CHURCH RITUAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 382, 16 June 1928, Page 1

CHURCH RITUAL

DEAN DIFFERS FROM CHAPTER LAYMEN’S IDEAS REJECTED (From Our Own CorrespondentJ HAMILTON, To-day. Since the annual meeting of parishioners of St. Peter’s Cathed - ral, several long meetings of the Chapter have been held, and the question of ritual discussed. Suggestions have been made to Dean Barnett, but he has rejected them. At the annual meeting, a new chapter was elected, and a majority of its members declared themselves definitely opposed to extreme ritualistic practices. The question has been thoroughly discussed by the chapter at one meeting, when a deadlock was reached. On Thursday, June 7, it was resolved that the chapter respectfully suggests to Dean Barnett the following scheme for morning services: That on one Sunday in each month, and the fifth Sunday, and on any special feast days, the 11 a.m. Holy Communion be choral, and on the other Sundays there be morning prayer, and if desirable Holy Communion; the purificator to be used at all Communion services, and that Eucharastic vestments be not used at any service. The chapter added that it was firmly of opinion that if the scheme were carried out, the difficulty of collecting the necessary funds for parochial purposes would be largely removed. The chapter then adjourned for a week in order to get an answer from the dean. On Thursday, June 14, at the adjourned meeting, the dean, in a written reply which he read to the chapter, took up the attitude that the chapter had no power to deal with the questions carried by the resolution, and, further, that even if an overwhelming majority of the parishioners held the same view as the chapter, he would still maintain his attitude, on the ground that tho form of service was a matter for the clergy alone to decide. Asked by a Sun man for his opinion. Dean Barnett said to-day that the Press was not the place for the domestic affairs of the church to be aired. It is understood that the subject will be referred to in the dean’s sermon to-morrow evening.