SHED AS CHURCH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 793, 14 October 1929, Page 10

SHED AS CHURCH

But Te Papapa Gains Real Building PRIMATE AT CEREMONY Te Papapa’s first cnurch will be opened on Thursday evening. It had its beginnings in a coal merchant’s shed. For a year past, the congregation in a shed in Mays Road, rented in tho first place by the Rev. J. lsherwood. now vicar in the Bay of Islands, has averaged about 22 people. “Coal and Firewood Merchant” was the ordinary painted sign on the shed, but inside, the members of the congregation managed to bring about a sturdy foundation for their new church, St. Theodore's. Tlie Primate, Archbishop Averill, will perform the opening ceremony. Next Sunday will see the first services in the church. Early morning communion will be held and then there will be a confirmation ceremony. In the evening, Archdeacon Simkin will preach. From the holding of its most recent service in distinctly pioneering fashion, the congregation will move into St. Theodore’s, which will have accommodation for over 200 people. The minister will be the Rev. R. Butler, who also has control of S ? . George’s. Penrose. The parish, including Te Papapa, Ellerslie, Penrose and St. Oswald’s, One Tree Hill, 5 controlled by the Rey. R. J. Stanton. The nearest churches to Te Papapa are in Onehunga. Te Papapa is a growing district and there has been urgent need for a church. Besides the efforts of the church committee in raising funds, an assisting grant for the construction was secured from the church. The energy of the committee has been responsible for the comparatively rapid provision of the church since the efforts were begun in earnest. Mr. Philip R. Dunkley, people’s warden, Mr. A. Mackenzie, vicar’s warden, and the secretary and treasurer, Mrs. Mackenzie, have been prominent in the work. Before Te Papapa had services in a shed, the residents heard occasional sermons in the schoolroom.