CHURCH OF CHRIST

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 52, 30 August 1945, Page 6

CHURCH OF CHRIST

BUILDING AT NAENAE

The planning of the building to be erected by the Seddon Street Church of Christ at Naenae Las been remarkably efficient. It is not intended to build the whole forthwith, but each portion as it is built will be complete tor use as a church as well as for social purposes. The first portion of the main building to go up at the rear of the property will seat 250" people, and the subsequent addition in front of it will seat 450 people. Sliding doors between these two sections when they are completed will allow them to be used as one big room. Full facilities for use as a church or as a social hall will accompany the building as it progresses. It is anticipated that the total cost will reach £20,000. A manse is being built on the Naenae Road frontage.

The building; will form a welcome addition to this fast-growing suburb. The Church has set itself out to enter into the community life of the area, and to provide its own .centre of Christian influence by launching a Happy Hour Club for the boys and girls of the district.' The enthusiastic support of the children of the district is shown by the support at the meetings of the club during the past fortnight. Its activities consist of community singing, competitions, games, movies, strip films, story times, and hikes, and some 150 children have so far attended.

The Seddon Street Church was established by a group of members from the Church of Christ at Queen's Road, Lower Hutt, who on account of building difficulties, commenced services in an old building in Park Avenue in June last year. Securing parts of a pre-fabricated building, members by their own labour erected a temporary building on the church site and opened it for services on December 10 last. The work grew rapidly as the houses in the district became occupied, and at present there is a school roll of 140.

Feeling the need of some assistance the church was fortunate in securing the services of Mr. N. T Haig, of Onehunga, as resident minister, and he, with Mrs. Haig and their little daughter, were welcomed on August 16. The Mayor of Lower Hutt, Mr. J. W. Andrews, welcoming Mr. and Mrs. Haig, spoke of the needs of the district and the beneficial influence of the church. He paid a tribute to the work done for UNRRA by the church when it functioned as the centre for the Waddington and Naenae areas," delivering gifts of clothing, sorted, cleaned, and mended, to the Lower Hutt depot. Mr. and Mrs. Haig were trained in the Associated Churches of Christ College of the Bible, Dunedin, and their enthusiasm, energy, and capability have been shown in their plans for the Happy Hour Club and the commencement of Girls' Brigade and Cadet groups.