NEW BAPTIST CHURCH

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30007, 17 December 1962, Page 15

NEW BAPTIST CHURCH

Dedication At Wainoni The new Wainoni Baptist Church, on the corner of Wainoni and Breezes roads, which was dedicated yesterdi.y. could not quite seat all those who attended the serv ice. About 200 were present. of whom a dozen had to stand Persons gathered outside the church just before 3 p.m for a short ceremony in which the key was handed over by a representative of the builder. J L Calder. Ltd., and two Bibles were presented to the firm's foremen in appreciation of their supervision of the building Many persons took photographs to commemorate the occasion. The service of dedication began with the reading of letters of greeting from the Rev 1. A. North, secretary of the Baptist Union, and Mr R. E Giensor. secretary of the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church The Rev G F. Coombes. chairman of the Canterbury Baptist Association, traced the history of the building of the church, in which God's guidance had been seen, he said At one stage, when the plans had been drawn the Christchurch City Council seemed bent on delaying the issue of a building permit, he said, but it had suddenly capitulated. revealing once again Gods guidance and overruling After a reading from Scripture by the Rev E. T Jones, and an anthem. “To God Be The Glory." by the 10-voice choir, the church's pastor, the Rev R M Upton, preached the first sermon in the new church, and then said the prayer of dedication. Gift Of £4OO

The church is the first Baptist church in Christchurch to benefit from the Legion of Donors, a society of wellwishers of the Baptist Church throughout New Zeeland who contribute £ 1 a head three times a year to enable gifts to be made to new churches A gift of £4OO from this source, and other gifts and contributions from the congregation, were dedicated by Mr Upton The church, built of stone blocks, with a concrete floor, is of modern design, and has a good deal of natural wood panelling in the interior construction. It is decorated in pastel shades of lime. pink, and blue Earlier. . the Canterbury Baptist Association bought more than half an acre of land, with an old house, of a total value of £3300 to establish the church in Wainoni This is in line with the association’s new policy of giving a freehold property, adequate for a church hall, and manse to new causes The building opened yesterday will be used as a church, and as a hall when a church proper is built. The old house is being used in the meantime as a Sunday school.