FLOATING SANCTUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21804, 19 May 1934, Page 13

FLOATING SANCTUARY

ADAPTED TO CITY CHURCH PANELLING IN NEW CHAPEL MISSION VESSEL FITTINGS The old Melanesian Mission steamer Southern Cross V., lately broken up, is to he commemorated in a lady chapel, which is being added to St. Thomas' Church, Freeman's Bay, and which will be consecrated on Monday evening by the Bishop of Melanesia, the lit. Rev. W. H. Baddeloy. -The Southern Cross was provided with a small but beautifully-appointed sanctuary, opening off the saloon and separated from the latter by sliding doors, which were opened when services were held. When the ship was sold for breaking-up, the altar, with its mosaic reredos depicting Christ with outstretched arms, was placed in a similar, sanctuary on board her ill-fated successor, the motor-ship Southern Cross VI., which was wrecked on the island of Aneitvum in November, 1932. A year ago St. Thomas' parish purchased from the shipbreakers the English oak panelling of the sanctuary, together with the doors and the saloon panelling on either side of them. A lean-to has now been added to the nave of the church on the south-eastern sida to form a lady chapel, and the two arches between ylrich the sliding doors used to run have been erected side by side in the opening between the chapel and the nave. The panelling has been used to line the interior of the former and the saloon wainscoting forms the ceiling. By taking out some of the panels, suitable window-openings have been provided. The honorary architects for the work are Messrs. Jones and Palmer, and the foundation-stone was laid some weeks ago by Mr. H. S. N. Robinson, general secretary of .the Melanesian Mission.

Every effort has been made to retain the character of the floating chapel, which was a memorial to Miss Charlotte M. Yonge, the novelist, and cousin of Bishop Pattcson. This lady provided the funds needed for the erection of the stone dining hall, now restored to use as a museum, at tho original headquarters of the mission at Koliimarama. Tho chapel was in use for nearly 30 years, and Holy Communion was celebrated at its altar by four successive Bishops of Melanesia. ~ Practically all the funds needed to provide the new chapel have been raised by parishioners and friends of St. Thomas'. Several gifts of fittings have been received, and others are in prospect. A New Zealand lady artist, now in England, has offered to paint an altarpiece representing the Virgin and Child. The Bishop of Melanesia will celebrate Holy Communion for tho first time in the chapel on Tuesday. Tho chapel will be used mainly for the daily services. St. Thomas' has old associations with the Melanesian Mission, for church building was consecrated about half a century ago by Bishop John Selwyn, son of Bishop George Augustus Selwvn, and second Bishop of Melanesia.