NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 151, 23 March 1925, Page 11

NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH

Bv Telegraph.—Press Association ( Palmerston North, March 22. After manv years’ anticipation the Roman Catholic parishioners saw their magnificent new church opened to-day bv Archbishops Redwood and O Shea. Many other church dignatories participated. The church, the erection ot which occupied 20 months, is in c ° n_ formity with an unadorned Gothic. design, with a spire about 180 ft. high. The building is spacious, and is calculated to fulfil the requirements of the parish for many years to come’. The) seating accommodation is from 1050 to 1100, and this leaves room for spacious aisle's and beautifully designed altar work. The collection for the new church commenced twelve years ago. The site cost £7OOO, alterations to the presbytery £l9OO, and the new church with incidentals £32,000.- The whole undertaking approximated £40,000, only £12,500 of which remains unpaid. Solemn High Mass was celebrated bv Monsignor Power, in the presence, of over 2000 people, including about thirty members of the clergy. A choir of 30 voices and an orchestra of ten instrumentalists under the baton of Mr. T. Cosgrove sang - Gounod’s “Messe Solennille.” Mrs. Hillier rendered the solo from Gounod’s “Ave Maria,” with ’cello obbligato. Archbishop Redwood congratulated the parish on its magnificent edifice. When the Pope heard of the opening he would send blessings for what the people had done. Father McCarthy delivered an address at High Mass, and the evening’s sermon was given by Father Edge.