OPENING OF NEW CHURCH AT PLEASANT POINT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume X, Issue 7, 7 June 1889, Page 25

OPENING OF NEW CHURCH AT PLEASANT POINT.

__ . , — . (From an occasional Correspondent.) Temuka, June 11. Thr Right Rev. Dr. Grimes, Bishop of the Diocese of Chrtstchurch, accompanied by the Rev. Father Aubrey (his chaplain), arrived m Temuka by the express tiaiu from the uorth on Saturday, for the purpose of consecrating and formally opening the newly-erected Roman Catholic church at PJeas*ut Point, and was preeted with a hearty welcome by the pealing of the bells of St. Joseph's Church. Before touching upon anything bearing directly upon the new church, a brief review of the Rev. Father Fauvel'a labours since his arrival in the parisi.and its marvellous advancement under his charge, may prove interesting to our readers, more especially as the rev. gentleman has endeared himself to all with whom he has come in coutact. When the rev. gentleman took charge of the parish of Temuka (which then included Geraldiue), he found the Church property of a very scanty nature. It consisted in Temuka of the buildings which now form the school and convent, except that two rooms have since been added to the convent. The Rev. Father Fauvel— as His Lordship said at the opening cere-nony on Sunday— had a passion for the beauty of the house of God, and, being imoued with the energy so characteristic in the Order to which he belongs— and which has stamped the Mansts with being the founders of the Church in the colonies—he eagerly awaited a favourable opportunity to erect a more fitting place of worship. In 1879, when the Rev. Father Hennebery was preaching a mission in Temuka, the Rev. Father Fauvel deemed the opportunity had arrived, and subscription lists were opened. Shortly afterwards a start was made, and the present handsome and commodious church was erected. It is needless to say more of tbe church, save that its value is estimated at over £6000. The next step was the erection of the presbytery, its value being £1500. The rev. gentleman considered tbe parish still incomplete without religious education for the young, and his next endeavours were to establish a community of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Temaka, which object, after considerable difficulty, he accomplished, and shortly afterwards built a convent and school in Kerrytown. The Catholic churca at Geraldine was also built by him and now he has completed the erection of the cburch at Pleasant Point Thus it will be seeu that Father Fauvel has done waat probably no one else could have done. The property of the Church in the parish is now worth considerably over £10,000. When the rev. gentleman took charge it was not worth as many hundreds, we believe the rev. gentleman has spent between £2000 and £3000 out of his private means on the parish. The church at Pleasant Po nt stands on a block of land 1$ acres in extent (the gift of Mr. Jas. Sullivan), and is a faithful imitation of St Joseph's Church, Temuka, save the tower and spire, whicn will be added at some future time. It is built in brick, on concrete foundations, in the style known as Perpendicular Gothic, the dimensions being-length, 60ft ; width, 30ft. The walls are supported by seven buttresses on each side, the height from fl >or line to spring of roof beitg loft. There are six lancet windows (Bft x 2ft) on each eide and a tiiple one at the south end. Tue front gable is ornamented with two lancet windows, and a large rose window 6ft in diameter. The windows are of Cathedral glass, with leal framings, the marginals being of green, blue, amber, and ruby. Ihe front door is of th Q Gothic-headed type, surmounted by moulded arcbivolts, which rest on carved bos-es. As on St. J >B'ph's Church, tbere are four pinnacles (ornamental) with finials. Thu roof, whicn is an open oue is of specially choseu nmu, varnished. The wall po ts or. the roof rest on Gjthic moulded trusses, an 1 over ».l thu i iternal openin i^s are moulded a chivolis and caived Go hie foliated b The interior is plastered, while externally the walls a.o finish, d with cement composition. Iherc are two vestries, similar to those ot Temuka, ani Ihe Communion rails are oi cast iron the sanctuary being beautifully carpeiei and cocoanut mattiug laid along the passages The main altar, which is of wood, a d from a model suoplied by the Rev. Father Fauvel, pr-sents a very neat appearance, ana is a faithtul imitation of marble, with borders of golden leave*, the work of the Sisters of St. Joseph. It is ornamented with gold-wo-ked lace, and beautiful artificial fljwera (lilies, rose?, etc.,) also most artistically made by the Sisters. On the left side is a small altar, which is surmounted by costly lace work, and on which stands a s atue of tbe Madonna, to whom the Church has been dedicated. The Church is estimated to seat 400 comfortably, and on the whole it presents a very neat appearance. The Building o.>iumitte-J may be congratulated upon the success which they achieved, and Messrs. Geaney and O Dnscoll deserve special praise for tbe indefatigable effjrts they put forth in bringing about the great success. The architect for the church was Mr M. de H. Duval (the designs being supplied by Father lauvel) ; the contractor, Mr. James Delaney, and the aub contractors : for brick and plaster work, Mr. tf. Hall; and plumbing and painter s work Mr Healey ; all ot whom are deserving of great praise. It may be mentioned that Father Fauvel spent much of his time at the works. Tbe cost of the biulding, exclusive of cartage of materials (which was done by the parishioners), was about £750. Ths amount raised on Sunday was £80, and the debt on the cburch now amounts to barely £300 About twenty yards to the south-west of the cburch the Key. Father Fauvel haa hai erected a*, hu» own expense a two-roomed cottage (lilt, x 12ft. and 12ft. x 10ft.), wherein he will stay while visiting Pleasant Point for tbe purpose of holding services, etc. On Sunday last the Kight Key. Dr. Grimes celebrated Mass m St. Joseph's Church, Temuka, at half-past s_ven a m., and at about ha f. past nine was driven by Mr. P. Wareing to Pleasant Point, where great preparations had been made for his visit. The day waa dv.l, and bitterly coli, which no doubt had the . ffect of keying nanny away. As it was, the church was comfortably failed At 11 o clock the assemble gathered at the in-ua entrance, and all the djors b-ine opened, the procession, consistiupr of His Lordship (dressed in Cappa Magn%), Fathers Aubrey (thi bishop's chaplain), bauvel.aod Folev, ana three acolytes, came out of the church through the mam

