TOTARA FLAT CHURCH

Grey River Argus, 28 August 1928, Page 2

TOTARA FLAT CHURCH

DEDICATION SERVICE. The service of dedication of the new Presbyterian Church at Totara Flat took plan 1 on Sunday afteronon. Ideal weather favoured the occasion and the Church was well filled, the large congregation includng visitors from Ikainatua, Blackwater, Mawheiaiti, Alatai, and Greymouth. The Rev. T. N. Cuttie, of St. John’s Church. Greymouth, conducted th*, service, assisted by .the Alissionary of the Totara Flat parish. Air T. E. Dibbs. Airs Alethven, the oldest member of the Totar Flat congregation, opened the door of the new building, which was dedicated by Air Cuttie, to tire glory of God and .to the service of the Church. The Alodci’ator gave an excellent address to the children, and subsequently preached a most appropriate sermon on Christ as the foundation of the spiritual church and of life and character. .Air Dibbs expressed the thanks of .the committee of Totara Flat congregation to all who had helped to provide the new church, and to friends for presenting gifts for use within the building. He al>o voiced the committee’s appreciation of the work of the contractor, Afr J. Guerin (Greymouth).

Airs Dibbs presided at the organ, which is a Alason and Hamlin instrument, supplied by the Bristol Piano Co. Ltd., Greymouth. It may bo interesting to recall that the original Presbyterian Church at Totara Flat, wh,ieh was destroyed by fire on the 13th February last, was opened by the Rev. Air Wcstbrooke, of Greymouth, on the 15th April, 1883 following a service conducted a.t To tarn Flat on the 7th February, 1882. by the Rev. W. We>t, of Kumara. Th Rev.W. Gow conducted fortnightly services from January, 1884, tiJ February, 1890. Th? first minister of the Totara Flat charge was the Rev. D. A An dorse n.