MOKOIA PRESBYTERIANS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 15 June 1926, Page 4

MOKOIA PRESBYTERIANS.

THE NEW CHURCH. TO BE DEDICATED TO-MORROW. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Having worshipped for fifteen years in the public hall, and previous to that time in the school, the Presbyterians of Mokoia are now in the happy possession of a church" of their own built on their own property. The new church occupies a commanding position at the corner in the township -where the road leads round to Wanganui, and will be dedicated at a special service to be held on Wednesday afternoon, when a few members of the Taranaki Presbytery will take part, presided over by the Rev. R. E. Evans, moderator. Some five or six years ago, when the Rev. H. B. Gray was minister of the Presbyterian Church in Hawera, ; a movement was set on foot with the object of erecting a suitable building for church services, but the time was apparently not opportune and nothing definite was done. The good seed was sown, however, and about a year ago active steps were taken to procure a building, and so enthusiastic were the people of the district, combined with the energies of the Rev. R. E. Evans and a few of his office-bearers, that a congregational meeting appointed a committee with power to make necessary arrangements with the purpose of obtaining subscriptions and submitting plans for a building. The first intention of the committee xvas to erect a building to cost in the vicinity of £450, as that was considered about the figure to be reasonably raised in the district where tlie Presbyterians are only a few in number. Through the generosity of an anonymous donor, however, a gift of £SOO came along, and this, naturally, altered the minds of the committee, so that the members altered their plans and decided to put up a more substantial building, i Operations in connection with the structure commenced early in February and have gone steadily forward until now there is a handsome building ready to be dedicated to spiritual work in this corner of the vineyard. During the building a second donation of £SOO, from the same anonymous donor, was made, thus lifting apy doubts from the minds of the committee as regards there being any debt on the church Vvhen completed, and many important improvements were added to the original plans. There is no doubt that such a place in which to worship must have a great influence on the spiritual life of the community. The building is capable of seating about 100 comfortably and, with furnishings, will cost between £I3OO and £I4OO, and it is pleasing to report the church .will be opened free of debt. The structure is in brick —double cavity wall—and the main building is 34 feet long by 21 feet wide. At the rear is a vestry measuirng 17 feet G inches by 12 feet, where Bible Class or other smaller meetings will be held. The front porch measures 13 feet G inches by G feet, and has a door on each side" so that in the event of stormy weather the sheltered door can be used. The flooring is in jarrah timber and the roof is covered with imported Welsh slates. A feature of the inside construction is a Beautiful arch of double glazed bricks over the partition dividing the body of the church and the vestry. This partition is in wood, and if at any time it is'found necessary to increase the. seating accommodation it can be removed "without any structural alterations to the main building. The inside walls are in white plaster and the building has the Wizard benzine lighting system installed. The outside walls are greatly improved in appearance with buttresses at Tegular intervals, these buttresses being built in dark cliippcfl brick and make a very effective contrast to the red bricks of the main walls. •

The ground *in front of the church has been laid out in lawn and surrounded by a tastefully built panelled brick fence with white plastered cap. Concrete paths have been laid from the public roadway to the several doors. There are three gates on the road frontage—one in the centre being for pedestrians and a ten-foot gate at each side of the frontage, so that vehicles can go in at one side, round the church, and out to the road at the other side gate.

Much praise is due to Mr T. C. Young for his unbounded kindness and ability in carrying out the work in such a highly artistic and satisfactory manner, and this without fee or profit. The whole, work has been carried through using the best' materials procurable, and a very substantial building is the result. The Egmont Box Co. secured the contract for the furnishings —pulpit, seats, etc. —and, judging from the quality and finish of their work, they have in no way detracted from the other essentials to form a complete success.

The Presbyterians have every reason to thank God for the way He has led and blessed them in their efforts to erect a suitable building wherein they might worthily worship. \