entrance, and, standing in the front of the building read the prayers prescribed by the Church, and, after blessing it, the procession marched round the church, and entering by the main door proceeded to the altar, which was next b'esßed. The ceremony beiug over, bis Lordship wasconducted to a throne, which had been prepared for bim. Ihe Rev. Father Aubrey-who recently arrived from Homethen ascended the altar, and , in grand voice, chanted Mass. The rev. gentleman undoubtedly has no superior as a vocalist in the priesthood of tbeaalpny. After the Gospel had been sung, hia Lordship left the throve •nd approacbei the rails. Prior to commencing bis swmon, Dr Grimes made a touching reference to the death of Manama Sullivao (Sacred Heart Conveot, Timaru), and to the lots sustained by the paush as regards education, appealing to all to pray for her. His Lordship took for his text : " And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and tbe first earth were gone, and the sea is now no more. And 1, John, saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from Uoi, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice from the throne, saying : BenoM the tabernacle wiih men, and He will dwell with them, and SS.'Vi f 8 P 6o^ 6 ' * Qd Qod Himß «lf with them shall be their ttod (Bjok of the Apocalypse, xxi., 1, 2, and 3). His Lordship preached a most eloquent, instructive, and impressive sermon, in the course of it passing a high tribute to the Rev. Father Fauvel, pastor or the parish, for his unlimited zm\, with much emphasis eulogising tbe rev. gentleman's passion for tha beauty of the House of God, and spending ail his means on beautifying it. He also praised the people ot P.easant, Pomi fjr the beautiful cuurcb they had erected, and for the generous manner in which all had contributed to the work, remarking that ihey had a reason to " rejoice and be gUd." His Lordsbip said they could make their church still more beautiful, and God would reward them for it. Tae Temuka choir (under the charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph) contributed greatly to the euccess of toe *i? y V? '.',- eH " Duval kiadt ? rendered several of the solos in the Mass, Miss Gaffaney prejided at the organ, which was kindly placed at the disposal of the choir by Messrs. Begg and Co., of Timaru. Tae items rendered were :— Before Mass: "Laudate Manam, » Eyrie," and " Gloria," Kst's Mass ; « Credo," " Sanctus," Agnus Dei,' Winter's Mass ; offertory, " O Maria " ; after Mass : " May Carol.

After the ceremony was over, Dr Grimes, accompanied by Fathers Aubrey and Foley, proceeded to Timaru, where he preached on the feast of the day (Blessed Virgin's) in the evening.