ST. MARTIN’S CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22356, 1 September 1934, Page 21

ST. MARTIN’S CHURCH

INDUCTION OF NEW VICAR REV. CURZON-SIGGERS INSTITUTED. After a period of three months without a vicar, parishioners •of St. Martin’s, North-East Valley, gathered at the church last night, when the Bishop of Dunedin (Bishop Fitchett) inducted the Rev. W. A. Curzon-Siggers, M.A., LL.M., as vicar. There was a large congregation, and many clergy took part, either m the ceremony itself or in the choral procession from the vestry. During the processional hymn, “ Thy Hand, O God, Has Guided,” the choir, followed by assisting clergy, the bishop’s chaplain bearing the crozier and the bishop proceeded from the vestry to the chancel, the vicar-elect being supported by the two churchwardens. Then tollowed various collects 1 and prayers, and the new vicar was solemnly inducted by the bishop, who then instructed Archdeacon Whitehead to read the letters of institution. The vicar then knelt and received the episcopal blessing, the churchwardens, Messrs W. C. Reilly and R. E. Kofoed, who had been standing behind him in the chancel, then retiring to the nave.

The bishop next read the commendation to the congregation, after which followed' evening prayer taken by the new vicar. The lessons were read by the Rev. W. A. Hamblett and Archdeacon Bytton. The sermon was preached by Dean Cruickshank, who took big text from Jude xx and xxi.

The whole diocese, said the dean, rejoiced that the parish of St. Martin again had a vicar. He congratulated the parish on _ the loyalty and service with which affairs had been carried on in the interim, and said that the backbone of church w r ork was those whose names, probably, were never mentioned but whose quiet yet effective work enabled the gap to he bridged. In the name of Christ he thanked them, and called on them loyally and lovingly to assist their new vicar.

_ “ Every one of us is different,” continued the preacher. “ God never makes a duplicate, and we have all been given differing talents to do varying jobs which no one else can do. Therefore, if we fail in our particular job, everything is upset, and so it is up to all of us to do our bit and our best.”

Dean Cruickshank concluded with a short acrostic on the word " Love,” stressing loyalty to God, to church, and to vicar, obedience, the need for vitality in religion, and for setting an example. The blessing was given by the bishop, and the retiring processional hymn was “For All the Saints.”

After the service, there was a social gathering in the parish hall, at which Mr Kofoed welcomed the vicar on behalf of th 4 parish.