THE KENT TERRACE CHURCH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1265, 28 May 1896, Page 42

THE KENT TERRACE CHURCH.

The eoromony of laying the memorial stone of the now Presbyterian Church, Kent terrace, took place last week, when there was a largo assemblage of members of the congregation and friends from other parts of tho city. The ceremony began with the singing of the “ Old Hundredth,” after which the Rev J. Paterson read the 81th Psalm, and tho Rev C. S. Ogg Ephesians ii., verses 13-22, Tho Rev W. Baumber offered prayer, and then Mr P. Thomson, clerk of the deacon’s court, read a statement of (ho progress of the Rent terrace Church. The origin of the congregation, this statement set out, dated from the year 1886, when a largely signed requisition was presented to tho Rev J. Kennedy Elliott, B.A. (who had arrived in New Zealand about a year previously), requesting him to conduct religious services with a view to forming a new congregation to keep pace with the increasing population of Wellington, and had given proof of fitness for such work. Tho Lyceum, Tory street, was hired, but five months afterward the hall erected on tho corner section in Kentterraco and I’irie street at a costofabout .£OOO was occupied, and tho induction of Mr Elliott took place on the sth October, 1886. The first marriage celebrated in the building was tint of Mr Samuel McDowall to Miss Campbell, and the first bapti-m was that of the infant son of Afr F. W. Mansfield. Since its formation in 1886 the congregation has steadily increased, so that the erectipn of a larger and more comfortable building hud become an imperative necessity. Thero were now two Sabbath schools, and the number of pupils on the rolls was 350. The minister’s stipend had increased from .£3OO per annum to .£4OO. Tho number of communicants was 230. Mr John McLean, one of the olders, who would lay the memorial stone, was highly deserving of the honour. He had been strongly and warmly attached to the pastor ovor since Mr Elliott arrived in the Colony. The Rev J. K. Elliott briefly addressed tho congregation, and Mr McLean having declared tho stone well and duly laid, said bo

hoped the new church would be the birthplace of many souls. The success of tho Kent Terrace Churoh, ho said, had been in a groat I moasuro duo to tho ministrations of the Rev J. K. Elliott. Mr W. M. Hannay, convenor of tho Building Committee, in presenting a statement regarding tho building fund, said that when lie presented his first financial statement to the congregation seven years ago there was a debt of .£7OO on tho building. The position now was that not only had they paid off that =£7oo, but they had .£llOO in baud towards tho new church. The building, with furnishing, would cost about ,£2500, of which they had in hand .£llOO, and wore borrowing .£I2OO, leaving a oalance of £2OO, which he hoped would he made up before the end of the year. The members of the congregation had contributed very generously to the building fund, but lie wished to make special mention of their friends outside tho congregation who had liberally come to their assistance. Two hymns wore sung, and the Rov AY. Shirer pronounced the Benediction. 'flic silver trowel used by Air McLean, and presented to him by the builders, was suitably inscribed. The mallet was presented by Mr J. AlcCarrison and Sons, and had a neat silver shield suitably inscribed, this being the gift of Air Kean. The memorial stono contained a bottle in which was deposited tho statement read by Mr Thomson, tho current coins of tho realm, copies of the New' Zealand Times and our evening contemporary, the Christian Outlook, and also copies of the church’s first and last printed reports. The cavity in the stone was covered with a copper plate with tho following inscription: terian Church, Wellington. This memorial stono was laid by John McLean, Esq., on 20th May, 1896. Rev J. K. Elliott, 8.A., minister; E. btrang, sessions clerk; P. Thomson, clerk Deacon’s Court. Building Committee—J. McLean, D. Robertson, A. Sconllar, A. H. Riggs, J. Robinson, J. H. Mentiplav, W. AI. Hannay (convener). T’lios. Turnbull*, F.R.1.8.A., architect; Clark and Thompson, builders.” The collection amounted to £62 12s 7d. 'flic Rev J. K. Elliott said that tho church would ho openocl in iho first Sunday in December.