ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6817, 22 September 1883, Page 5

ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

Tub confirmation service at St. Matthew's Church last evening was extremely welt attend , d, and the service Was very hearty, being interspersed with appropriate hymns, &c.; which were well rendered by a full choir. The Bishop deliveveu , a striking address from the goapel of the day, which Was used as tho Matthew ix., & The candidates numbered 22 (eight females and 14 females),' this supplemental confirmation, thus bringing up the total number confirmed : this year to 106. This, being the anniversary of the dedication of the church, the number of "occasional services" during the : year was reviewed, and found to. be as follows :—Baptisms, 143. of which 133 were 1 infants and 10 adults, one of the latter being baptised, according to primitive usage, by ; immersion. The. marriages were 34 ; burials, (light this year), 53 ; confirmations, 106, the average of the candidates being 18 years ; : the number :of communications (Holy Communion), 1240. Special opportunities wijl be afforded to the newly-confirmed and their friends to communicate on Sunday next, there being two celebrations—one at eight, and another during the mid-day service. Tha sermon at this service -will be On the text "Follow Me." The evening service will be a special one, including Wesley's service in P, and the anthem " 0 Lord, out Governour." Tha sermon by Jhe incumbent;, bearing on Confirmation and First Communion, is entitled ''The Soul of ilan ia Com:munion with the Spirit of Gpd," It is the sequel to the three that have been listened to by large and attentive congregations on "Some forgotten aspects Of God."