ST. CHAD’S CHURCH

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1935, Page 2

ST. CHAD’S CHURCH

CONSECRATION AT WESTOWN.

BISHOP OF WAIKATO’S ADDRESS

The beautiful church of St. Chad at Westown, New Plymouth, was consecrated yesterday morning by the Rt. Rev. Dr. C. A. Cherrington, Bishop of Waikato, in the presence of a large congregation, to whom the simple, solemn and impressive service made a powerful appeal. The bishop, attended by his chaplain, the Rev. R. Fordham Clark, bearing the bishop’s staff, was received at the west door by Archdeacon G. H. Gavin, vicar of the parish, and Archdeacon F, G. Evans, Mr. T. C. Fookes, acting for the chancellor, Mr. C. it. M. Norris, Messrs. H. Marfell, churchwarden, V. C. Davies, E. L. Mason and H. Dickinson, representing the residents. A petition signed by the vicar and churchwardens praying that he consecrate the church was read by Mr. Marfell to the bishop, who signified his consent. Followed by the procession, the bishop entered the church, a key of which was handed to him by Mr. Marfell. Singing Psalm 24, “The Earth is the Lords and all that there in is,” the procession proceeded to the east and the bishop laid the key upon the altar. The procession moved around the church, saying versicles and prayers at the font, the' chancel steps, the lechern, the sanctuary steps and at the altar. . At the conclusion the bishop ordered the sentence of consecration to be read by Mr. Fookes, acting-chancellor, the congregation standing. The bishop signed the sentence and ordered the document to be preserved among the muniments of the diocese, after which be declared the church to be consecrated under the name of St. Chad. The epistle was read by Mr. Clark and the gospel by Mr. Evans. Miss I. M. Watson was the organist. The bishop in an impressive address pointed out the lesson to be learned from the consecration of the church. Just as the Holy Church and the holy vessels it contained' had been blessed and set aside for the honour and glory of almighty God and for the blessing of those that gathered therein, so were members of Christ’s church no longer ordinary people, but set aside for a particular purpose. They had been designated, consecrated and made holy, and set aside for the honour and glory of almighty God. God should come first, both with one’s time, one’s money and in all circumstances. Church people should be in the van to lead the world nearer to God. Placing the honour and glory of God first and working for the good of our fellow men, illustrated the very meaning of baptism and consecration. As the church also existed for the blessing of all gathered there, so they, too, existed for the blessing of all around them, not so much by what they said as by their example. It was only through the people of God that the world would be brought nearer to God. Members of the church were the chosen of the Lord, picked out by Almighty God to do his work and consecrated to the glory of God. Holiness did not mean goodness. Holiness was a mark of what was set apart and dedicated. The real spiritual atmosphere could be obtained only by heartfelt communion, earnest prayers, real resolution for something better and praises to God from a thankful heart. As they were set aside and dedicated to the service of God, so should there be a gradual growth of goodness, grace and wisdom. They alone could please God. They must follow the teachings of the Saviour. They could not get anywhere or make any progress unless they lived in the presence of God and for the blessing of other people. They must be an example and live the truth .in trade, business, commerce, home life, amusement and everywhere.

The church which they had just consecrated had assumed as its name that of the great bishop and confessor, St. Chad, a name that no other church in the diocese had, continued the bishop. Some people might say they had nothing to do'with the saints and that they should not put the saints between God and themselves. It was, however, not a question of that at all. They were still fighting, but the saints had already gained the victory that they hoped to gain, and anyone who failed to study how the saints or holy people gained their victory was missing a great deal of help in his own battle. St. Chad was one of their own saints. There was a close connection between Lichfield and New Zealand, as the first Bishop of New Zealand went back to Lichfield, whose pecvle had a warm place in their hearts for thjs country. It was, he said, difficult to get details of early history, and they owed a great deal in this respect to the venerable Bede for the religious and secular history of the early days of England, which were times of progress, and the fashioning of the churches of England into one English Church. Indeed, from the consolidation of the English Church came the consolidation of the English nation. The church had since led the people. Holy communion was then solemnised.