Our New Zealand Churches.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 8, 1 May 1900, Page 576

Our New Zealand Churches.

S. MATTHEW'S CHURCH, DUNEDIN.

fHE foundation'stone of S. Matthew's Church, Dunedin, was laid with Masonic honours by the Bishop of Dunedin on July 11th, 1873, and the building opened on December 3rd,] 1874. The total cost was £4854 4s« 3d. Messrs. Mason and Wales were the architects. The cost]orthe^sitejjwas £800. The style of architecture is adapted Grothicj cruciform with aspidal chancel ; the height and fineness of the arches at the intersection

of the transepts, etc., are very noticeable. The walls without are of dark stone with white facings ; within of plaster. The main entrance is beneath a fine tower. The seats of red pine relieve the walls ; the elevated roomy chancel (of which we give a photo.) with its organ on either side, gives a dignified appearance to one of the finest parish churches in New Zealand, and the largest and noblest Anglican ecclesiastical structures in the Dunedin Diocese. It is comfortably seated for

seven hundred and fifty, and has seated a thousand and upwards. The parish declined the overtures made by the Diocese for its becoming the cathedral, whereby the Diocese lost the only building worthy of being its cathedral. The organ is a three - manual one, by Bevingtons, of London. It was erected in 1880, at a total cost of £1400. To this a new trumpet stop has been added in memory of Archdeacon Fenton. In 1894 the

western recess was f oi'med into a baptistery ; the south transept was made into " The Victoria Chapel," in memory of the Queen's Record Reign and was dedicated by the Vicar on June 20th, 1897. A schoolroom was built at a cost of £93? in 1885. To

this a large room needs

much to be added to accommodate all the Sunday School children. The parish has had many vicissitudes, owing fco its heavy indebtedness, as building was begun without the wherewithal to pay. The total debts present an interesting feature in the parish history, as shewing the money raised in addition to a thousand a year for current expenses. They were: In 1883, £5600; 1886, £4278; 1890, £3715; 1895, £3087; 1896, £3098 ; 1897, £2975 ; IS9B, £2800 ; 1899, £1700. The Ladies' Guild, under the

guidance of its energetic Treasurer (Mrs. Jiimos Ratlray) Ims for twenty years nobly worked to reduce the debt. In 1884, Mr. H. E. Williams was mainly instrumental in reducing it by <£IGOO. A three years' effort was begun in 1896 to wipe out the whole £2800 debt by straight giving. Thesuccessful completion of the scheme is hoped for in another fifteen months, as the whole sum has been promised, and of it £1190 has been paid. The organist is Mr. A. N". Lilly. There

is an efficiont surpliced choir (of part of which wo give a photograph) of men and boys, which is assisted by an auxiliary choir of ladies' voices. In 1894- a Church Day School was opened by the then Vicar, tho Rev. Canon Howoll. A fine two-sfcoroy red brick house was erected in 1894 in Stafford Street, a littlo above tho Church for a Vicarage by Mrs. Wood, who in 1897 transferred it to the Church Trustees in consideration of a life annuity of £85. Tho present Vicar (tho Roy. W. Cnrzon-Siggors,

M.A.) was appointed in 1890. Ho i'h tho editor of tho New Zealand Guardian, and author of several theological treatise's and smaller works. Ho writes each year a volume of Lesson Notes for use in the Sunday Schools of the Dunedin Diocese, and the many Snnday Schools that choose to use them. When the debt is paid, the Parish should be ono of tho choice incumbencies of New Zealand, It is the favourite church for visitors, and is noted for its hearty congregational worship.