kiiroy, Moderator of the Christcliurch Presbytery. A short religious service was held.

Address by Moderator. The Rev. J. Kilnatrick said the erection of the church marked a new development in the district. He referred to the early history of the Presbyterian Church, and recalled the demand for a free Parliament in the reign of Charles 11., and the triumph of the C'ameronians. After th© disruption of the Church in Scotland, one of the difficulties to be faced was that of obtaining sites for churches, and the people were forced to hold services sometimes in caves. In tho case of one district, the Presbyterians had had a church built on a'keel like a. boat iii Glasgow, and towed along the coast to a convenient site. They then proceeded to service in row-boats. On behalf of the Presbyterian* Church of "Sew Zealand, he expressed tho hope that the Linwood congregation would meet with success in building and paving for the church. It would, he felt sure, bo a great factor in the birth of new souls. Citizens' Greeting. The Mayor, Mr J. K. Archer, brought greetings from the citizens of Christchurch and the other churches. They were agreed that it'was a great gain to have another church added to "the Cit" The day had gone past, he said, for postering a feeling that the prosperity of one church worked detrimentally to others. At one period in the history of th© Presbyterian Church its members and adherents very nearly .became Baptists, which would" have been, a very satisfactory development '.for the Baptist .Church. The church was being built in a very important

street in a very important suburb. He was pleased to see that it was beingconstructed of lasting materials. In th© newspapers they read a good deal of criticism of the* Church and the expression of misgivings* a* to its future, but Christianity would la*t as long as the human race, and was as indestructible as the universe itself. If he might, without impertinence, speak for the other churches, he would wish them success in their enterprise. Laying the Stono. Mrs David Morrow, who is the mother-in-law of the Rev. J. V. Jacobson, was then presented, with a silver trowel by Mr Caldow, one of the elders of the church. The foundation 6tone was placed in position, and she declared it well and truly laid. ___-- A record of the history of the church was placed in & cavity in the wall immediately under the stone. The chairman intimated that t,ho building fund amonuted to £ol2, A sympathiser had promised to givo the last £lO of £IOO raised at the ceremony. The contract prico of the church was £2440. and the offertory had amounted to £73 7s 7d. The builders had promised to give a baptismal font in stone. He thanked all those who had assisted with the ceremony. Afternoon tea was then dispensed in St. George's Hall.