ST. GEORGE’S. CHAPEL.

Wairarapa Age, 8 July 1936, Page 4

ST. GEORGE’S. CHAPEL.

ADDITION TO ST. MATTHEW’S CHURCH. BEAUTIFUL DECORATIVE WORK.. St. George’s Chapel, which was added to St. Matthew’s Church some seven years ago aud includes the church’s war memorial is now being completed. Extensive, panelling in selected oak, richly carved, has been erected round the wallsr to a height of. eight feet. Beautifully worked oak screens now divide the chapel from the chancel and the transept. The carving has all been carefully designed and is all original work. Each piece, of carving was thought out separately so that many hours could be spent examining the work. The whole effect, of the new work is one of great beauty and the chapel is a gem of the craftsman’s art. The furnishings of the chapel are •in harmony with the rest of. the work. Specially designed oak pews have been made to match the fjanellrng, and the clergy stall iis a beautiful piece, of work. The furnishings are completed by a richly-carved attar in oak designed, made and given by a parishioner. When designs for this interior work, were prepared it was thought that work of such a rare nature could not- be carried .out eacept :by eraftsmen in, the cities, but St. Matthew’s Vestry insisted that;local .'firms should be given the opportnnity of tendering. The reaulteshow that Masterton craftsmen are capable of performing work of the most intricate and beautiful kind. The panelling and., screens were made and erected, by Mr. C. Bell, Mastertan, and the pews by Messrs C. E. Daniell, Ltd. Maaterton, and the architect haa expressed himsalf as delighted with the standard of. work, attained. The whole of. the carving was executed by Mr F G. Gurney, of. Christchurch, and the architect was Mr. B. 8. D. Harman, of that city.. Mr. W. Penistone acted as works, while the staining and polishing has been ably carried out by Mr. X QiUeaptei The whois chapel isone of. the most beautiful pieces of eecleaiastical work in New Zealand. ladead, it. is? probable that nowhere else in, the Dominion could its- equal be found.

Canon,Pftmi-ral James, Commissary of the Diocese, will dedicate the work at a special service to be held at St Matthew’s Church on Sunday next at 11 a.m,