LATINS THE FOUNDATION STONE OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1863, 10 September 1880, Page 2

LATINS THE FOUNDATION STONE OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

Tho ceremony of laying the foundation etono of St. Mary's Church took place yesterday afternoon, m the presence of a lar^e concourse of people. Preparations for the work had been on hand for some days previously, and the eucccjs which attended yesterday's ceremony testified to the efficient manner m which those engaged m the work per, formed the task allotted to them. Thegroundwhich is situated at the corner of Church and Sophia streets, and where the 01.l edißco, which was con»ecrated by the preiont Bishop of the Diocese m 1861, formerly stood, was tuttefully deooratod with flags suspended from lines fixed to tho

old building, and extending to posts fixed m various parts of the ground. A epace about 30 feet square, around the foundation stone, bad been railed off for fclio convenience of those more directly concerned m tho ceremony, and st ouch corner of tin's reserve, were placed poles from which hung bannerettes with blue and crimson crosses on a white ground.. The tripod placed over the exc&vition, and from which »a) suspended the foundation stone, was neatly and tajtofully entwined with evergreens. Long before the time appointed for the commencement of tho proceedings numbers of people were seen wending their way to the ground, and Boon the most convenient points from which the ceremony could bo observed were occupied. At threo o'clook the children attending St. Mary's, Sunday Bchool marched m procession with banners flying, under the direction of the Incumbent, the Yen. Archdeacon Harper, on the ground from the west side, and were placed m position on the south side of the enclosure. At ibis time every available spot of vanUgs ground was occupied, a dense crowd standing m the vioinity of the itone, and after the proueedings had commenced the •oene was most picturesque and impo.>ing. It I had been arranged that His Lorship tbe Pri- j mate should lay the foundation stone of tho | new church, but to the great regret of all ho • was prevented by severe indisposition from j attending, and the ceremony was performed by j tbe Very Kuv. the Dean of Ohristohurch. THB PBBBEHT CONTBAOT. Tbe pretent contract includes the ereotion of the foundation of tho nave, aisles, north ! porch, and tower, as high as the top of the bHse of the nave aisles and por.jh, inclusive of i Btone steps at all doorways. The foundation | of the tower is to be built as high as the top ' of the lower splay of its base. The qnoin», j steps, and splayed courses are to be built of : Timaru blue stone, neally cbieelled and > hammered on the back and tide joints. The foundation of the tower and pillars m the j nave am to bo bnilt entirely of cube stone m | large blocks. The ordinary walls and all other walling, including the haßes of the columns and inverted arches and walling under the opening of the chancel, aro to be included and | carried up as high as the flooring of the nave, j Tho base of the tower, which will be situated • m the N.E. corner, will measure 25ft square on j the surface and will be composed of concrete 3ft deep, and tbe foundation to be. built on this will be Bft on the surface. The contractor is Mr McQill, and (he work is to bo completed by the 7th December, 1880. THB CEREMONY. After a short prayer m tbe old church, a procession formed of the choristers of St. Mary's and tho following clergymen : — Revs. L. L. Brown, L. 0. Brady, C. Coates, W. H. Elton, H. Fendal, G. Fostor, A. W. Hands, W. C. Harris (Bishop's Chaplain), and J. Preston, and headed by the Very Rev. the Dean of Christohurch and Archdeacon Harper, emerged from the church and took op positions m the enclosure. The following Churchwardens and Vestrymen were also present : — Messrs H. Belfield, F. LeCren, B. Wbolloombe, E. G. Sterieker, M. J. Knubley, VV. C. Wright, R. Proctor, and Mr Kaymond, a member of tbe Building Committee. The 84lh psalm waß Bune by the choir, Mr Gooch, Organist of St. Mary's, presiding at an harmonium placed m tbe centre of the reserve. The Very Rev. the Dean, accompanied by the Bishop's Chaplain, then proceeded to the stone, and laying bis hands upon it, offered up the following prayer : — " O Lord Jesus Christ, Bon of the living God, who art the brightness of tbe Father's GH'iry, and the express image of His Person ; the Foundation and Chief Corner Stone ; by whom m tbo beginning God created nil things ; be thou, we beseech tbee, the beginning, the increase, and the consummation of this our work, which is undertaken to