OPPNING OF THE NEW "ENGLISH CHURCH AT BALCLUTHA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4174, 5 July 1875, Page 7

OPPNING OF THE NEW "ENGLISH CHURCH AT BALCLUTHA.

St. Mark's Church, Balclutha, was formally opened by the Right Rev. >Bishop Nevill on theforenoonof Thursday, l7thnlt. The building, which has just been completed, is a Gothic structure, of an outside measurement of 3G x 46 feet, with 12 feet walls. The building is very centrally situated in Renfrew street, has a very neat appearance, and affords abundant accommodation for the requirements of the congregation. The main building and transept is lighted by five triplet Gothic windows, and the chancel by three windows. It is seated for about 150 individuals. The walls are lined with red Tapanui pine, and the roof with white pine, the whole being varnished. . The seats,' which are of kauri, are also varnished. _ The bell toiver is very neat, and finely proportioned, and a convenient vestry is attached to the building. Messrs Mason and Wales were the architects, and Mr John Barty, of Balclutha, the contractor. The co-t of the whole is about £GSO, and the whole work has been executed in a very careful, substantial, and satisfactory manner to all concerned.

It had beeu announced that the Right Rev. Bishop Nevill would open the Church on Thursday; and' notwithstanding that the weather was -very1 cold'fwid wet, there' was a large congregation, the building being quite filled. The Rev. Mr Withey, the pastor of the congregation, read the prayers, the Rev. Mr Leeson, of Port Chalmers, read the lessons for the day, and the Bishop delivered an appropriate and practical sermon, from the text Psalm xx vi. 8. In . addition to., these clergymen, there were also present the Revs. Messrs Stanford, Dunedin; Coffey, Tokomairiro; ami Salter, Balclutha. TEA. MEETING AND CONCERT. , A tea-meeting and concert ti celebrate the opening of the Church, was held in Barr's hall the same evening. A very large number of all denominations were present Shortly after half-past six o'clock —the hour named— the tables were all quite filled, and, after a blessing had been asked by His Lordship, a sumptuous tea was pax-taken of. The tables were five in' number,- and were supplied by the following ladies belonging to the congregation : —Mesdames Smith, MfOwen, Renner, Stanbrook, assisted by Misses Murphy and Atkinson, Mr Hutchins (at whose table the Misses Bruce presided), and a Bachelors' table, presided over by Miss Low and Miss Battrick. Tea. being concluded, His Lordship returned thanks, and the tables were removed. The comet commenced at 8 o'clock.

His Lordship the Bishop occupied the chair, and said that everyone would readily acknowledge that the day of the opening of the_ new church would ever be regarded as an era in the history of BaMutha. He referred to the number of Church of England clergymen %vho had been walking the streets that day—a larger mimber than had ever been there together, before, and said it seemed a3 if the Acclimatisation Society had turned out all their rooks and crows and they had settled down in Balclutha. He found from the programme that these rooks and crows were to address them, and he hoped they would not give the Hon. Sir John Richardson any occasion afterwards to proceed and pluck the whole of them. He (his Lordship) had expected that the Rev. Mr M'Ara, the Presbyterian clergyman, would also have been present, but he had received a letter from him explaining that he had unexpectedly been called from home on duty. That day, he said, was a point in the history of the district which they were entitled to rejoice ever, not only as it marked progress in the development of the material resources and was an evidence of progression, but also because of the religious indications it gave. All felt that it marked a step in progress in religious matters. The building they had erected would furnish, for the congregation a rallying point—a fixed-place where they • could meet together and realise their privileges, 'tlieir brotherhood and unity as_ a Church of Christ . The congregation, he said, were much to be congratulated upon the superior style of building they had erected. In its architectural correctness, its execution, and the accommodation it afforded, it was everything that could be desired. The building was very creditable indeed to the members of the congregation, and while he congratulated them upon their success he had also to express his thanks to those who had taken an active part in carryh \g out the task. When he had visited the district about ten, months ago to organise the parish, he cercertainly did not anticipate that they_ would be able so soon to provide such a building. He also thanked those unconnected with their Church who had contributed towards its erection, and taken an interest in the work. He could not omit to mention the service which hadbeeu rendered by one individual iii superintending the work, and to whose untiring watchfulness much of the satisfactory result was to be attributed. He also referred to the fact that a debt still-remained upon the building, which he understood was about LBOO, but he had not yet been fully informed as to its financial position, otherwise he would have explained it, as he thought all who had contributed, and were- interested in it, should know. He referred to Mr Withey's labours amongst them, and said, although they had got a building1, it would be of very little good without a living voi e-ywithout a minister. He often heard in Dunedin of Mr Withey's services being fully appreciated amongst them, and was glad to have that day seen evidences of the cordial feeling which subsisted between them. He hoped it would long continue and increase more and more. He referred to Mr Withey having been brought up in a parish where the clergyman and his people lived upon the most cordial terms, and hoped the experience* of his early days would be reproduced in Balclutha to their mutual benefit. He con-: eluded by urging upon laymen to afford their pastor assistance in secular arid pecuniary matters, and not to leave all such worlc upon his shoulders.

