ANGLICAN CHURCH, HAWERA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7557, 9 September 1902, Page 2

ANGLICAN CHURCH, HAWERA.

LAYING FOUNDATION STONE OF

NEW BUILDING.

The weather was not at all favorable on Monday afternoon, the time fixed for laying the foundation stone of the new Anglican Church, but, nevertheless, the attendance was very good.

The Eight Rev the Bishop of WeilingtoD, who had come up from Wellington to perform the ceremony, was met in tho Schoolroom by the Vicar, Rev J. A. Jacob, and the Churchwardens and Vestry, and Synodsman and lay reader, and visiting clergy — Rev E. J. McConnell, Vicar of Eltham, Rev Reginald Hermon, Vicar of Patea, Rev H. T. Rawnaley, Vicar of Waimate Plains, and Rev — . Boyes, Vicar of Stratford. Bishop fand clergy (robed) and the laity proceeded from the Schoolroom to the site of the church, where everything was in readiness, and the order I of service prescribed was conducted.

Proceedings were opened b.y the assemblage, led by the choir, chanting Psalm cxxxii, and a short litany. The Bishop offered prayer. Hymn 394, A and M, was sung, beginning : O Lord of Hosts, whose glory fills The bounds of the eternal hills, And yet vouchsafes, in Christian lands

To dwell in temples made with hands ;

The Apostles' creed having been recited, the stone was placed in position by Mr Whittington, ou behalf of the contractor, and the Bishop having finally fixed it, struck it with the mallet, and said : "In the faith of Jeaus Christ, we place this foundation in the name of the Fathor, and of the Son, ond of the Holy Ghost. Amen." Further, laying his hand on the stone, b.6 said :

"Here let true faith and the fear of God with brotherly love ever abide ; and be this place dedicated unto prayer and the praise of the most holy Name of the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, liveth and reignelh one God world without end. Amen."

Several prayers said by the Rev. J. A. Jacob followed, and

The Bishop gave an address. He ' said he wished all present lo feel, as he himself felt, what a great work the Anglican Church people of Hawera had that day set their hands to. Taking the whole of the diocese of Wellington, and going further abroad into the southern pact of the North Island, excepting the splendid brick Cathedral in Napier, find the beautiful stone church in New Plymouth, Hawera was for the first time in the history of the diocese building in God's honour a church in brick which was designed to stand long after all gathered together that day had passed away, and which it was desired should be a witness — a witness, please God, for years to come to those resident in this town, and to those who visited it, the most striking object on entering the town — to the honor and glory and service of God in this town. He dwelt on the thought that as their own homes were the centre of family life, this House of God should be not only a constant reminder that earthly things were not all, but also a home for God's people wherein they shoald learn something not only of the glory, but of the love, of God. He praised and thanked God that He put it into their hearts to commence this great work, lo make liberal sacrifices for it, and prayed that all present might be spared to see the work completed.

The bymn "The Church's One Foundation " was sung, and the Bishop pronounced the Benediction.

The plans of the new Church of St Mary show that it is to be a red brick building, pointed Gothic in design, and is to be erected on the site of the old church. The west front contains two porches and baptistry. The north and south aisles and nave occupy an area of 2480 square feet, and are capable of seating 350 persons comfortably. The chancel, 20ft x 18ft, contains the choir stalls, and the sanctuary is 20ft x 13ft. On either side of the chancel are situated the organ chamber and vestry, ornamental screens dividing them off from the chancel. The roof is on what is known as the hammer-beam principle, the only one of its sort in Taranaki. The clerestory is in wood, and is supported on arches dividing the nave from the aisles. The foundations are in concrete throughout, and the inside walls plastered. The marble foundation stone, which is laid immediately behind the altar, has tho following inscription carved thereon in church' text : — " To the glory of God and in loving memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this foundation stone was laid by Frederic, Bishop of Wellington, on the Bth September, MOMII. — J. A. Jacob, vicar ; H. G, Pitoher, J. A. Turton, churchwardens."

The mallet used by the Bishop in laying the stone was tbo gift of Mr H. A. Arthur, and was tho work ot his employees. It is comprised of various New Zealand woods, knot of totara, kauri, riinu, and honeysuckle. On it was a silver plate, suitably inscribed, the gift of Mr John Brunette.

Mr J. W. Warren is architect, the contractor is Mr E. A. Pacey, whose prico is £'3800, and contract time eight months.

The offertory placed on the stone on Monday added JG2S or £26 to the building fund.

Subsequently to the ceremony, visitors were entertained by tho ladies of the congregation at afternoon tea. In the cavity below the stone was placed a sealed jar containing copy of Monday's Star, copy of the "Church Chronicle" for September, copy »f church accounts for last year, and a number of postage stamps.

In tho evening, the annual social of the church was held in tho Opera House, but the weather, which had developed into a cold southerly gale with heavy rain and hail, materially ; affected the attendance. {Still, there were a fair number present to meet the Bishop and Mrs Wullia. A good programme of music was gone through, those taking part being Mrs Fairhall and daughter, Mrs F. J. Wrigley, Mrs D. E. Fantham, Mr Wilkinson, tbo Flynn family, and the various items were moßt heartily received, several being encored. Captain Taylor, recently returned from South Afrioa, gave an exhibition of olub swinging wbioh was excellently done. The hall was most prettily decorated, and the ladies provided refreshments in their usual liberal and tasteful style. Tho only speech-making was a very short address by the Bishop, expressing pleasure at Beeing so many old friends present in spite of the bad weather, and making a further allusion to tho building of the new ohuroh muoh on the same linos as the address in the afternoon. The proceedings closed by Binging tho National Anthem.