50 YEARS AS PRIESTS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24987, 23 September 1946, Page 6

50 YEARS AS PRIESTS

SOLEMN EUCHARIST IN THANKSGIVING

A Solemn Eucharist, arranged by the priests of the Guild of St. Mark, was held in the Christchurch Cathedral on Saturday to mark the ordination jubilees of the Rev. Canon Henry Williams and the Ven. Archdeacon F. N. Taylor. On the jubilee of an occasion when vows were taken, it was fitting to look back and observe how those promises were kept, said the Ven. Archdeacon A. C. T Purchas in his sermon.

On ordination members of the clergy were asked several times during the service to testify that they felt truly called of God to his ministry. Early in the Bible story was the text: “There was a man sent from God.’’ A nation, in choosing its ambassadors for representation in foreign lands, took care to send the most able and loyal of its subjects. In the priesthood nothing less was demanded, since the members were called upon to represent God to men in a ministry of reconciliation.

Of the two who were honoured in this service of thanksgiving it could sincerely be said that they had kept their vows and given distinguished service in the last 50 years. ■ Canon Williams had done great pioneering work in the Halswell district before moving to Wools ton and then to St. Mark’s, Opawa, where he had served so long and had been largely responsible for the establishment of St. Mark’s School. It was for his service as hospital chaplain in the last 16 years, however, that he would be most intimately and gratefully remembered by most citizens. Archdeacon Taylor had brought great gifts of scholarship from the Homeland and for 23 years gave steadfast service in St. Luke’s Church, which still bore the imprint of his ministry. His retirement after a time at Amberley had been broken to come once more to the service of the church, relieving chaplains on war service. All were grateful that both kept good health and had the prospect of many days of happiness ahead.

At a luncheon held in St. Michael’s Schoolroom, later, Archbishop WestWatson, Dean Warren, Messrs S. R. Cuming and R. J. McLaren paid tributes to the two priests. In reply, both said the appreciation expressed increased retrospectively the pleasure they had had in the service of the church.