B.B.C. GOSPEL SINGER ON VISIT TO GISBORNE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22728, 28 August 1948, Page 3

8.8. C. GOSPEL SINGER ON VISIT TO GISBORNE

Formerly an opera and concert figure in Europe and of late years a well-known figure to millions of 8.8. C. listeners, Mr. Jacques Hopkins, L.R.A.M., M.R.S.T., commences on Sunday a short series of meetings in the Baptist Tabernacle, Palmerston road. Mr. Hopkins, who has become known as the 8.8. C. Gospel singer, was the first Englishman to gain the highest award of the Paris Conservatoire of Music. For many years he has devoted his talents to Gospel singing and under the auspices of the 8.8. C. he became a British radio personality, his listeners numbering up to four million. His sessions of hymns and their stories became so popular that Mr. Hopkins received some 5000 personal letters from listeners during his period with the 8.8. C.

The present tour through New Zealand has been arranged by the Church Extension of the Baptist Union and he has already sung and spoken to large audiences in a number of cities and towns. In addition, the main National Broadcasting Service stations have broadcast his hymn sessions. Mr. Hopkins'will sing and speak at the morning and evening services of the Baptist Tabernacle tomorrow, and also on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The Baptist orchestra will play hymns before each evening meeting.

TWO NEW ’VARSITY CHAIRS.—The senate of the University of New Zealand at a meeting in Wellington yesterday approved of the establishment of two new chairs. A chair of biochemistry will be set up at the University of Otago and a chair of geography at the Auckland University College.