TAUERU.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8104, 26 March 1906, Page 5

TAUERU.

CON SECRATION OF ST. ALBAN'S CHURCH. The bright little Churoh that stands out conspicuously ou the main East Coast Road, quaint in its colouring of shades of green, relieved by the bright Marseilles tiling of its roof, and unique among the Churoh buildings of the Wairarapa, by reason of its square tower, was solemnly consecrated by the Bishop of Wellington, on Saturday morning. Of necessity such servioes are of rare occurrence, and many seized the opportunity of witnessing this. The Churoh has been used for worship for nearly a year now, but several causes have contributed to the delay of its oonseoration. About a dozen members of the choir of St. Matthew's, Masterton, went out to Taueru to help in the musical part of the servioe, and other visitors filled a second drag, Tbe servioe was the one appointed by the Bishop for the Diocese of Wellington. The Bishop was met at the door by several parishioners, in whose name Mr F. Moore read a petition that the Church should be set apart and consecrated. The key of the Churoh was then formally presented to the Bishop, who began the service with prayers for the peace of God's House. A psalm was sung as the Bishop, preceded by the Vicar, and the Rev. J. H. Sykes, who acted as Chaplain, went to their places The Litany, into which suitable suffrages were inserted, was read, and then the clergy accompanied the Bishop, who set apart the various parts of the building to their proper uses—the font, the chanoel steps (for confirmation and the solemnization of Holy Matrimony), the lectern, tbe pulpit, the stalls of the clergy and choir, and the Holy Table. The vessels to be used in the Holy Communion servioe were presented, and then after another prayer the sentence of consecration was read, and signed, and ordered to be kept in the muniments of the Diocese. The hymns were selected as suitable for the occasion, and all things led up to the prayer in whioh which the Bishop offered the Churoh to the servioe of the Giver of All. The servioe of Holy Communion, which in this Diooese is an integral part of the oonseoration ceremony, then began. The Bißhop preached from Ex. XXXVIII.. 21, and explaining the words ''the tabernacle of testimony," pointed ouc tbe ways in whioh the Churoh might be to tbe people a testimony —a witness. Its name, the name of the first Christian martyr of Britain, St. Alban, should remind them of the way in which through many a long century the Church of their fathers had been preserved. One of the jewels on his staff was from tho Abbey at St. Alban's, in Essex, the Church built on the scene of the martyr's death. In many other ways it might tell them and those who in passicg eastwards might see it of the goodness of God. It was their testimony that they wished to acknowledge His love. When the servioe was over the ladies of Taueru invited the clergy, choir and visitors to Mrs F. Mason's house, where lunch had been spread. In spite of tbe drenohing rain that poured down on the return to Masterton, all who had taken part felt the dignity and the pleasure of the privilege of taking a part or share in suoh a helpful servioe.

CABLENEWS. By Telegraph—Press I Association. —Copvtight.