ANCIENT CEREMONY OF “CLIPPING CHURCH”

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 207, 30 May 1938, Page 5

ANCIENT CEREMONY OF “CLIPPING CHURCH”

Patronal Festival At Petone Parishioners of St Augustine's Anglican Church, Petone, yesterday took part ? ne . ancient ceremonies of the Christian Church—that of “clipping the church.” The occasion was the patronal festival. The word “clipping” conies from an ancient Saxon word meaning “(o embrace.” Yesterday at the 11 a.m. sermon the parishioners gathered round the church encircling it by joining hands. Between the ring formed and the walls of the church the clergy and choirs inarched in procession, the hymn “We Love the Place of God, Wherein Thine Honour Dwells,” being sung. Then the congregation assembled at the west door of the church and received the blessing of the Venerable Archdeacon Russell, Oarnaru, first Vicar of .Petone. The vicar, Rev. 11. >S. J. Kenny, took the service. The first service of the day was the parish corporate communion, which was l? fltten(lcd - The celebrant was the Rev. O. L. Mountfort, vicar of Sydenham, assisted by the Rev. T. F. Fagg, Lower Hutt, and Mr. Kenny. There was a packed congregation at: the 11 a.m. service, when the Hon. W. Nash spoke. At the evening service special reference was made to the late Rev. T. Feilden Taylor, who was well known and esteemed in the parish where he had conducted missions. . Miss F. Hobbs, organist, was responsible for the musical part of the service. Personal. The Venerable Archdeacon Russell, Oamaru, former vicar of Petone, is a visitor to Wellington.