OAMARU PRESBYTERIANS

Evening Star, Issue 22261, 12 February 1936, Page 2

OAMARU PRESBYTERIANS

ALTERATIONS TO COLUMBA CHURCH IMPOSING NEW BUILDING TEe dedication service in connection with the reopening of the Columba Presbyterian Church, Oamaru, . was held last night in the presence of a large gathering of adherents ant. friends of the church, as well as representatives of the various public bodies of the town including, the mayor and mayoress (Mr and Mrs M. F. Cooney) and a number of councillors and their wives. The service, was conducted by , the Rev. W. Lawson Marsh, M.A., and '-/...the- Moderator of the General Assembly (the'Rt. Rev. H. H. Barton,. M.A.) ‘ gave the sermon. Mr G. , E. .Wilkinson presided at the organ. THE FIRST CHURCH. Before dealing, however, with the present church and the alterations effected, some idea of the conditions existing in ..the early ’eighties, when the building of the first church w’as in its infancy, is necessary, as some 54 years have elapsed in bringing the church to its present state of architectural beauty, and many were the trials and tribulations of the early ad--1 herenta in firmly establishing Columba Church in ; the town as a place of wor-, ■ ship. ' The first services, were held in the . South School building, but before long the room proved too small _ for the ' growing . congregation, and increased accommodation was secured in Mr Smith’s store in Harbour street. 1 The new premises were used in May, 1882, but in February, 1883, ■ another removal was made to St. James’s Hall, in. Tees street, since destroyed' by fire. During this time the . managers Kiid „ been diligently prosecuting the matter of a permanent build- ■ ,ing for the purposes of worship, the vexed question, of site having been practically settled by Mr., Duncan Sutherland, who offered a property, to the congregation. The offer _ was gratefully accepted and the site or the church thereby settled. But tho church, in common with the whole community, fell on-hard times,, and its obligations were not finally discharged till 1895. , * It was not economic depression alone which made' circumstances so very difficult, but the additional fact that the congregation had attempted so much, for a church building had been erected at a cost of approximately £4,000, to a design prepared by Messrs Forrester and Lemon, architects; It had been the intention not to exceed an expenditure of £2,500, but the situation was faced with courage. The corner-stone of the new edifice was laid with full honours on December 6, 1882, and the completed church w-as dedicated oil July 15, 1883. In 1920 the condition of the church building occasioned serious concern, so great had been the ravages of the borer. At first it was thought that the expenditure of a few .hundred pounds would put matters right, but it was ultimately found necessary to remove the woodwork, the pews included, and the floor excepted. It was deemed unwise to undertake the whole scheme prepared by the architects, Messrs Forrester and Steenson, but a part of the-work, involving an expenditure of approximately £2,870, was carried out. The interior of the church was completely transformed and the beautiful window gifted by Mr' R. Brown, sen., in memory of his son. Sergeant Donald Brown, -V.C., greatly enhanced the general effect of tho renovations and improvements. The church was reopened and rededicated on Sunday, November 27, 1921. THE PRESENT BUILDING. It was in 1933 that definite action - was taken by members of the congregation to have the church completed according to the design arranged by the architects in 1920, and with the finances of the church in a decidedly healthy condition it was finally agreed in 1935 to carry out the required alterations. The main contractors were Messrs Maynard and Armstrong,. and sub-contractors Messrs Wardrop Fibrous Plaster Company, of Dunedin, E, Tomkins _ (plastering), Taylor and M‘Kone (painters), D. Millar (plumber), and G. T. Gillies (lighting). The work has been carried out with attention to detail, and the finished pro- ' duct is a magnificent example of artistic beauty. At each of the side aisles there is a row of Doric columns, with a flat ceiling over the aisles, and at the top of the columns lonic entablature. From the entablature springs a new barrel ceiling of fibrous plaster, which is divided into panels by means of moulded fibrous plaster ribs. Down each side are three lunettes, which correspond with the transom of the main window and give indirect lighting to the barrel ceiling. On the outer walls aro fibrous plaster pilasters, corresponding with the Doric columns. The chancel has a barrel ceiling- of smaller radius, and on either side of it are ornamental grills, and 12 neiv oak stalls, made by Messrs Maynard and for the elders are placed in a semi-circle in the chancel surrounding the communion table. The pulpit, over which has been placed a canopy, has been transferred from the right-hand side of the chancel to the left and the font changed over to the opposite side. The old- seating has been rearranged, the choir being accommodated in the south-west corner of the church on tiered seats.. The flooring has undergone extensive repairs, and three new steel windows placed in the front facade, while at the southern end of the building stands the beautiful memorial window already mentioned. The diffused lighting arrangement* gives a strikingly beautiful effect to the whole of the interior, which has been painted in an ivory white tone. Tho new lighting has been provided