tbe glory of thy Name, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen." The 394 th hymn, " O Lord of Hosts, whose glory fills," having been sung, a collection wat made, realising £88 13i 3d, after which Arohdeacon Harper read the memorial, which had been beautifully engrossed by Mr A. S. Wa'cot, as follows: — " In tbe name of the Father and of tho Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. " To the honor and glory of Almighty God; and m lbs name of Christ's Holy Catholio and Apostolio Church, on tho ninth day of September, m the year of our Lord MDCOOLXXX, b»ing the forty-fourth year of the reign of oar Most Gracious Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria, Sir Arthur Gordon being Governor of the Colony of New Znaland, the Most Reverend Henry JohnChitty Harper, D.D., being Primate of the Churoh of the Province of New Zealand, commonly called the Church of England, the foundation stone of this Church, dedioated under the name of Saint Mary, for the celebration of Divine Worship according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the aforesaid Church, wns laid by tbe Very Reverend Henry Jacobs, M.A., Dean of Chrißtchurch, during tho incumbency of the Venerable Henry William Harper, M.A., Archdeacon of Timaru and Westland, H. Belfleld and A. Christopher being Churchwardens, and B. Woollcombe, E. H. Tate, W. O. Wright, M. J. Knubley, R. Proctor, F. LeCren, B. G. Stericker, R. B. Walcot, F. B. Wethey, and H. W. Hammond being Vestrymen of the Pariah of Timaru, T. F. Goooh bsiug Organist, F. B. Raymond, J. Goodall, B. Woollcombe, H. Belfielii, A. Christopher, K. H. Tate, and R. Proctor being members of the Building Committee, and W. B. Armson being Arohiteot. This Church it built upon the site, and m the place, of the first Cburch erected m this Parish, and duly coneeoruted by the Bight Reverend Henry John Chitty Harper, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Christchurch, on the twenty-eighth day of April, m the year of our Lord MDOCCLXI., on the petition of George Foster, Curate, and of B. Woollcombe and H. J. LeCren, Churchwardens of tho District, and T. 6. Rayner, W. Hombrook, J. Beswiok, H. Cain, James King, H. Butlor, H. Beiaeld, and Thomas W. Sail, members of the Vestry." Tbe document was then placed m a glass bottle, hermetically coaled, and together with a similar bottle oontaining a copy of the Timaru Herald, Geraldine County Chronicle, S. C. Times, and Evening Telegraph, was deposited m tho cavity under the atone by tbe builder. The Btone was thon placed m position, and while being lowered, Mr Clayton, tho Clork of Works, on behalf of Mr Armson, the architect of the building, presented the Dean with a handsome silver trowel and a mallet. The former boro tho following inteription : — " Presented to the Right Reverend Henry John Ohitty Harper, D.U., Bishop of Christcburch, and Primate of New Zealand, on the occasion of laying the foundation Btono of St. Mury's Churoh, Timaru, New Zealand." Tbe mallet, tho bead of which was made of matapo wood and the handle of kowhai, had a small silver plate let m m the head and was inscribed, " St. Mary's Church, Timaru, New Zealand, September 9th, 1880. A.D." Both articles Vfere of excellent workmanship, and were oxeonted by Mr Partridge of this town. The builder having laid the level and square on the stone tho Dean declared it laid, saying, "In Ihe faith of Jems Christ we place this foundation itone, m the name of God thiFather, Grd tho Son, and God tbo Holy Ghost. Amen." Tho Choir then rendered tho 87th psalm, " Her foundations are upon the holy bills," and tho offertory having been handed to the Dean by Mr Belfio'd, Churchwarden, and placod on tho (tone, (he following prayers were offored up : — " Here lei truo faith, the fear of God, and brotherly love ever remain. This place is consecrated to prayer, and to the praise of the most holy Name of onr Lord Jesus Christ, who over liveth with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. O God, who art the shield and defence of Thy people, be ever at hand to protect and ■uccor the builders of this house ; that the work whioh through Thy mercy hah now been begun, may by their labor be brought to a happy end, through Jeaus Christ our Lord. Amen. O Gorl, who hast bnilt the living templo of Thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being tho Chief Corner Btone ; grant unto tho work of Thine own hands continual increase of glory nnd spiritual strength, and daily make Thy people moro meet for the eternal tabernacle of Thy rest m the heavens ; through Jesus Christ otir Lord, to whom, with Thee, O Father, and Thee, O Holy Ghost, be everlasting praise and glory. Amen,"

