ST. MARY'S, KARORI

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2861, 28 August 1916, Page 7

ST. MARY'S, KARORI

CONSECRATION CEREMONY;

, Yesterday at 11 a.m. the picturesque Anglican Church at Karon was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese. His Lordship proceeded to the nest' door accompanied by the Ven. : Archdeacon Fancourt, the Rev. A. L. Hansell, who acted as chaplain, and, the Rev. B. H. Ward. Here he was met by the vicar of tho parish, tho Rov._ E. T. Woodward, and churchwardens, also tho vestry and a number of parishioners. Mr. J. W. Henderson, vicar's warden, read a petition praying that his Lordship would consecrate the- church. The Bishop and those with him entered the church, which Was filled with worshippers, and his Lordship began the servico by saying,; '"Enter, O" Lord, this house, we beseech Thee, and within the hearts of Thy' faithful people establish for Thyself'an "everlasting habitation, that this church, which is built to Thy gjory, may,be glorified also by Thine abiding Presence, through Jesus Christ our Lord;"

The "procession then proceeded through the church from west to east, the choir and all- present singing the 24th Psalm: The Bishop then laid tho key of the church' upon tho altar, and asked tho congregation to pray silently for God's blessing on tho church, after which was sung."Vcni, Creator Spiritus." Tho Bishop, accompanied by tho vicar and churchwardens, then proceeded round the church and tho act 3of consecration took place. The font, ' chancel steps, lectern, pulpit, choir stalls, sanctuary steps, and altar were all duly consecrated. Then tho holy vessels were presented to his Lordship and laid upon tho altar. The Bishop then sat in his episcopal chair and l ordered tho sentence of consecration to' be read, this being dono by tho vicar of the parish; after which the Bishop completed the service by saying, "By virtue of our'sacred office in tho Church of God wo declare this church to bo consecrated unden the name of St. Mary-tho Virgin to the glory, of the over-blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen."After the consecration service there followed a celebration of the Holy Communion, fully choral, at which the Bishop was celebrant.

i In the evening Bishop Sprott preached the sermon. Christian Churches, ho saidj wero sot apart as memorials, monuments and visible reminders of Divine truths and facts: a revelation in this world of ours of time and sense, birth and death, hope and fear, joy and sorrow, struggle and conflict, of a higher world, unfading and eternal, where there wero intelligences higher than-,'man, wliero there was eternal splendour of God. His Lordship appealed_ to all present to make tho consecration of the church a reminder of 'Divine truths and facts.