ST LUKE'S.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3434, 14 April 1879, Page 3

ST LUKE'S.

The Eaaler Sunday services afc this Church commenced shortly before midnight with the ante-communion office, at which the incum bent, fche Rev E. A. Lingard, preached from Psalm cxxvi., 5. Afc midnight there was celebration of Holy Communion. Again, at 8 a.m., there waa a choral communion aervice, tho Rev Incumbent being the celebrant. At 11 a.m., there was full choral service, the Rev R. A. Mortimer being celebrant, the lessons being read by fcho Roy Maunsell (of Auckland), and the sermon being preached by tho Rev. E. A. Lingard from St Matthew xxviii., 6. The evening aervice, full choral, was conducted by the Rev lucumbent, who preached from Collos. iii., 1. Tho choir was under the direction of the organist, Mr N. G. Barnett, and in the evening fche anthem (Kom. vi., 23) was thafc gentleman'a own composition. The Church waa crowded at every service, indeed aome inconvenience waa felfc in consequence of tho free seats having been monopolised by ao many children. The number of co.-i.muni-cants during the day was 202. The Easter decorations were confined to the chancel, but were very effective. Over the communion table was fche legend " Christ is risen," in imitation of coral on a whito ground, above this a red banner with a white cross in flowers. The communion rail was hung with green festoons, there being afc each junction a bunch of hawthorn berries. The windows were all outlined with green garlanda. The iron support to reading do*-ka in front of fche choir stalls were decorated with elustora of flowers surmounted by tui graas. Afc fcho top of tlio rood screen was a large cross, white garlanded *ith green and hawa j on one arch was the legend in white, " 0 death whero is thy sting ? " on the | other arch was, " O grave, where ia thy ! victory ? " From the apex of each arch depended a floral device — one an ornamental cross, the other a double triangle. Beneath these, in a straight line — white on a red ground — waa the legend, " Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent jroigneth." The tracery of the screen waa tastefully wreathed with garlanda of flowera. ST JOHN'S. The Rev H. C. M. Watson conducted fche aervicoa at this church, preaching in the morning from Matthew, 2nd cB. and 6th v., and in the evening from Ist Corinthians, 15th c. 16th to 20th v. In the afternoon there was a children aervice, at which the Hon W, Fox delivered an addreßs appropriate to the occasion from his own experience in the Holy Land. The Bervicca were full choral and were well rendered by a choir of 50 voicea, the accompaniments being played by Mr Knight with his usual good taste. The congregation both morning and evening were exceedingly largo, oxtra forms having to bo procured to supply tho requisite accommodation. It may be stated thafc the church is arranged to seat only 530 pei'Bona, and lasfc evening fully 700 were present. The church was elaborately decorated, the principal feature being the appearance ot tho Easfc window which contained an imitation atone cross, rising out of artistically arranged rock-work and wreathed with bright-coloured flowors. The cross was aeon to great advantago owing to tho spaces in tho communion rails being draped with whifce material. On fche white surface wero the symbols of faith, hopo, and charity in gold letters. The pulpit wus decorated with scroll shields, which contained three white crosses. Tho lectern and walls wero wreathed with evergreens. The font waa richly decorated on the outaide with flowers and overgreens, while the interior was filled with choice planta. Altogether, fche church preaonfced an impoaing appearance.