The Benediction was then pronounced, and the vroceedings terminated by the National Anthem being played by the Organist. THE SOIBBE AND CONOEBT. This took place m the Queen's Hall, Northstreet. At »ix o'clock, the hour named for the tea, a large crowd had assembled m front of tho building and a few minutes after that hour the doors were opened. The a.peotof tha interior was pUaßing m the extrame. On tho central floor wero ranged ton tablos and on tbe upper dais two. all of them not only being handsomely loaded with all manner of good things, but all being more or leu handsomely decorated with flowers and ferns. Tbe following ladies provided, and with the exception of one or two, officiated personally, at the tablet, viz. : Mesdamos A. and 0. Perry ; Wolhey and Fr-vser ; J. Jones and Hibbard ; Bo I field and Jume.-on; Tale and Cooper j Sb*w and LeCren ; Woollcombe and Luxmoore ; Brownell and Sims ; Knubley and Cook ; H. Scaly and ilassal j JS. S»aly and Grierson; and White and Howley. The number of gueits was so great that etch tablo whb replenished twice, some | thric, with occupants, aad yet there was ( abundance still left when the tables were I cleared away to make room for the benches j for the concert. When that opened at 8 i o'clock the hall was densely packed, fully six j hundred and fifty people being present.. On the dais were the Very Rev. the Dean of Chriitchuroh, the Yen. Archdeacon Harper, several clergymen, tho ohoir of St. Hary's.&o. I The concert itself was m every respeot admirable, every piece being capitally rent derrd, and heartily received by the audience. j Mr T. A eland, a gentleman not before heard , by o Timaru audience, aang two capital tongs j — "i'y Queen" and "The Message." Bath were j encore! voo ferously, and responded to — the | former by " Parting," and the latter by Wbyle I Melville's " Drink, Puppy Dog, Drink " — this ! last an amusing bit, which pleased tho audi- ! ence vastly. Interspersed m tho programme , tho following speeches were delivered, the first being, The Yen.the Archdeacon who wished that the addrets he had to deliver could have boon, as jho had hoped, delivered by bis father. The I one drop of regret m their cup was that his I father was not present. Twenty • three years ago ho made his first journey to this part of hiß diocese, soon after his arrival from England, anditwashis (theArohdeacon's) good fortune to nceompany him. At that time the site of tho present bu»y town of limaru was covered with tusiook, tbe . very few houses there were then being on the beach. HU Lordship had laid the foundation of tho first church, now almoit obliterated, and would therefore, though prevented from being present, be very glad to hear of thoir success, and of the sympathy whioh hod b«en manifested m their efforts. He (the speaker) was happy to say that their success hod been far greater than he oould have anticipated. They hud been favored with fine weather, a happy omen, and everything else had contributed to make the ceremony of the afternoon one that would not be likely to bo forgotten by those who witnessed it. The beginning of the new Church was a moat important matter. The municipal regulations of the town torbado the erection of a wooden building, so that it wai necessary to use a moro costly material, and for his own part he wai rather glad of this. The building when completed would be a' very handsome one, m the Gothio skyle, and capablo of seating 700 persons with ease. It would be an ornament to the town, and would not require to be replaced by a larger building for many years to come. Mo general canvass for subscriptions had been made, but about 30 subscribers had contributed aboat£3ooofor the purpose of churoh baildiag. A considerable portion of thßt sum bad been spent m the erection of the Sohool-cburoh ; still, enough remained to pay for the first contract, and it was hoped a sufficient sum would soon bo obtained for the seoond contract, whioh would tako the work to the top of the walls, and that means would be available to o»rry on the building without break m the progress of the work. If this were the case, m two years time they should meet within the new church,— a noble sanctuary, for the service of God. He had no doubt tbe number of subscribers be had mentioned would bo largely increased. There had been placed on the foundation stone that day, as a voluntary offering for the erection of the church, nearly £95, and a; there had been no sort of canvass made, that showed that the parishioners were m earnest. There could be little hope of success m any great undertaking without hearty co-operation, and