. The Rev. Mr Withev chose for his subject the event of the clay—the opening of their new church. He referred to the substantial, neat, and chaste style of the building-. When he first came to Balclutha, he little dreamed they would so soon have a new churcTi to worship in. He heartily thanked the Building Committee, and also the ladies, for, the labour they had performed in connection with the matter, and tHe success of which, was more due to them than to anything he had done. The building was simply an evidence of their christianhearted liberality, arid that of those belonging to other denominations who had contributed towards their church. .He explained the reason for making choice of St. Mark's as the name of their church, and wliich simply was because that was the name of the church in which he; had worshipped at home. He was anxious to preserve and benefit by the many associations connected with that church. In conclusion, he expressed his great pleasure at seeing so large an attendance that evening, and trusted they would all spend a happy evening together. The Rev. Mr Stanford, after a few introductory remarks, humorously referred to his early experience of Balclutha, when he found the people relished more to congregate under the verandah of a house down the street to listening to him. He tried to get them to in'eet in the Court-house, but had failed, and one day he had only the Serjeant of Police for ■i congregation, and whom he easily dismissed. The moral he drew from his failure and the event of that day was that he had not had sufficient faith in the future and the inhabitants of Balclutha. He pointed out the solemn. nature of the work of building the first church in a district, and congratulated the congregation upon the beauty and excellence of the building they had reared. Miss Brewer then sang " Queen Mary's prayer;" Mr Corrigan, "He shall feed His Hock ;" and Miss M. Bruce, " Lead me," when the Hon. Sir John Richardson was next called upon, and was received with continued applause. During this applause someone indulged in giving one or two loud whistles. _ A member of Committee said, in a loud voice, " Woul'l you be good enough not to whistle '!'' Sir John lilCflAun.soN replied : " I may mention, before I proceed with my remarks, that 1

had no'intention-of whistling," whica occasioned a burst of laughter. AVhen silence was restored he proceeded humorously to review some of the remarks of the previous speakers. He then referred to the, mauy sections into which the Christian Church was divided, and counselled the manifestation of a spirit of Christian love throughout the Church generally. .. He concluded by referring to his having that day received a rate notice from the Municipality. -He would, he said, always love the man who sent him it, as it reminded him of his connection with the town, a-nd-while he lived he would always regard Balclutha as his parish, and the Balclutliaclergyman as liis pastor. The Rev. MtLkehos referred-to.his having sailed with Mr Withey to New Zealand, and expressed his gratification in knowing that his lines had fallen in pleasant places. He pointed out some of the long train of circumstances which followed upon the building of a Church, such as the Sabbath School, the Choir, &c, and concluded-by congratulating the congregation upon their prosperity. Votes of thanks were passed to the ladies, the speakers, and others, and the meeting separated at half-past nine o'clock, all seeming well pleased with the entertainment, '