by the totally enclosed bowl, type of fittings, suspended by chains from the main ceiling, and for tho chancel by means Of diffused lighting from, the top of tho main cornices. The floor of the chancel has been covered with a beautiful blue carpet of fleur-de-lys design. An interesting feature of tho reopeniiig of the' church last night was tlio introduction of the new churcli hymnary, now in use throughout the Presbyterian churches of tlie Empire. DEDICATION SERVICE.

.' In perfect. weather conditions and before a big crowd the architect (Mr Steenson) presented a souvenir key to the Moderator, who opened the door and entered the church. Prior to this taking place the gathering, led by the choir, sang a hymn. The moderator (the Right Rev. H. H. Barton, M.A.) was the first to enter the church, followed, by the Rev. Marsh, the mayor, and: councillors, elders and managers, arid choir,, and visiting clergy. Tho Rev. Marsh, who conducted the I service, expressed his pleasure at seeing such a large gathering, and stated that they were now in the happy position of witnessing the consummation of many years of endeavour. The people of Columba had been a long time in achieving this magnificent structure; therefore the result would be most gratifying to all concerned. Mr J. H, Thomson, clerk of the managers, expressed tho sincere thanks and hearty appreciation of the congregation to the contractors, who had fulfilled their duties in'record time. Mr Thomson also referred to the energy .of the church’s minister (the Rev. Mr Marsh), who had taken a particularly keen interest in the work of reconstruction. Mr Marsh expressed his own personal indebtedness to the contractors, whose utmost sympathy and co-operation had resulted in the work being carried to successful fruition. He also thanked all those who had in any way cohtribiited to make the church the magnificent edifice it now was. Before commencing his sermon the Rev. Mr Barton said it gave him great pleasure to be present at such a function, and he extended his congratulations as Moderator of the General Assembly on the achievement on which they had set their hearts, and in which they were now gathered to worship God. The purpose of it all seemed to him to have been satisfactorily effected, and he felt that all would be able to join in the worship of God to the full, so that the cause of God would go fromstrength to strength. He took as his text Matthew 5, “ A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” Whether the Lord had some particular city in Palestine in mind he did not know, but it was all the more noteworthy that many ,of the great cities of the wol-ld were built upon hills, and he quoted the city of Zion as an instance. But no matter what amenities or characteristics a city possessed it always contained both .good arid evil. A city was in effect a place of congregation, and therefore it would always be found that the good were present with the bad. But there was - one city that stood for righteousness—Jerusalem. It was not altogether the locality so much as the. far-reaching vision and wholesome air that contributed in some way to the well-being of a community. Again referring to Iris text, the speaker said Jerusalem had been built upon a Kill as a witness city—a city which drew one as by a magnet; the centre of commerce and of enlightenment. As all roads led to Rome, so do all roads lead to the city on the hill, a witness city. Christ had said that a disciple oughb to be like that which could not be hid. The Church of Christ was not hid, but was thrust into every heart in the community, and the great function of the Christian Church to-day was to become known to all. ft was admitted there was much ground for criticism of the church, but we had seen the most amazing growth on the material side during tho past few years, so much so that none of us would caro to return to the old order of things. But the enrichment of the material side' made it imperative for greater enthusiasm in the church. This important witnessing task was for the whole of the church. All were bound to discharge this task of witnessing, but not _by deputy. One of the great difficulties of the church today was that there were too many passengers It was a two-fold witness that we were called upon to witness—the witness of word and life. Our late King, ivith many matters of State requiring his personal attention, had always found time to study his Bible, and be was as well versed in the secrets of this. great book as most persons. Many thought the duty of the church was to prevent war, achieve social reform, and bring about economic reconstruction. These were great things to accomplish, but our task, our supreme task was to exalt our Master, Jesus Christ. He was the great witness. Jesus had a love for hills and mountains' where he would go to pray, therefore we must follow his examinle and give prayer its true place in life. Let the city on, the hill be to us the place* of transformed lives. The reverend gentleman concluded by praying that God would richly bless the congregation and that His many influences would purify the community in which we dwelt and learn the Lamb of God, The service concluded with the benediction.