FOUNDATION STONE OF MEMORIAL CHURCH LAID AT HOKITIKA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17995, 4 November 1926, Page 15

FOUNDATION STONE OF MEMORIAL CHURCH LAID AT HOKITIKA.

(Special to the “ Star. ’’> HOKITIKA, November 3. After giving a promise of a fine afternoon, the weather changed, and light showers fell for the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of All Saints’ Memorial Church. Among those present were:-—The Bishop of Chiist church, the Revs Dr Holloway, of Dunedin, a former vicar; I. R. Young, vicar of Ross; L>. R. Hav, of Ahaufa, and J. Perkins, vicar of All Saints/ A large congregation assembled ii: All Saints’ Church, where a short service was held, and then a procession, headed uy the Municipal Hand, marched to the site of the new church. The Bishop delegated the Hon 11. L. Michel to the duty of laying the foundation stone, Mr Michel having been- connected with the locai church as scholar and church officer for the past sixty years, and he .has held the office of Bishop’s Warden for many years. After prayers, a brief address was given by the lion H. L. Michel, who referred to the early history of the local church and the present effort to erect a new church in permanent material The estimated cost of the proposed work was between £7OOO and £BOOO and upwards of £4OOO was now in hand or in sight. lie thanked the Bishop for his attendance mid expressed the hope that at no distant time he would be called upon to open the new church. After the foundation stone was laid at the north-east corner of the building site. Bishop West-Watson gave a brief address. lie stated that it gave him pleasure to be associated with a building project of this nature, which called for the faith and courage of the people. He referred to the great work of the. pioneers in erecting the early churches, and he stated that the fin:* buildings provided justified their faith add work lie alluded to the fact that the foundation stone of the Christchurch Cathedral had been laid in wci weather, but thai untoward circumstance did not quench the ardour oi the pioneers who persevered till the pre Sent fine edifice had been reared, and it stood as a memorial to their faith for all time. He was glad the diamond jubilee of the local church was not being ignored, but that the people of the church in full faith were setting about to build permanently to the. memory of the fallen in the Great War. He was glad to note, too, that on the foundation stone was carved the name of Archdeacon Harper, the first vicar of the local church, from 186(j to 1875. Archdeacon Harper’s published letters had been «i great inspiration to him when deciding to take up the work in the Christchurch diocese. It was pleasing that in part also, the new church was to be a memorial to a very worthy churchman, whose name would be perpetuated through the years to come, and those- who followed after would learn of the great work and noble qualities of the Archdeacon. Referring to the financial task ahead of the local congregation, the Bishop said where there was a will there was a way, anrl by their faith in God a way would be found to complete the •worthy church proposed for such a memorable purpose. The foundation stone bears the foi- :

lowing inscriptionTo the glory of God and our faith in Jesus Christ, this stone was laid on November 3, 192(5. First vicar, \ en. Archdeacon Harper 1866-18/5."