CHORAL FESTIVAL

Hawera Star, Volume L, 28 October 1930, Page 9

CHORAL FESTIVAL

ST. MARY’S. NEW PLYMOUTH. COMBINED"CHORUS. Last year at Hawera there was a choral festival in St. Mary’s Church and at that service an invitation was given by the Anglican vicar of New Plymouth to h-old the annual festival 'n St. Mary’s Church in that town. The invitation was accepted and last night, choristers to the number of 60 combined in a grand choral service unkr the general direction of Mr. R. W. Renaud, organist and choirmaster of the church. There -was a large congregation and the service throughout was inspiring and devotional, the music being a special feature of the evening. About 20 choristers went from Hawera, and 14 were from Palmerston North, the remainder being the New Plymouth choir.

The visitors were most hospitably entertained by the local choristers and ftiends. After a two hours’ practice, they all sat down to tea in the mem3rial hall and after the service, a supper was served in the same hall. The music included Psalm 150, the iiymns “Thou Who Sentest Thine Apostles,” “Hail Gladdening Light,” “O Love How Deep” and “Who the Multitudes Can Number.” The anthem was the fine setting of

The. Wilderness,” by Sir Jolui Goss, sung in really capital style and with marked expression. The vicar of St. Mary’s, Hawera, Rev. J. R. Young, preached an eloquent and impressive sermon from the words of Genesis I, “and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters,” and from Psalm 67, verse % “That Thy sway may be known upon earth.” He stressed specialy the wonderful and inspiring influence of music and. the results of God’s way oil earth among the people. The lessons were read by Rev. .33Li. Dobbs (Hawerar) and Rev. J, W. Thompson (Inglewood). At the conclusion of the sendee Mr. ' Herbert Webb organist of St. Mary’s, Hawera, played a fine recessional voli untary.