ST. MARY’S NEW CHURCH, HAMILTON

New Zealand Tablet, 23 November 1911, Page 2347

ST. MARY’S NEW CHURCH, HAMILTON

LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE On Saturday afternoon, October 28, his Lordship Bishop Cleary arrived at Hamilton. His Lordship was met at Frankton by the Rev. Father Darby and a number of laity, and was driven to the presbytery in Hamilton East. On Sunday morning his Lordship administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to over one hundred candidates. There were very large congregations both at the 8 and 11 o'clock Masses. The choir was under the conductorship of Mr. Osmond Lorrigan, of Auckland, Miss McGarrigle presiding at the organ. The Catholic Church (says the Waikato Times) has made very rapid strides in New Zealand, and the effect of its growth in the Hamilton district has resulted in a handsome new church, to accommodate 700 people, being placed in the hands of the builders. It was a very large congregation of people of many denominations which witnessed the laying of the foundation stone of the Church of St. Mary of the Rosary, Hamilton East, on Sunday afternoon, October 29, by the Right Rev. Dr. Cleary, Bishop of Auckland. The weather was fortunately very fine, and the indefatigable pastor, Rev. Father Darby, must have been a happy man to see the object of his labors so far on the road to consummation. After the blessing and laying of the foundation stone his Lordship delivered an eloquent and instructive address. The church, which is on a site on the main street of Hamilton East, is being erected of red brick specially imported from Melbourne. It is in the lonic style, with an imposing front, the brick work to be picked out with enrichments in cement stucco. The main entrance will be through a semi-circular arch, over which is a pediment surmounted by a cross, and supported by

two pairs of lonic columns, which flank a triple mullioned window, lighting the west gallery. The main entrance leads into a tiled portico, measuring 10 feet by 12 feet, with a vestibule on each side scaling 12 feet by 10 feet. The latter are lighted by two large windows, with pediments and columns. The church, on the other sides, will be in keeping with the architectural features of the frontal. Above the portico and vestibules is the west gallery, intending to seat about fifty persons, admittance to this being gained by a staircase from one of the vestibules. The central west door gives access to the nave of the church, which will be 95 feet by 43 feet, and as before stated, will have seating accommodation for 700 persons. From all portions of the nave an uninterrupted view of the sanctuary will be gained, the edifice being entirely free from obstructions in the way of columns and other impediments to view, so common in most churches. About half way along the nave the building branches outwards on both sides into two side chapels on the south side measuring each 14 feet by eleven feet, on the north being a bapistery, 24 feet by 16 feet, and an entrance to the choir stalls above. To the east of the nave lies the sanctuary, containing the high altar. On the south side of this is the nuns chapel, and on the north side are two sacristies, eacn 13 feet by 12 feet. The interior walls will be of white plaster, with mouldings, cornices, caps and modellions picked out' in varying tints. A dado will run round the walls, colored light green, with sections to be covered with the best quality tiles. The ceiling will be of fibrous plaster, enriched with cornices, dentils, and carved work, while the roof will be slated. The edifice will be well lighted with eight semi-circular headed windows, while additional illumination will be gained from the sacristy and baptistery lights, the whole of the windows to be of tinted cathedral glass. The carpentery and plumbing work will be of the best, a ; perfect system of ventilation and sanitation being observed.

The building, which is at present well in hand, is being erected by day labor, to plans prepared by Messrs. E. Mahoney and Sons, of Auckland, and is under the supervision of Mr. John W. Warren, architect, of Hamilton, the foreman of works being Mr. Leahy. Tenders were called for the work, the lowest being £6300, but the church building committee decided to carry out the construction by day labor. The following is a translation of the description on the foundation stone— As an abiding testimony to God most good and most high, the Bight Rev. Henry William Cleary, sixth Bishop of the diocese of Auckland, laid the foundation stone of this Church of St. Mary's of the Rosary on October 29, 1911, the Rev. Joseph Croke Darby being the Rector.' The inscription on the trowel was as follows: —' A grateful souvenir from the Rector, the Rev. Joseph Croke Darby, to the Bishop of Auckland, the Right Rev. Henry William Cleary, D.D., on his laying the foundation stone of the Church of St. Mary's of the Rosary at Hamilton on the 29th of October, 1911.' The trowel was of solid silver, with delicate tracery, and ivory handle, and bore the above inscription. It will serve as a reminder of the most memorable day in the Catholic Church of Hamilton. The reception given in honor of the Bight Rev. Dr. Cleary at the Hamilton Town Hall on Monday evening, October 30, was probably the most memorable gathering in the history of Catholicism in Waikato (says the local Times). The interior of the hall was comfortably arranged, and almost every available seat, both in the body of the hall and in the gallery, was occupied. As the Bishop entered, attended by Rev. Father Darby, the voices of a hundred and fifty children were raised in a song of welcome. His Lordship went amongst and spoke to his people, after which a programme of musical items was submitted, to which Mr. and Mrs. Towsey, Mrs. Jenkins, Miss Williams, Miss Moroney, and Messrs. C- Atkinson, Wrigley, Eller, and Milner contributed.

In a short address of welcome to his Lordship, Rev. Father Darby said that Dr. Cleary was known to them all long before he became their Bishop, if not in person, by his writings. His Lordship, after thanking the very largo gathering for the sincere welcome the people of Hamilton had given him, delivered a very interesting address. Later on when the Bishop was leaving he was enthusiastically cheered. The proceedings throughout were of the most enthusiastic character.