ECCLESIASTICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 16, 20 January 1902, Page 2

ECCLESIASTICAL.

ST. LUKE'S OHURCH, BELL BLOCK. The new Anglican Church of Si. LukeV, recently erected at Bell Block, was formally opened on Sunday afternoon, when there was a large congregation present. The Venerable Archdeacon Govett conducted the ceremony, assisted by Revs. F. G, Evans and F. A. Bennett, and Messrs Bennett, sen,, J. Young and A. Cartwright. The service commenced with the hymn " The Church's one Foundation." The psalms taken were the 84th and part of 122 nd. Messrs. Young and Beonett, sen., then read the lessons. The dedication service was read by the Rev. F. G. Evians in a very impressive manner. The hymn, " Rock of Ages" followed, after which Archdeacon Govett gave a short address. He eaid he would tnot preach a sermon, but; would | say a few words of thankfulness and encouragement. At first he had thought the congregation had undertaken a task beyond their power when they proposed to build a new church in their midst. But he was pleased to eee that whea oi hers had seen thit the congregation wera in earnest,, they had come forward with assistance. Handsome contributions had come from St Mary's vestry, and from outside persons. He hopad tbat the project for further improvements would meat with similar success. It was a source of thankfulness that God had moved the hearts of bis people to do these things, and provide a suitable building to be set aside for services connected with Divine worship, referring in addition to ordinary cervices to bap:ism, confirmation, communion, marriage, and the last sad rites after death. The house of God should be reverenced by all, and he admonished the congregation not to allow any unseemly levity of behaviour within its walls. They should show their ap-J preciationof th/ir newchurchbyattending worship regularly. In concluding, | the Ven, Archdeacon said this might | be the last occasion on whioh he would speak in that building, and he trusted.

his heaters would so order their lives that they would come at last into the full enjoyment of the Kingdom of Heaven.

| BAPTIST OHCROH. I At yesterday's service sin the Gill-street { ! Baptish Church, special reference was j ' made to. the tact that the long period i during which the Church has been , without a pastor is fast drawing to a | close. i On the first Sunday in February, tho . Rev. W. R. Woolley. begins his minis- > try here, and judging from the testi-1 < mony of those who have known him ( ever since he came to the colony in j 1883, and from the experience of his . short period of supply here in September and October last, his advent will be a distinct jfain to the ministerial ranks of sew Plymouth. Mr Woolley, who received hi# ministerial training at Bristol College, England, is a man of wide reading, which evidences itself in his and the . local Baptists are to be congratulated ! on his acceptance of their invitation. Prior to leaving England, the rev. ' gentleman was pastor of the Bideford ' Baptist Church, which seats some 600 [ people. The strain, however, was too great, and he sought renewed health ' in the colony, finding a congenial ' sphere at the Thames, where be re- ' mained 16 years and earned the sincere regard and esteem of all classes of the J community. Severe nervous pros- . tration impaled him to resign in > 1899; but a trip to England and two and a-half years of almost complete ' rest haye done wonders, and we join in 3 the general wish that the genial clim <te j of New Plymouth msy complete the 1 cure and ensure to pastor and toohurch a lengthy connection crowned with the 3 tiuest Bupcess.