THE NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW PLYMOUTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIV, Issue IX, 2 March 1895, Page 206

THE NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW PLYMOUTH.

SIN DAY, the 17ch Feb., was indeed a memorable day for the Catholics of New Plymouth, for never before bad there been such a large and representative assemblage as was present at the consecration of the new St. Joseph's Chnrch. The building has been erected from designs by Mr P. G. Smith, of that town, is in the

Eaily English Gothic style of architecture, and is built of wood on a cut stone foundation. The nave is 60 feet by 30 feet, with walls 20 feet high, stayed with but’resses and roofed with an open Gothic framed rib principal roof, diagonally sheeted and covered with galvanised corrngated iron. There is a neat, roomy porch on the front elevation, with two double doors, and dressed stone steps permitting of easy and comfortable exit. The sanctuary, at the end of the nave, for the High Altar, is 20 feet by 20 feet, with a large deep-moulded arch, supported on heavy turned columns, and on each side are the small chapels of the

same design. The vestries, one on each side of the sane tuary, are 14 feet by 12 feet, placed in the angles, giving a uniform appearance neatly breaking up the outline of the plan. The building was erected under the superintendence of Mr P. G. Smith, architect. New Plymouth. Sunday was a most exquisite day. The sky was clear, and the sun shone during the whole of the day. Everything was in favour of the auspicious event. A special train from Hawera. which stopped at intermediate stations, arrived at

10 45 *.m., which brought up not only the ehoir from the Hewer* Catholic Church, but about a hundred and thirty of the members of that denomination. Others came by the train, which is said to have brought to New Plymouth 250 settlers from Hawera and intermediate stations. There was another large congregation at the Vespers service, when Archbishop Redwood delivered a sermon. Before doing so His Grace, on behalf of himself and the Rev. Father McKenna, the priest of the parish, heartily thanked the Hawera choir and the orchestra for the valuable services they had rendered that day. The foundation stone of the new church (St. Joseph’s) was laid on Sunday, August 19th, 1894, by His Grace Archbishop Redwood, assisted by the Rev. Fathers McKenna, Maillard, and McCormick. The ceremony was witnessed by a large number of spectators, it being estimated that the attendance was between six and seven hundred. The first place of worship for the Catholics of New Plymouth was a small chapel in Conrtenay-street. It was a very small place, not more than twenty or thirty persons being able to be seated in it. and in this building a visiting priest to ce'ebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It

was not until after the Maori rebellion broke ont on March 17th, 1860, and a large number of British troops were stationed in New Ph mouth, that a permanent priest was sent to attend to the wants of the men. Rev. Father Tressallet was the priest appointed for that duty. The soldiers’ barracks were built on an eminence to the west of the town, and as the little chapel in Courtenay street was too far for the men to attend Mass regularly, an acre of ground was purchased in 1861 in Devon street west, a more central spot, and on a fine elevated sitnation. Here it was that the Rev. Father Tressallet in 1862 built a small temporary church. In 1863 the Rev. Father Pertuis took charge of the parish, and removed the old church in Courte-nay-street to the back of the temporary church at his own expense.

On October 10th, 1880, the Rev. Father Chastagnon took charge of the parish, and during the years he was priest he reduced the debt by one half (£250), and effected several important improvements in the church. In 1884 he induced the Order des Religieuses de Notre Dame des Missions to erect a convent in New Plymonth, and a handsome threestoried building, costing over £3 000, was placed on the chapel grounds, the land of which was made over to the Sisters. He also built a small chapel at Okato, and did other good work in the parish.

On November 10th, 1884, the Rev. Father Cassidy took over the affaiis of the parish, and made further improve

menu in the old chnreh, and in 1889 had the building which served for many years as the priest's residence removed to a section facing Pendarves-street, and the present Presbytery built and newly furnished throughout. On September Isth, 1889, the Rev. Father MeKenna was appointed Parish Priest, taking over a debt on the chureh property of £450; also the debt on the Inglewood property £ll6. Father McKenna first set to work to reduce the debts, which he succeeded in doing to the extent of £l4O on the New Plymouth property and £lOO on the Inglewood Chnreh. He then started raising a fund for building the chuich in course of erection, the subscription towards it being very liberal considering the smallness of the congregation, who are by no means a wealthy community. The Rev. Father MeKenna also started the • Taranaki Catholic Institute and Library,’ utilising the old presbytery for that purpose. The library contains fully a thousaM volumes, consisting of secular as well as religious works, and is well supported by the members of the congregation. The Rev. Father McKenna's work in other parts of his large scattered district we have on more than one occasion referred to. He has recently had built a very handsome chureh at Stratford, and the Catholic schools there, which he has established, aie well attended by-children. Rsv. Father McKenna is very attentive to the spiritual welfare of his people, and accordingly is very much beloved by them ; and his kind and genial nature has also gained for him the esteem of all the other sections of the community.