NEW CHURCH AT MOTUNUI

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1927, Page 11

NEW CHURCH AT MOTUNUI

FOUNDATION STONE LAID DEDICATION BY THE BISHOP, LARGE GATHERING OF RESIDENTS For the Anglicans of Motonui and the surrounding districts yesterday was a red letter day. The foundation stone of a ne: • church was laid by Mr. W. 11. Skinner and the building was dedicated by the Right Re% C. A. Cherrington. Itishon of Waikato. There was a very large gathering of settlers from far and near and renreecntatives of New Plymouth and Waitara. Ministers present were Archdeaeo- F. G. Evans, and the Revs. F. G. Harvie. G. 11. Gavin, 11. G. Sell. J. L. A. Kayll, H. Lindsey, G. T. Beale. E. H. Strong and K. Harawhera. Mr. H. V. S. Griffith’ represented the architects. Messrs. Messenger, Griffiths and Taylor, and Mr. E. Wickham attended as the contractor. The event was the culmination of efforts to raise money extending over many years. Mrs. Stockton was the prime mover in the matter and, assisted by other enthusiasts, she gradually built the fund, up till yesterday it had reached the sum of £330. A collection taken up at the service added a further £l5. The cost of the section and building together amount to about £450, and then some money will be required for furnishings. The walls of the church have already been raised five feet or so in reinforced concrete. They enclose a space 25 feet long by 17 feet wide sufficient, it is estimated, to provide accommodation for between 40 and 50 people. The building will face the main road and its situation has been w r ell chosen with a view to giving greatest convenience to the greatest number. A PLEASING APPEARANCE. The walls are to be finished on the outside in white Atlas cement and on the inside in white piaster. An open roof with dressed principals will be oiled to bring out the grain. Three windows on either side of the building will be filled with cathedral glass in leadlights. The front entrance will be protected by a porch while, for the present, a small corner of the nave will bo enclosed as a vestry. Provision has been made at the end of the building, however, for the addition of a chancel and vestry in the future; most of the rear wall i.i composed of a brick panel that may be easily taken out when the time comes for" the extension. Though small, the church will have a pleasing and simple appearance. The dedication ceremony was performed by the Bishop, assisted by the Rev G. H, Gavin and Archdeacon Evans. The hymns were sung by children from the school. ' At the conclusions, Mr. Skinner laid the stone in its final position, thus, exposing the simply short inscription: “A.D.M.G., 1927.” The letters are the Latin for the phrase: “To the Greater Glory of God.” “We are gathered together to inaugurate a further extension of the Kingdom of God,” said his Lordship in commencing his address. Whenever a new diocese or parish was formed there waa an extension of God’s Kingdom and the same thing was true when they erected a house of God. It stood as proof that it was their desire to love and serve Him. The term “to extend God’s Kingdom” did not always mean its widening by the conversion of heathen people. WHAT THE CHURCH STOOD FOR. That was one meaning, but not the only one. The Kingdom was deepened when they let the truths they stood for become more widely known. The stone laid that day stood for the greater glory of God. They were building this church for His greater glory and as » further proof that the people of Um district wished to be considered Christians. His Lordship appealed to the residents always to keep the church doors open A closed church was a disgrace to Christianity, and showed how many people there were who did not go into it. There was no excuse for keeping it closed during the day. They should not be afraid of things being stolen. The church was a place for quiet prayer, which could be much more helpful and comforting under such' condi tions. The residents were urged to make some arrangements under which the building could bo opened every day, even if someone had to be there. Late in the week last Sunday’s footmarks would still be on the floor and the hymn numbers would still be up. It was as if no one cared. Someone should go to the church on Mondays to clean and tidy it, so that a passerby could say: “This is a place that is taken carq of.” ADVICE TO CONGREGATION. Let them adorn the church with holy pictures and other suitable articles and ’thus, make it homely and worthy as a house of God. They should not allow the churn 1 ! to be empty. It was a great thing io erect a church as fitness that they b-. lieved in God, but let them use it as well. They should fill the church, and so encourage the minister and help towards the salvation oi their fellowmen. Something still remained to bo collected. It was a great thing to work for in a parish and they could all serve by seeing that the amount owing was quickly paid. Each person might not be able to give much, but a little put aside often booh mounted up. His Lordship concluded by congratw lating those responsible for the build ing of a church to serve one part of the scattered diocese. He hoped it might be blessed as a tabernacle of God. The Rev. G. H. Gavin said thanks were specially due to Mrs. Stockton and other residents of the district for what they had done in promoting the fund. Subsequently afternoon tea was served in the hall by a ladies’ committee under Mrs. G. Foreman. s