ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH, GREYMOUTH

New Zealand Tablet, 6 November 1913, Page 15

ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH, GREYMOUTH

;r THE RE-OPENING CEREMONY Sunday (says the local Star of October 20) was a red-letter day in the history of the Catholic Church in Greymouth, and the older residents who remember the humble' beginning of their church in Arney street have reason to feel proud of-their fine church re-opened yesterday by his Grace Archbishop Redwood, who, almost 27 years ago, laid the foundation stone here. There have been many energetic and far-seeing priests in the Dominion, but it is questionable if any one could show so fine a record of progress as has been the case in Greymouth under the direction of the Very Rev. Dean Carew, 'whose zeal, piety, and self-sacrifice have laid deep and broad the foundations, and are steadily building up the stately edifice of a glorious Church '—words of the late Cardinal Moran, which are eminently applicable to the worthy Dean. The outlay occasioned by the latest improvements has certainly been large, but Catholics always give unsparingly towards the building of places of J worship. The result in this instance, has been the re-erection of a series of buildings which are at once a monument to the zeal and energy of the Dean and his assistant priests, and a symbol of the generosity of the Catholics. It is now some twelve months since the Catholic community decided to erect a new and thoroughly up-to-date presbytery on the section adjoining St. Patrick's Church. With this end in view a contract was let for the erection of a thoroughly handsome edifice, and the work of erection has been proceeding for the last six months. Dean Carew, however, foresaw the necessity of extending and enlarging St. Patrick's Church, and, when the recent successful mission, conducted by the Marist Fathers, amply bore out his contention that this work was a most important and urgent one,- he, with characteristic enterprise, set. to work to have his long cherished hone consummated. It was then and there decided by the church committee to undertake the enlargement and extension of the church, which work was accordingly carried out by Messrs. S._ and W. Luttrell, of Christchurch, who completed their contract in six weeks. . _ Yesterday morning the church . was re-opened by his Grace Archbishop Redwood. The sacred" building was well filled at each of the three' Masses, celebrated at 7.30, 9, and 10 a.m., whilst the church was simply packed at the evening service. The choir, under the able conductorship of Mr. H. F. Doogan, rendered with very fine effect the 'Kyrie' from Weber's Mass in G, and the rest of the Mass from Gounod's Messe Solennelle.. Miss Rota Hannan presided at tho organ. At the 10 o'clock Mass his Grace preached a very eloquent sermon, dealing with the mission of Christ upon this earth. He said the people of Greymouth were indeed fortunate in possessing such a magnificent edifice, the church being now one of the finest in the whole Dominion and a credit to the town and district; in fact, it was a standing monument to- Catholicity on the West Coast and a joy to the Church in this Dominion. . His Grace felt highly honored at the fact that in the absence of the Bishop of the diocese (his Lord-, shiu Bishop Grimes) he had been asked to preside at that day's ceremony. He had assisted at the laying of the foundation stone 27 years ago, and he was indeed highly gratified to be there assisting at the crowning effort in connection with St. Patrick's. The prime mover of the project, the Very Rev. Dean Carew, must feel highly pleased at the very liberal response made by the people to his appeal yesterday for funds to pay off the debt on the building. Collections were taken up at each of the Masses, and he very handsome sum of £235 was donated, whilst outstanding amounts will, probably bring the total up to £3OO. i- j a i In the matter of churches and church prosperity, the Greymouth parish is indeed fortunate in possessing such an earnest and enthusiastic worker in this respect as Very Rev. Dean Carew. He has been identified with

St. Patrick’s Church since its erection, and in addition to the magnificent church and presbytery in Chapel street, the Dean has found time to further the interests of the outlying parts of his parish. Splendid churches .ua,vo oeen »->uilu at Dunollie, Cobden, Brunner, and Barrytown, whilst large and commodious convent schools have been built at Brunner, Cobden,. and Runanga, The erection of the local convent schools, St. Mary’s and St. Patrick’s, and the Marist Brothers’ School, also indicates the Dean’s untiring zeal and energy in the cause of Catholic education, a record which will be hard to beat in any part of the Dominion. The first thing that strikes one on entering the church is the large amount of seating accommodation provided. The seats are divided into four sections, three aisles running the full length of the church. The main aisle runs from the main door right up to the high altar, 1 whilst the side aisles lead up from the two side doors. The church, has now seating accommodation for 1200 people, and this 1 should be found sufficient to meet all requirements for some years to come. The alterations and additions are on a most elaborate scale, and St. Patrick Church must now be regarded as on© of the finest in the Dominion. In addition to new flooring and an entirely new set of seats, the whole of the interior of the church has-undergone a great change; in fact, many of the congregation were struck with wonder at the magnificent spectacle presented yesterday morning. All traces of the old side walls have been completely demolished, and new side walls9o feet in length have taken their place. The new walls have been extended 10ft on either side, thus giving an extra 20ft in width in the main body of the church. This also makes the exterior of the church more uniform. Two beautiful arches have been cut in the main wall separating the old sacristy and the nuns’ chapel from the church proper, thus making these two part of the main body of the church. Two magnificent side altars have been erected in the places formerly occupied by the sacristy and the nuns’ chapel. The main altar has also been raised three feet and'the rails extended. The whole of the interior of the church has undergone a thorough overhaul. Metal ceilings give a pleasing aspect to the side alterations. Truly in, the far future it may be said of the worthy Dean Carew: ‘lf you seek his monument, look around.’ The cost of the new presbytery and the church alterations and improvements will to over £6ooo'.