THE CHAPEL SERVICE,

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1932, Page 15

THE CHAPEL SERVICE,

VALUE OF RELIGIOUS TRAINING.

EARLY WORK OF CANON STRONG.

The school chapel service at St. Mary’s Church, New Plymouth, held at 9.30 each Sunday morning, has become an integraL part of the school life. The service was inaugurated by the Rev. E. H. Strong, M.A., B. Litt., when he came to New Plymouth in 1922 to take charge of the parish of St. Mary’s durin" the absence in England of the vicar, the Rev. F. G. Harvie. With the institution of the school service came the formation of the school choir. Two years later, at the request of the old boys, the first reunion service was held at Easter. • ,■. ' With the institution of the school service, confirmation classes began to play a large part in the school life, steadily growing until the inspirational value of having so many boys before them from the school for confirmation each year has become a frequent matter for comment by Archbishop Averill and Bishop Cherrington. In the year 1927, when there were 92 candidates from the school for confirmation, Taranaki was separated from the Diocese of Auckland, but Bishop Cherrington had not yet arrived in New Zealand. At the request of the school, ■ Archbishop Averill willingly made the Ion" trip from Auckland specially on the° account of the school. During a particularly impressive service the candidates presented to the Archbishop a beautiful Primatial Cross, the symbol of his office, fashioned in rimu, and this was used at the service. The whole service was marked by great dignity and reverence, and the singing of the school choir was particularly good. The service was marked by the interest of the clergy in the school service. Archdeacon Evans carried the Cross, and the Revs. F. G. Harvie and G. T. Beale acted as assistant chaplains. On Mr. Harvie’s return from England, Mr. Strong remained in the parish as curate and continued as chaplain. of the school. As a result of the rearrangement of church offices consequent • on the formation of the Diocese of Waikato, Mr. Strong was appointed Dean. and Vicar of Hamilton, but before he took up the position the vestry of St. Mary’s Church, in May, 1927, persuaded him to remain in New Plymouth as vicar, in succession to Mr. Harvie, who had been made diocesan secretary and chaplain." Mr. Strong was instituted in the charge by Bishop Cherrington in the . following July, many of his old friends from the school attending the service. During the next four years until his departure from New Plymouth early in the year 1931, Canon Strong did work of the highest value for the school, and is remembered with affection by the many boys who passed through his hands. Besides giving religion a permanent place early in the education of the boys, he took an active interest in every branch of the school’s activities, doing much to instil into the boys the school traditions. He left at the beginning of thisyear to take up the position of warden-; at St. John’s College, Auckland. The work he began is being carried on by his successors at St. Mary’s.