SERVICE IN THE SQUARE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25742, 2 March 1949, Page 2

SERVICE IN THE SQUARE

PROPOSED CENTENARY THANKSGIVING

RECOMMENDATIONS OF CHURCH COMMITTEE A recommendation that on Sunday, December 17, 1950, centennial thanksgiving services be held in all churches was made at a meeting of the church sub-committee of the civic centennial committee last evening. The Dean of Christchurch (the Very Rev. A. K. Warren), who presided, reported that, as on July 31, 1856, Queen Victoria, by letters patent, had constituted and defined the Bishopric of Christchurch and in the same letters patent had ordained and constituted the town of Christchurch a city, the Bishop of Christchurch (Archbishop West-Watson) proposed to invite clergy and laity of all denominations, headed by the Mayor and councillors, and representatives of the city, the community, and the province, to attend a service of thanksgiving in Cathedral square on the afternoon of Sunday. December 17. It was possible that an open-air pulpit would be used for the occasion, and that part of the service be held inside the Cathedral. The committee approved of Dean Warren’s proposal, which will be referred to the full civic committee. It was suggested that the representatives of the community be invited to take nart in a procession similar to that held on the day of the laying of the foundation stone of the Cathedral. On that occasion the community was represented by the Volunteer Rifle Corps, the Yeomanry Cavalry, musical societies and choirs, choristers in surplices, school children, ministers of various denominations, members of the synod, subscribers to the Cathedral. the editors of newspapers, the resident architect. the * Cathedral Commission, the staff and fellows of Christ’s College, the Archdeacon of Christchurch, the Bishop of Christchurch. the superintendent of the province. the resident magistrate, the Lyttelton Municipal Council, the Municipal Council of Kaiapoi, the registrar of the Supreme Court, the sheriff, the Judge, the learned professions, the Foresters, the Oddfellows, the fire brigade. and the police. The procession moved off from St. Michael’s Church, and wound its way along Oxford terrace and Cashel street, up Colombo street, to the Cathedral grounds, where the volunteers formed a cordon round the reserved area.