CHURCH PRECEDENT
PRIMATE INSTALLED FIRST PUBLIC CEREMONY PROCESSION INTO CATHEDRAL (By Telegraph. —Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday The installation of Bishop WestWatson, of Christchurch, as Primate and Archbishop of New Zealand was performed this afternoon. The ceremony was conducted by the retiring primate, Archbishop Averill, in the presence of a congregation nearly filling the Christchurch Cathedral. This was the first formal public installation of a New Zealand primate and archbishop, the first two bearers of the dual title, Archbishop Julius and Archbishop Averill, entering office without special services. The ceremony to-day therefore established a precedent. It was based upon the form for the installation of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England.
About 40 clergy took part in the service. With the archbishops, Bishop Holland, of Wellington, the dean and cannons of the cathedral and the archdeacons, sisters, deaconesses and lay readers, they assembled for the procession into the cathedral through a guard of honour consisting of boys of the Cathedral Grammar School. Prayer for Guidance
The procession passed through the grounds and through the west door of the Cathedral as the congregation sang the first hymn. When the clergy had taken their places and the hymn was ended, Archbishop Averill announced the purpose of the ceremony. Dean Julius then led the congregation in prayer for God’s guidance and defence of the new archbishop. The diocesan registrar, Mr E. P. Wills, the chancellor of the diocese, Mr H. D. Andrews, the Bishop of Wellington, the archbishops and their chaplains then proceeded to the chancel steps. Archbishop Averill exhibited the certificate of election of the new archbishop, which was read by the registrar. The archbishop-elect then made and subscribed to the declarations of submission to the authority of the General Synod and of assent to the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer and the ordering of bishops, priests and deacons. He affirmed his belief that the doctrine of the Church was agreeable to the Word of God and promised in public prayer and the administration of the Sacraments to use the forms prescribed in the Prayer Book and none other, except as far as should be ordered by lawful authority. Symbol of Office After the archbishop-elect had signed these declarations, Archbishop Averill placed him in his chair set at the chancel steps and announced his instalment. Archbishop Averill then led the congregation in prayer for Archbishop West-Watson, after which he handed to the new archbishop the primatial cross, the symbol of office. The Bishop of Wellington, as the representative of the Church of the Province of New Zealand, uttered the official recognition and acknowledgment of the new archbishop and pledged his loyal and willing support and prayers. The archbishops and their company returned to their places in the sanctuary during the singing of an anthem. The “Te Deum” was sung, after which Archbishop West-Watson entered the pulpit to preach a sermon. When the congregation had received the new archbishop’s blessing and the service was ended, the clergy and choir left the cathedral in procession with Archbishop West-Watson leading them.
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Bibliographic details
Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21082, 8 April 1940, Page 9
Word Count
509CHURCH PRECEDENT Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21082, 8 April 1940, Page 9
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