he had no doubt that they were all of one heart and mind with regard to their church. If there was one thing which he felt more than another it was the personal, kindly, and constant sympathy he had met with ever since he had been m tbe parish, and this had helped him more m his work than the receiving of thousands of pounds towards the church building would have done. Not only as a, churohman, but as a citizen of Timaru also, be desired to see a building that would be a oredit to the pUce, and if they worked together there would be no difficulty m completing the one they had that day oommenced. The Very Reverend the Dean of Ohristohurch, after explaining the reason of hie Lordship the Primate's absence, laid he should have great pleasure m stating to bis Lordship tbe success of all the arrangements of tho day. He could not help expressing the sense <Jf the great privilege he had enjoyed m being allowed to lay tbe first stone of the new building, and his sympathy as a Churchman with tho work they were engaged m. Every Churchman must feel deep and hearty sympathy with any body of Churchmen occupied m building up a churoh m suoh a fine place as this, but he thought he was particularly quulified to 6ay a few words of encouragement. Ten years ogo. he was engaged m a similar wwormk — m laying the foundation stone of St. Miohael's Churoh at Ohristchurob, therefore he had gone through all that they were now going through, and could thoroughly sympathise with them, and also encourage them to go on and carry their work to a successful issue, as the parishioners of St.. Michael's had done. The building of a church ahould be the work of a peoples large subscriptions should not be depended «n wholly nor chiefly ; every Churchman and Ohurchwoman should contribute something whether much or little. The amount of subscription did not signify bo muoh bs the working together to achieve one end, and that each one should give as an act of self-denial and for the glory of God and the good of his Oburoh. If every man, woman, and child gove something towards it, they would feel a greater interest m their Church than before. They should not wait to be called upon to contribute, and should not refrain from giving because they oould not give a certain amount the smallest coin given to God for the service' being as great a gift as the hundreds or the thousands of the wealthy. He conoluded by congratulating the Archdeacon and his fellow Churchmen upon the work done that day, which he hoped they would be enabled to see brought to a happy conclusion. The Rev. W. H. Harris spoke at . omß length on tho na'ural advantages of Timaru and it* neighborhood. His duties required him to travel about the diocese a good deal and he had favorable opportunities for drawing comparisons between different placet He thought he might safely say that m. respect of natural advantages Timaru was unequalled by any other piac, m Canterbury, and he doubted very muoh whether' it could be surpassed by any place m the whole of New Zealand. Ho hoped they would pardon him for saying that the people were worthy of the place. Their energy was shown m the way they wore pushing a Breakwater out into the sea to protect their shipping, and m the substantial buildings that were being built on all sides. Their hospitality was seen m the tables loaded with good things thst a short time before had b<-en surrounded by smilinff faces. Their liberality was shown m the handsome sum laid on the stone th«t day and their heartiness m the service of God had been manifested at the same time. Ho wsi glad to see ilia spirit of co-operation so well developod among them j but he would hay» been surprised if it were not so. Be could not conceive of suoh a man as Iho Archdeacon living among a people without infusing such a spirit among them. The rev. gentleman ooneluded by expressing a hope that the portion of the building now taken m hand would soom be completed, and that, with coffers reploughed they would thon proceed to add spiro to towor and chanool to naive Before the National Anthem was' sung, Mr Belßeld proposed a vote of thanks to (h«

visitors, and Mr Walcot a similar compliment to the Udiea r.-'io had preiidod at the tables. In roplj to the " Visitor*," the Eev. A. W. Hands of Ashburton briefly responded. The singing of the National Anthem brought a very pleasant evening to a close. We m&j mention that m addition to the £88 13s 3d collec'H at the laying of the foundation ttonr, . further sum of £4 3s was rewired by Mr Bdtield, making a total of £92 16i 3d received, m addition to a Tery handsome sum (not yet accurately known) aa the prooeede of the concert.