SERVICE IN CATHEDRAL

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30626, 17 December 1964, Page 18

SERVICE IN CATHEDRAL

Anniversary Day Marked The Canterbury settlement was based upon the Church, said the Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt. Rev. A. K. Warren), during a service to mark the 114th anniversary of the arrival of the first Four Ships at Lyttelton. About 300 people attended the service in the Cathedral yesterday.

“The first shipload was bidden farewell in St. Paul’s Cathedral and the second in Westminster Abbey, and it behoves us to remind ourselves of the spirit that brought them here,” he said. The first lesson was read by Mr J. Deans, patron of the Canterbury Pilgrims and Early Settlers’ Association, and the second lesson by Mr E. D. R. Smith, president of the association.

Prominent in the Cathedral during the service was a replica of the flag of the Charlotte Jane’s company. The service was the first of its kind ro be held in Canterbury. Flags were flown in Christchurch yesterday to mark the anniversary. The Charlotte Jane, which carried 151 settlers, arrived first. The Randolph arrived later on the same day and the Sir George Seymour the following day. The Cressey did not arrive until December 27. Flags were flown from the old time-ball station at east Lyttelton yesterday. The senior boatman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board (Mr J. Fellows) hoisted - a red square flag at the south yardarm at 8 a.m. This was once the normal procedure to indicate the arrival of a ship off the heads. The numbers of the Charlotte Jane, N.R.8.H., were hoisted at 10.30 a.m., the time this ship was sighted on December 16, 1850. The signal was lowered at 4.30 p.m. yesterday.