CHURCH IN A THEATRE

Patea Mail, Volume XLVII, 25 April 1924, Page 2

CHURCH IN A THEATRE

A CHRISTCHURCH INNOVATION / . AMPLIFIER TO BROADCAST SERVICE OUTSIDE An- innovation, in so far as Church services are concerned, was introduced by the Kcv. J. J. North, of the Oxford Terrace - Baptist Church, Christchurch, last Sunday evening, when the doors of his cjmrch were closed, and the service was conducted in the Liberty Theatre. The service was probably the first of the kind to be conducted in New Zealand, although the experiment has been tried with success in other countries. At the conclusion of his trip around the world, Mr North was impressed with, a new method of the presentation of religion to the people, and it has been his object during the last few months to devise a means of bringing the people in closer touch with the Church. Interviewed recently, Mr North said that it was an indisputable fact that 60 or 70 per cent of the people to-day did not treat religion as an essential part of their lives. It was a scientific fact that religion was an element in man’s nature, and must have its demands satisfied. It was therefore up to the religious sects of the community to present their religions to their follow-citizens as simply and acceptably as they possibly could. The Oxford Terrace Baptist Church had fallen in with the idea of offering more diversified Church services to the community. Over one hundred members of the Church had joined up as a chorus choir. This feature of the innovation had met with phenomenal success, and the choir was generally regarded as an excellent combination, there being encouraging rallies of nlusic-lovcrs at all the services at which the vocalists were in attendance.

Mr North stated that th'c Church was stepping on new ground in conducting services in the Liberty Theatre in natura.l surroundings, which direct appeal to every man and woman, struck the central note in Christianity, and could not help being a success, , An even more modern innovation with regard to the services is that an amplifier was erected on a stand on the balcony of the theatre, in order that those who were unable to gain admittance or those who had a natural aversion to attending Church services might hear the proceedings out of doors. Both vocal selections and instrumental music were audible through the medium of the amplifier, and Mr North delivered a speech for the benefit of those who did not attend the proceedings indoors. “There is nothing sensational in this innovation,” said Mr North. “It is my firm conviction that religion is sensational enough in itself. ’ ’