WAKEFIELD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 6 October 1936, Page 4

WAKEFIELD

ST. JOHN’S CHURCH 90th ANNIVERSARY The 90th Anniversary of St. John’s Church, Wakefield, will be observed cn 11th October. The church was built in 1846 from a design supplied by Mrs Reay, wife of the Rev. C. L. Reay, the clergyman in charge of Nelson and the Waimeas. The building was erected on a grant of land from the New Zealand Company, and cost £lll 5s 9d, the builder oeing the late Mr Edward Baigent. The church was opened for public workship by the Rev. C. L. Reay, who preached from Ecclesiastics v, 1. The original church is in excellent preservation; it was enlarged by extending the nave and adding a chancel in 1865-60, and by a further addition to the chancel in 1887. The Anniversary Festival will commence on Saturday, 10th October, when Memorial Gates, and the stone wall recently erected in memory of the early pioneers, will be dedicated by the Bishop of Nelson at 2.30 p.m. Tablets to commemorate each feature will be unveiled, and the gates officially opened. The civic and local bodies, the Members of Parliament for the district, and the Education Board have been invited, and a large gathering of the public are expected. The Wakefield Citizens’ Band will assist with the service.

Following the dedication, the festival afternoon tea will take place at 4 p.m., to which all are cordially invited.

On Sunday the Festival Services will commence with Holy Communion at 7 a.m. At 11 a.m. there will be shortened Matins and Holy Communion, when the preacher and celebrant will be the Bishop of Nelson. A young people’s service will be held at 3 p.m., when it is hoped there will be a v number from the surrounding districts. The preacher will be the Rev. Canon F. Quintrell. At Evensong, 7 p.m., the preacher will be the Very Rev. the Dean of Nelson. An invitation is extended to all who may be able to avail themselves of it to unite in the fellowship of commemoration and thanksgiving.

Following the midday service there will be a community luncheon; and after the young people’s service afternoon tea, when it is hoped the visitors and residents will have a pleasant time of social friendship.