ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 1978, 21 November 1921, Page 5

ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH.

CHILDREN'S FLOWER SERVICE All Saints’ Church was completely, filled yesterday afternoon with a con-, gregation of 800 children from the Church of England Sunday Schools, in and around Palmerston North, on the occasion of. the Children’s Annual Flower Service. The scholars were accompanied by their teachers, and there were a number of other adults among the congregation. The' . service was conducted by the Vicar (Rev. H. G. Blackbourne), assisted by the Revs. J. Hobbs, L. H. Fenn, and ,t. K. McFarland, while the singing of the children, which was partlculary hearty, was supplemented by the , All Saints’ Choir, under Mr. J, Holmes Runniclea. The children, bearing offerings of flowers and produce, entered the church in procession, singing hymns selected for the occasion, and, after marching round the body of the building, they, deposited their offerings in-the sanctuary. The gifts were later dlstrlbuv ted among the various hospitals in’, the town. Basing His address on the stories of the Creation and the Call to Samuel, the Rev. L. H. Fenn drew a parallel between the garden and the lives of the children. Ho urged the latter to so conduct their lives that they might bring happiness to others, and to work diligently towards fitting themselves to accept God’s invitation to' become His partners in fulfilling the purpose of the creation of mankind. At the conclusion of the service the' ceremony of “Clipping the Church” was carried out. The children Joined hands around tho outside of the edifice, this old custom being symbolic of the love of the children for the church.