NEW CHURCH OPENED

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 51, 24 November 1930, Page 6

NEW CHURCH OPENED

Silverstream Dedication PRESBYTERIAN SERVICE Many people attended the dedication service on Saturday afternoon in connection with the opening of yhe new Presbyterian Church at Silverstream. The building, which is a brick one, of simple but attractive architecture, stands on a section in Dunn’s Road, not far from the Silverstream station. It has been erected in a surprisingly short time, and this fact was mentioned by the minister, the Rev. G. W. Hunt, of Upper Hutt, in the course of tho service. “It is not often,” he said, “In the history of a congregation that a dedication service such as this is held within two months of the laying of the foundation stone. The happy hour had struck, Mr. Hunt continued, and at its moment of striking he Wanted to put back the hands of the clock. Sixteen years ago the first Presbyterian service had been held at Silverstream, in a private house. Since then moves had been made, from private houses to halls, but finally they had been forced, through the noise of traffic, which upset and disorganised the services, to lodk for a more suitable place. Mr. Hunt wished, however, to take the opportunity of , thanking the management of the social hall for the way they had met the Presbyterian congregation at Silver- . years ago, said Mr. Hunt, hie predecessor had urged the necessity of purchasing, a section of land on which a church might be built. He was pleased to say that the section on which the church stood had been paid for in full. They owed a great deal to the generosity of Mr.' M. Fletcher, without whose vonderful assistance they would have had a church, no doubt, but not such a fine church as the one being dedicated that day. The present liability amounted to £9O a year, which the: congregation was expected- to raise, apart from what was needed for the upkeep of the ministry. Most of the furnishings were practically paid for. , Birthplace of Souls. “May I express tho hope,” said Mr. Hunt, “that this church hall may be not only the birthplace of souls but also a place where you will catch some vision of the virtue and grandeur of religion.” The service began outside the door of the church, where the congregation and ministers assembled while a hymn -was Sung. At its conclusion Mrs. F. Castle unlocked the door and it was thrown open for the gathering to enter. The service continued inside. The Rev G. W. Hunt read from the Old Testament, . and tho Rev. J. H. McKenzie, clerk of the General Assembly,. from the New Testament. Toward the end of tile service the Rev. J. R. Blanchard, of Wellington, who was present in place of the Rev. F. Wilkinson, Moderator of the Wellington Presbytery, congratulated the minister and congregation on the new church. Included in tho order of service was 1 a sacred solo by Mrs. Phillips. Also a presentation was made to' Mrs. ;Castle. The dedicatory sentences were pronounced by the Rev. G. Budd, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian. Church of New Zealand, who Conducted the service. He. offered the prayer of dedication also. A Daily Witness. . In his address Mr. Budd said the new church which they were dedicating gave testimony to all who passed by concerning the power of God’s love. Inspired by that love they bad built a house to his name. It was, too, a daily witness to : the unseen and eternal, for it .was hot Tike the house of mortals, but was God’s house and was devoted tp Him alone, the unseen divinity, Remaining yet in a very real sense His. 'The church whiclj they were in, he continued, spoke to wayfarers of the reality of religion, and had been built by men and women who found religion precious—who believed in it fop themselves and for others. It supplied a need, too, and enriched the community, standing for moral uplift and revealing that in the neighbourhood were men and women of character. The tone of the community was improved by the presence of the house of God.