NEW INGLEWOOD CHURCH

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1926, Page 6

NEW INGLEWOOD CHURCH

FOUNDATION STONE LAID AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. PROGRESS OF THE KNOX CHURCH. Another milestone iu the history of Knox Presbyterian Church at Inglewood was passed yesterday, when the foundation etone of the new concrete church now being erected to replace the wooden structure that has served the congregation since 1903, was laid by Mrs. J. Parli, one of the original members of the Inglewood church. The service, which took place in the open air in perfect summer weather, was of a very impressive devotional nature. The Rev. J. 11. Boyd, minister-in-charge of the district, presided, and there were associated with him on the platform, Mrs. J. Parli, and Messrs S. R. Darlow (Mayor of Inglewood), and E. Walter. M.P., for the district. There was a large congregation, including the Revs. H. Lindsay (Anglican), J. W. Bayliss ('Methodist) and Captain Proiise (Salvation Army). The service opened with the singing of the hymn “The Church’s One Foundation,” led by the choir, with Mrs. J. Roberts presiding at the organ. Then followed a devotional prayer and a reading (“God's House of Worship”), and the hymn, “Christ is Our Cornerstone.” Mr. James Roberts, session clerk, gave an interesting history of the church in Inglewood, stating that from under the foundation stone of the old church a ‘bottle had been taken containing a parchment with the history of the church, a copy of the Inglewood Record, Taranaki Daily News and Taranaki Herald, dated August 4, 1902. He then read the following, which was placed under the stone: “This parchment, along with copies of the Taranaki Daily News, Taranaki Herald, Inglewood Record and Outlook, was taken from under the foundation stone of the original Inglewood Presbyterian Church and is being re-deposit-ed with current issues of the local newspapers and Outlook under the memorial stone of a new church laid by Mrs. J. Parli on December 16, 1926. ADDITIONS TO HISTORY. “The following items of interest are added to the history of the church from the date on which the first foundation stone was laid: In 1901 services were commenced at Tarata. In 1902 Sunday school work was commenced at Inglewood. The original church was .opened in 1903. In, 1906 the Tarata Church was built and in 1908 services were commenced at Waitui. In 1910 the manse was built on a section on Junction Road donated to the congregation by Mrs. H. B. Curtis. In this year the debt remaining on the church was extinguished. In 1913 the first communicants’ roll in connection with the congregation was compiled, showing a total of 23 members. In that year senior Bible Class work began, and in 1914 a junior Bible Class was formed. In 1915 Messrs Alexander Lindsay, John Prosser, and James Roberts were ordained a,e elders forming the original session. From 1914 to 1918 the members of the congregation actively assisted in providing comforts for men engaged in the Great War. For some years the need had been felt for a hall, to be used for Sunday school and social purposes. Y r arious schemes were proposed to fill that want, and in 1923 the management committee first entered into negotiations for the building of this new church in order that the original building might be used as a hall. Difficulties were encountered and overcome, and thanks largely to the efforts of a splendid ladies’ guild, the sum of £425 is now in hand as the nucleus of a fund for the payment of the new building, which is to cost £llBO. “At the first annual meeting of the congregation the treasurer’s statement showed the revenue at £l7O. At ths last meeting it stood at £437. The Communicants Roll in 1913 showed 23 names. To-day there are 90 communicant members.”

WORK OF LADIES GUILD. The Rev. J. Boyd remarked that as the result of the efforts, mainly of the Ladies’ Guild, the sum of £420 was in hand towards the cost of the new church, which was estimated at £llBO. They had no debt on the manse or the present church, which was to be used as a Sunday school hall. He hoped that as the result of efforts on the part of the congregation and the Ladies’ Guild, the debt would be wiped off in a few years. He apologised for the absence of the Rev. 'McGregor, of Stratford. Mr. Boyd said they had reached a stage that marked the passing of an important milestone in the history of the church in Inglewood, and it would not be out of place to consider what the church stood for. By “church,” he did not mean specially the Presbyterian church, but the Church of Jesus 'Christ, irrespective of denomination. The church in any community stood for the highest, the noblest and the very best in that community, though into the church perhaps sometimes came men ’ and women’ not of the noblest. The Church had a great uplifting influence and turned the affection and desires to higher things. He had lived in communities where there was no church •end the moral tone of those communi:es was lower than where church life sas in vogue. In church life they took Yold of the children and sought to indicate in their minds some noble thoughts; something that would help to mould their characters and fit them to take their place in the world. The influence of the church was. of a wholesome nature, drawing the affections away from the material and worldly things to • something noble and spiritual. They must march onward in church life. It was some years ago since the idea of building the new church and utilising the present church as a Sunday school first took shape. There had been many difficulties and trials to overcome and much uphill work, but their thoughts, aspirations and prayers were in part being realised that day by the laying of the foundation stone of the new church. DENOMINATIONS FOREGATHER. The Rev. Boyd extended a welcome to the members of the other denominations present, remarking that it was good to gather together occasionally and try to forget whether they were Methodists,. Anglicans or Presbyterians, or perhaps neither. He then presented a silver trowel to Mrs. J. Parli, stating that with Mrs. D. Allen, Mr. Lindsay and others, she was one of the oldest and most worthy members of (he church.

Mrs. Parli then performed the ceremony of laying the stone, the bottle containing the mementos being placed underneath. The stone bore the inscription: “This memorial stone was laid by Mrs. J. Parli, to the Glory of God, on 16th. December, 1926.” The impressive dedication prayer was then rendered by the Rev. J. H. .Boyd, after which Mr.,E. Walter, M.P., briefly spoke, remarking that men had a code of honour which ho thought fell far short of what was required, though they tried to do unto others as they would be done by.. It was the ladies who were the real helpers in church work; in fact, but for the Ladies’ Guild he did not know how many churches would be financial. He hoped the keen interest taken by the ladies in church matters would continue to grow, because it was the mo'ther who read the Bible to her child and sent him to Sunday school. He urged the congregation, to be loyal to their minister and their church, and hoped that it would not be long before Rev. Boyd would be holding a thanksgiving service to mark the church’s freedom from debt. He trusted that no one would enter the church but would come out of it a better man or woman. Mr. S. R. Darlow, as; representative, of every denomination in the town,-con-

gratulatcd the Presbyterians on having taken such a forward step as had been taken that day. Mr. R. Stewart, chairman of the Im glewood County Council, congratulated the congregation on the forward step. If the church did not forge ahead it must, drift back, as it could not stand etill. He therefore trusted that their efforts would be crowned by success. The hymn "O God of Bethel,” and the Benediction, concluded the ceremony. , Afterwards those present adjourned to the old church building, where a dainty afternoon tea was dispensed by the ladies of the congregation, and congratulatory addresses were given by the Rev. Lindsay (Anglican), Bayliss (’Methodist) and Captain Prouse (Salvation -Army). The new church is being erected in concrete immediately in front of the old building. Its dimensions are 32ft by 32ft, and its* seating capacity is 111. It was designed by Messrs Messenger, Griffiths and Taylor, and the contractors are Messrs Arthur and Adinall, of Inglewood. The contract price was £llBO. The old church, which is to be used as a Sunday school hall, has a seating capacity of 130. Its foundation stone was .laid by Lord Raiifwly on August 4, 1902.