NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH, OXFORD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 343, 14 November 1879, Page 15

NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH, OXFORD.

The building committee of the Oxford Church wish to inform friends through the Tablet, that the Church, will be solemnly consecrated on Sunday, 23rd iubt., by his Lordship Bishop Redwood, assisted, it is expected, by seveial of his priests. The Church is built in pure Gothic style, and of a strength calculated to successfully resist the violence of the strongest nor'-wester. The foundations are of concrete two feet high, into which the lower plates are well fastened by iron bolts. The steeple has yet to be erected, and when the church is what it is intended to be, it will give sittings to 400 people and be by far the best church building in Oxford. The lighting is by a beautiful stain-glass quadrifoil in the sanctuary, a large western window in three parts, and seven smaller in the nave. The.se stain-glass windows, especially the quadrifoil in the sanctuary, soften in a very pleasing way the light in the interior, and by the harmonious blending of the various colours give it an appearance which is certainly a help to devotion. This has been an unusually bad year among the bushmen and labourers of Oxford, and in consequence, their donations are not what might otherwise be expected. Th* readiness with which the local Catholic men responded to Rev. Father Bin&feld's invitation to muster and plough, fence, level all the ground, form and gravel the walks, must be gratifying to our zealous priest and a credit to the men themselves. It certainly was a great surprise to the people of Oxford, the whole work being done in a day and a half. There is a small debt which the building committee has to meet, but it is expected the proceeds of an acre of town land, which is being disposed of by art union, in addition to the customary opening collections, will leave the Church quite free of debt. The Catholics of North Canterbury rejoice at this new addition to the number of their Churches, and are anxious to be present at the imposing ceremonies on the 23rd. The building committee returns its best thanks to the nonCatholic local gentlemen who have most libf-rally subscribed to the funds. John O'Halloban.