DUNDAS STREET PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13206, 13 February 1905, Page 4 (Supplement)

DUNDAS STREET PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

The laying of the foundation 'stones of tho extension to the Dundtis Street Primitive Methodist .Church and of the new Sunday school, adjoining the church, took place on January 25 in the presence of a. fairly numerous gathering of the congregation, which would lio doubt have boon larger but for the fact that the weather was inclement.

The plan of the extension and new sohool gives promiso of two very handsome buildings as viewed; from Dundas street, or, rather, of what appears as one building, with a steeple rising to a height of-about 70ft in the centre. Tho church will be extended to .the footpath, a distance of 12ft- ■ and . will be the same width as tho present church-7-27ft. The new Sunday school will consist of an assembly liall 40ft by 32ft, and at tho rear will be a rcom 20ft by Hft. The upstairs portion will he' devoted to class rooms, of which there will be 17. Mr W. King, jun., is the architect, and the contracts are let in various directions. The total cost involved-is about £1600..

A hymn havirig been sung and prayer offered _by the Ecv. B. Metson, the six foundation stones along the frontages of the Sunday school and the church extension were laid by the Mayor (Mr T. 11. Christie), Mr K. Chisholm, Mr J. Barnes, Mr TV. King (superintendent of the Sunday School), Mr J. W. Roberts (circuit steward), and the Rev. W. Layccck (pastor of tho church), tho latter gentleman mentioning that -in place .of the stones bearing the

names .of those who had laid'them a tablet would bo placed inside the building and would have inscribed upon'it the names of those taking part in the function. l l rc- s vious; to_ each stone-being declared well and truly laid, the layer was presonted with a malleti Jbtaring' his'i name and a suitable inscription,. the only exception being Mr Roberts, who was presented with a trowel. The gathering then-entered the ohurch, where, after' a' hymn", had been sung, speeohes were delivered by those who had taken part in the ceremony outside. The. Rev. Sir Layoock, .who presided, said ■ therevhad teen' an absolute need for a Mhoolrpom., ;ltihad;been.pitiable that they had had only one room for every kind of meeting they desired to hold. There . were 230 to 250 children on the roll, and on Sunday, . afternoons, the church had been paokd from end to ;end, and there \vas no obanoo of separating the classes from one another. The result had been that one. teacher, had had; to shout out against the other," and ho supposed the one with the strongest voice got the better of it. It would be a great , blesairig when they got thoir new school with its. 17 classrooms. He prboceded to refer to the record of the laying of the foundation' stone of the church, which had taken place on Christmas : Day, 1878, and said at the end of 26 years they met' together, to extend thoir borders. - Everything would be new except the manse and a bit of eliuroh in the middle. •

, Addresses were delivered by tloi Mayor (Mr'T. R. Christie),.; Messrs R. Chisholm, J, Barnes, King (Sunday School superintendent), and J. W, Roberts (circuit steward), •The Rev, Mr Laycock mentioned that the offertory takon up had resulted in £28. Mr Roberts had been the donor of £300 towards tho oxtensimi of the church, as Mr King had been the donor of £300 towards tile school. /