NEW ANGLICAN CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1105, 19 April 1911, Page 3

NEW ANGLICAN CHURCH.

FOUNDATION STONE LAID AT KARORI. BISHOP WALLIS'S LAST OFFICIAL ACT. Tho last official ceremony to be presided over by the Anglican Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Wallis), prior to taking leave of his diocese, was tho laying of the foundation stone of the new Church of St. Mary's, Karori, a handsome building in concrete, designed after tho medieval Italian school, which is to take the place of the old wooden structure that Ins served the spiritual needs of t/ie parish for the last SG odd years. The ceremonial, despite tho wintry chill of an inhospitable "southerly," wns attended by a largo number of parishioners and friends. There were also in attendance the B'shapElect of Wellington (the Kev. T. H. Sprott), the Von. Archdeacon Kancourr, Archdeacon Harper, the licv. W. Ballachey" (a former incumbent of' tho parish), the Eev. A. L. Ilansell, Vicar of St. Mary's, and other members of the clergy and laity.

Alter the preliminary service, the Vicar (the Rev. A. L. Hansell) handed to the Bishop a souvenir trowel of tasteful design, and asked him to lay the foundation stono of the new St. Mary's. The stone was then placed in position, and was declared by the Bishop to be; "well and truly laid." Dr. Wallis then thanked the Vicar and - vestry of St. Mary's for the memento of his last official act in the diocese; in that sense, the little trowel possessed for him a special value. The Bishop went on to refer to the astonishing development of the city and suburbs as regarded its population and homes, and counselled his hearers to -strive towards the provision of adequate accommodation for the ever-increas-ing population of the district. He recalled the fact that when ho first took charge of the diocese there was scarcely a house to be seen on the heights of Kefbiirne, and now, from his home in that part of the city, there were houses everywhere around. As in Kelburne, so also was it elsewhere, and they should see to it that they were in a position to invite the people to come to church. It should not be possible for anyone to sny that he could not find a seat, that tho church did not expect him, and that he, therefore, would not go to church. . This then was their important task: to see that there was room for, all. He was sorry that the city itself was not sufficiently well off in that respect, though the condition of the suburbs was more hopeful. They had to remember, he continued, that even now they were only preparing for the work before them. They must have regard to the fact that some day there would be a great nation in these islands. In this new church of St. Mary's they were building a . permanent House of God, though all would regret the passing of the old wooden church that had been consecrated by Bishop Abraham. Tho parishioners of Karori had hesitated ■ long before embarking upon this new venture of faith, and he honoured their hesitation, ' for they had preferred to wait till they had Hie necessary funds wherewith to proceed. They would now bo able to provide for the members who were to come, and he laid tho foundation stone of the edifice in the faith that their work would bs fruitful. His prayer's would be with .'them. ■ .

After the singing of tho well-known liymu, "The Church's One Foundation," the proceedings were brought to a close with the benediction; and prayer. The new church.building was designed bv tho .diocesan architect, Mr. J\:do J. Clere, and Messrs. Meyer aiul Illingworth are tho contractors. The portions to be built are the chancel, transepts, tower," ami that part of the nave between the transepts, leaving'the nave itself-to be built 111 if. further accommodation is required. The portion? to be built will accommodate over .300, and tlio nave itself 100 Tho structure will he rubble up to the base line,' and reinforced concrete tho remainder. -The roof will be of Marseilles tiles. 'The interior fittings, including the pews, pulpit, and choir stalls, ore to be of jarrah. The structure planned is expected to cost over oE2OOO. That portion of this amount not raised locally has been obtained on loan, without interest :and. without security.