A NEW CENTRE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 42, 18 August 1941, Page 5

A NEW CENTRE

BAPTIST CHURCH

BOULGOTT ST. CEREMONY

The official opening and dedication of the up-to-date buildings in Boulcott Street as the Wellington Central Baptist Church took place on Saturday afternoon. The dedication address was given by the president of the New Zealand Baptist Union, the Rev. R. L. Fursdon, and the services were conducted by the Rev. L. A. North. The new premises were recently acquired by the Vivian Street Baptist Church authorities from the Church of Christ Scientist. .

Before the dedication service was held a short function took place in the vestibule, where members of the congregation assembled. After a. Scriptural reading by the Rev. P. P. Lanyon, secretary of the New Zealand Baptist Union, the commemoration stone was unveiled by Mrs. R. H. Wilson, who has been a member of the church since 1880. The Rev. J. Boulton Smith, of Christchurch, who was minister of the Vivian Street Church from 1931 to 1939, led in prayer, after which the door was formally opened by Mr. A. Donovan, who has been church secretary since 1908, and the congregation entered singing the Doxology. • '" Following the opening prayer, by the Rev. J. Russell Grave, vice-president of the Central Auxiliary, and a Scripture reading from Psalms 121 and 122 iby Mr. C. S. Godber, who is. a lite deacon, the dedication address was delivered by Mr. Fursdon. Mr. Fursdon sa|d thtot^that day was a great: occasion,i3#^it^pfl*i!^4 *»c setting apart of the ne^JHbjisiss to the service and glory GbdV The Church of God was not confined narrow, limits of race and denohiinatian. It was universal. The City Temple in. London had gone, yet it once stood as a pulpit from which ; the men of God of all nations could preach the Gospel. "Why should not this pulpit and this building witness men and women of God of various races and creeds proclaim the Word of God?" he askfcd. "I pray that this pulpit will becrime a bulwark against evil, against.< oppression and tyranny wherever it is found. May there go forth a message to the fearful, to the doubting, to the sad, the careless—a' message which will prepare this city and this Dominion for the present and the new days which will follow the cessation of hostilities." .

I Mr. Fursdon said they as Baptists regarded the new church as the centre of their work, not only in Wellington but also as a meeting place for the Dominion. The annual assembly, when it came to Wellington, would be held *there. "We are dedicating thi» house to God in a time of tribulation," he continued. "Our Empire stands dedicated to its supreme task. How urgent is the need for us to dedicate ourselves to God afresh. We can show the world in this dark hour that Christ is still, its Light, its Hope, and its Saviour. May, this house become an increasing power for righteousness and for the salvation of the masses. Here men and women will regain their faith and will take fresh courage, and 'as precious memories have been woven around the old building in ' Vivian Street, so fresh and precious memories will cling to this place."

The dedicatory prayer was then offered by the Rev. W. S. Rollings.

The opening services in the new church were held yesterday* Mr. North conducted the morning service, which was attended by Sunday school members and also members; of." the girls' and boys' brigades. In the afternoon there was a rally of past and present Bible class members, and the speaker was Mr. S. T. Barnett, Sunday school superintendent. Later a Bible class tea was served. The evening service was conducted by Mr. Boulton' Smith,. ..- .