PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT RANFURLY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 33

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT RANFURLY.

THE OPENING SERVICES. (From Our Own* Cokbestoxdest.) NASEBY, April 17. The new Presbyterian Church at Ran* furly, the building of which has just been completed, was opened for divine service yesterday afternoon. Heavy and welcome rains had fallen late on the preceding nighfc and early on the Sunday morning, but notwithstanding this tne roads quickly dried, and the afternoon was beautifully fine, with thp sun shining; triglitly. The church is situated towards the northeast of Ranfuvly, near the public school, and away a little from the immediate township. The size of the building inside is 34ft by 24ft clear, and attached to the main church is a neat session house 12ffc square. 1 Tlip building is constructed of wood and roofed with iron, rusticated boards forming the outride wa'ls. while the- whole is lined fhrousjhout with ,in board and varnished. The height frr.-n fl~or In top ot roof inside is 21ft, heavy principals bolted together, with kingpeofc and curved trusses holdingthe roof. The windows, 13 in number, are in Gothic style, and frosted and decorated, the top half cn-pning inwards to throw the draught over the heads of the congregation. The doors are made with Gothic heads 2in thick ,- while the floor has a slope of lOin io semicircular pulpit, havingmoulded hand-rail supported on turned pillars. On top of the- front gable is thebelfry, while the other gables have iron finiak. The church, which is appropriately painted, has a seating accommodation foi 123, while with extra seat.? it will hold 180. The seats are made in 19ft lengths, with a division board up the centre, the passagcy/ay being on either aide. Th© building is neat and eomfovtabl&. and does credit tc its architect (Mr R. H. Rrowne, C.E., of Naeeby) and builder (Mr A. Ball, ol Naseby). ihe latter of whom mads everything connected with ii rr — dtnrs, windows seats, etc. The seating ; nd -extra statins: accommodation were taxed to the utmost on Sunday, some of the congregation having to mak6 use of the pulpit steps. Many worshippers were present from Naseby and the districts outlying-. The service was conducted bj the Rev. Dr Wadrlc-11, from Dnnedin, who in the course of it addressed the young people present in a manner and upon a subject appropriate to tho orcasion. Foj his sermon to Ihe congregation he chose ai hi= text I«aiah xl. 9: '' O Zion, thai bringest forth good tidings, g<*t Thee up inte the high mountain." and in an eloquent anc telling- manner spoke of the- Church's mis? sion — a teller of oood tidings, and tin method of doing if : getting tip into tht high mountains. At the close of his ad dre^s he congratulated the congregatior upon rhp. building of ihe church, anci exhorted his .bearers that tin 5 church might not be known merr»lv by its construction oi wood and stone, but by a congregation ol men and women, of youths and maidens of high and pure and noblo characters and idoals. Before th^ ofrm-ioi-y was made the Ew. J. M'Coth Smith M.K., 8.D., the pastor, mentioned thai the church waopened free of debt. To further celebrate the opening a social is to bo held at Ranfurly on Tuesday nigln, at which aie io be present several clergyir.cn from D'ineJ'n and other centres.

1 '- p >'" • ' < i rrovnhns hornet foi «onio ot it-, w.vkmen is or;°a°:in£> (he attention of the Hutt County Council.