COMBINED CHURCH SERVICES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25248, 29 July 1947, Page 2

COMBINED CHURCH SERVICES

> • WELLINGTON PROGRAMME (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 28. A combined Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational Church service was held at Trinity Methodist Church, Wellington South, last evening, and the Newtown Congregational and St. James’ Presbyterian Churches were closed for the evening. “The Congregational, Methodist, and Presbyterian Churches have been negotiating for some time towards a union throughout New Zealand,” said the Rev. W. Elliott, of St. James’ Church, to-day. “We have been making our local contribution towards the spirit of unity.”

Mr Elliott said the first step was taken when the three churches began to exchange ministers at their morning meetings. The first of these was in May and the next will be in November. Three combined evening services were then planned and the first of these was held at Trinity Methodist Church yesterday. The speaker was .he Rev. K. A. Bell, and the combined choirs of the three churches sang under the direction of Mr Oscar Dyer. Next month’s combined service would be held at the Congregational Church and the following month at St. James’ Church. “I do not think there have been such combined services in New Zealand before, said Mr Elliott. “There have been combined services at Christmas and Easter but not an ordinary Sunday night service with the other churches closed.”