CHURCH SERVICE BROADCASTS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25282, 6 September 1947, Page 8

CHURCH SERVICE BROADCASTS

OPINIONS ABOUT VALUE INTEREST OF COUNTRY LISTENERS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, September 5. “I have seen a letter from a very high dignity of the Church in Britain written to a churchman in New Zealand saying that he regarded the 8.8. C. church service broadcasts as the only hope of bringing the church’s message home to the people,’* said the Director of Broadcasting (Professor James Shelley), commenting on a statement by the Bishop of Waikato (Bishop Cherrington). The Bishop, at the Dominion conference of the Church of England Men’s Society in Auckland, said: “I don’t think church services over the wireless do any good, and I don’t think addresses over the radio do any good. People turn off tije station to listen to dance music.” He knew from correspondence and personal contacts that church services were listened to by quite a number of persons. Professor Shelley said. Broadcast services were specially needed by sick persons, and by those who could not- get to church, such as people in remote country districts. “I know from direct evidence,” continued the Professor, “that a number of people not only listen to church services, but also select particular denominations and special churches in other towns. Obviously such broadcaste must mean something to them. I do not think that as far as listening to the broadcasts of church services are concerned, many church dignitaries will agree with the Bishop of Waikato, but of course it is all a matter of proportion.” __________