Priest Builds His Own Church

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 119, 10 August 1927, Page 4

Priest Builds His Own Church

Dream of Years Coming Trvc Down near Limehouse Basin. Lt.l don, a Roman Catholic priest, Fath-I F. H. Higley, is realising a dream ell 30 years, and is buildling hi* evl church. Contractor, clerk of worti overseer, and'foreman rolled into on Father Higley is known as the“buiic. ing priest,” for already he has be;three schools for Roman Catht.: children in the Limehouse di»tr, For his present ambitious task : staff consists of five skilled works; who are under his direct supervise, In the evenings members of his aggregation come along and do all s. of odd jobs. At first Father Hi? took a hand in bricklaying, concrr • mixing, and excavating, but found*.; this heavy work placed him on sick list with colds. The ecif which is to replace the existing Ckr of Our Lady Immaculate alongside an amazing bit of work for an a: teur contractor. It is to be 140: by 45 f£et, w’ith a front tower r..v to a height of over 90 feet, and * hold 600 people. At the rear a foot statue dedicated to the SacHeart. on a 70-feet high pedestal. r overlook the Thames, and at vz will probably be illuminated. Work began last summer, and ready the five workmen, under :: clerical foreman, have almost completed the excavations, put down foundations, and nearly finishedbrickwork of the presbytery. ing the kitchen and living quarter' I the church workers. What a#*' the task more remarkable is that church is being built on a site (■ ' pied by an old sausage factor) small church, and two houses, inc building is going up steadily, aW demolition has not yet been comp.There is method in this arrange for economy is the keynote of Fs Higlev’s endeavour, and much o. material from the demolition •• right into the ne\v church. “Why am I doing this?” said Far Higley. “To save money. I mate that by cuting out the tor and doing as much ns ourselves we shall save a fifth ®‘ cost. Supposing the building have cost £ 20.000. we shall do £16.00°. “A legacy of provider main source of our funds. bfltJJ*'.. had lots of presents. The fo®* stone, which is to be laid hv Bourne, was a gift, and women congregation have collected a peal of bells. Kxcept for uk. . ing. the decorations, and P work, we shall finish the churt* . selves. Tt. will require a but niv motto is slow but s • : will be a happy day for me*p. i is completed, for I have b " n for 30 vrars to get the chW*f^ In the midst of the bnildW, ; demolition operations stands ® .. I ful plane tree, which will ■ - i sacrifieed. “It was un<,pr .3 «* 1 that Cardinal Manning P™ ac ,(i ! he opened the old church m. . added Father Higley. ”7 ti! , sorrv to have it cut down. ■ not he lost to us entirely—-u- ---' will be used for making t' ina

v. Mrs. Ocorse. Miss Eilett ' raeh. Miss Mellsop v. Mrs. 5 Mcnzie.s v. Mrs. ( Vo* land v. Miss A. Whyte. V** Miss Katz. Miss K,l ‘»e n j if Mi*' Miss Dreadon v. MW B. »J" jj ic t*.-£‘ v. Miss R. O’lX)Uvhler. , 1 Miss K. O Louchlen, McArthur. Miss Clarke '• Miss Kimrnonds v. Miss Ttttiß A f* grade medal match played. _ Waingaro Club (From Our Own CcrrcsP**** WAINGARO, 1 The final ot the Wains*™®* ► championship was w<* - 1 Hampton Cup is: —Is Re |a | Parsons V. J. Upton. ...