ANNIVERSARY OF CHURCH

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28690, 13 September 1958, Page 4

ANNIVERSARY OF CHURCH

Renovations For

Festivities

St. David’s. Presbyterian church in Hornby is 50 years old this year, and the anniversary celebrations will be held at Labour week-end. Renovations to the church are being carried out now so that it will have a new look in time for the festivities.

Like most of the older churches it is a wooden building with dark-stained lining. But now the walls are being painted primrose and pink, the floor is being sanded and varnished in a light colour, and modern heating will be installed.

A ntunber of the furnishings are gifts from members of the congregation. These include lights, a roll of royal blue caipet with a gold fleur-de-lis design, blue wall hangings and chairs for the choir.

The minister (the Rev. H. S. Manson) said yesterday that very shortly the problem of accommodation would have to be tackled. As it was now, all the available floor space was taken up with extra chairs. The church could not be added to at the back either, because 33 feet of road frontage would be taken soon when the road was widened. Sunday School Hall

The Sunday School hall, which was originally a billiards saloon in Sockburn, is also quite inadequate and will probably be rebuilt shortly. Hornby is now a big industrial area with four large factories and a freezing works, and there have been two or three housing areas developed. A new school is planned by the Education Bbard. Much larger facilities are obviously needed. On the Saturday afternoon of Labour week-end, a garden party and children’s sports gathering will be held. As there are a few of the original members of the congregation throughout New Zealand, it is hoped that some will be present. In the evening, a concert will be held. Among the items will be brief reminiscences of the church and district from older members of the church. On Sunday there will be two festival services and a Bible Class reunion in the afternoon.