NGARUAWAHIA

New Zealand Tablet, 27 November 1913, Page 43

NGARUAWAHIA

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A NEW CHURCH There took place in Ngaruawahia on Sunday, November 16 (says the local Advocate), one of the most interesting and important ceremonies in connection with a church, that has ever been held in Ngaruawahia. The occasion was the laying of the foundation stone of the new Catholic Church. The ceremony was performed by his Lordship Bishop Cleary, assisted by the Rev. Father Cahill (Rector). There were also present on the dais Very. Rev. Dean Darby (Hamilton), Rev. Father Edge (Ponsonby), and Mr. H. Marsland, chairman of the Ngaruawahia Town Board.

on behalf of the residents of the town, and stated that his Lordship represented an important section of the community, of which, although the speaker was not a member, he very much admired. The Catholic Church had taken a very important part in the civilisation of the world, and at the present time, in addition to its ordinary teaching in its schools and churches, it was carrying out an excellent work in the cities of Australia through the education given in its convents. While in Australia the speaker had met men of all denominations whose daughters attended the Catholic convents, and all of these gentlemen had spoken in the highest terms of the excellence of the education given there. The church of which the foundation stone was being laid that day would, when completed, be a credit to the Catholic community of Ngaruawahia, and an important acquisition to the town. He considered that every

Introducing Bishop Cleary, Father Cahill spoke of the reverence and respect in which his Lordship was held not only in the province of Auckland, but throughout the whole of New Zealand by persons of all shades of thought. Touching on the financial position of the parish, Father Cahill said that the contract price of the new church was £1899, towards which sum they had in hand about £IOOO, while a bazaar was being organised which was expected to bring in a further £2OO or £3OO. The property on which they stood was a monument to the wisdom and foresight of the Catholics of Ngaruawahia, and was at present bringing in an income of £SO a year. They had other valuable properties in the town, and he had no doubt the parish would be able to meet its liabilities. Mr. H. Marsland (chairman of the Ngaruawahia Town Board), extended a hearty welcome to the Bishop

section of the community should assist towards the cost of that church, for during the time the speaker had been in Ngaruawahia he knew of no matter nor object for the general good of the community or of individuals, towards which Father Cahill had not always given his willing assistance. 1 The Bishop’s Address. His Lordship Bishop Cleary expressed the great pleasure it gave him to be present to assist in one of the most striking manifestations of the advance of Catholicity in the district, and joined in the hope that it would not be long before they would see that beautiful building completed on the extended scheme. He further joined in the hope that before long Ngaruawahia would have a resident priest, and perhaps that priest might be Father Cahill. Three years ago if became his duty to tour Southern and Central America

on a special- mission, and, during that tour, when amongst the mountains, on the highest elevations of the world, he came across wonderful old cities, great towns that had left not even a trace of the people who had built them, as in Assyria and Mashonaland, built solidly and of enormous strength. The Catholic Church had her own style of architecture, and had introduced a wonderful series of edifices, a series all her own. The Catholic Church was, so to speak, the successor to the Jewish Church, and had given to the world the best of art, embracing the old pagan genius and all the art, history, and endeavor of the past advancement up Jo the period of Christianity. Christianity had introduced new ideas, and the new idea at the back of all the churches erected by the Catholic denomination was faith in the Deity, and charity which was shown in the emblem of the cross which crowned the summit of each edifice. The Catholic Church had given to art, architecture, sculpture, and painting a new mission, significance, and meaning. They built in symbol, not as man built for man, but for- God. It was the great faith which prompted the erection of the wonderful cathedrals of Europe that linked together in one Catholics throughout the world and in all ages, from the room of the Last Supper, which was the first Christian Church, down to the laying of the foundation stone of the church at Ngaruawahia. He ventured to hope that the Catholics of Ngaruawahia were building their hearts and lives into the bricks, and that in their own lives they were making themselves worthy of the great spiritual advice given in the Book of the Ephesians, ‘ and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in Whom all the building fitly framed, together groweth into a holy temple in the Lord. In Whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.’ Catholics, continued his Lordship, were only a small portion of the community, but they hoped they would, in the matter of piety and spiritual and social virtues, have an influence on the people of other faiths. They hoped that by their devotion to the Word of God and by their conduct in domestic life, unity of marriage, hatred of divorce, and efforts for Christian education, to be like the little cork in the world of science which, by its constant gentle force being brought to bear, moves a heavy body of steel. His Lordship then declared the stone well and truly laid.

The following is a translation of the Latin inscription on the foundation stone:

‘To God the most Good and most Great. The Illustrious and Most Rev. Henry William Cleary, sixth Bishop of Auckland, blessed and placed this foundation stone under the title of St. Paul the Apostle on the 16th day of November in the year of Salvation, 1913, the Rector being the Rev. Jeremiah Cahill.’

Very Rev. Dean Darby said he took a particular interest in the erection of the Ngaruawahia Church, because he was partly instrumental in acquiring the property on which it was being built. He spoke of the great generosity of the people of Ngaruawahia, stating

that while their priest was sick in Hamilton, each fortnight a party of the parishioners visited him with the collections for his support. They had thus brought a reward to themselves, for he did not think there was a single member of the parish at that time who dreamt that .within so short a period so beautiful a buildim? *• # o would be erected in their midst. By putting their trust in God they would achieve even greater things.

The Rev. Father Edge said that while that church was sufficiently large for tne present' requirements of the parish, it was only another step in the onward march or the Church, and a few generations ahead their successors would smile at what they considered the best efforts of the congregation of the present day, but he thought that could any of the people who were present that day speak from their graves when future generations looked with pity on what they of to-day had done, they would say, ‘ While you might have done better you could not have done it in a better spirit.’

Style and Dimensions.

The new church is situated on the main Hamilton road, a short distance out of the town. Architecturally, it is a simple treatment based on early Romanesque lines, which will be covered on the outside with cement stucco of rough surface and finished in white copperas. The edifice, when complete, will consist of a nave 64ft long by 30ft.wide, apsidal sanctuary, priests’ and boys’ sacristies, baptistery, confessional and bell-tower. The sanctuary, sacristies, bell-tower and last two bays of the nave will not be erected under the present contract, so that the sanctuary and sacristies now in course of construction are only temporary work. The main entrance faces the public road. Immediately over the entrance porch is a large circular window, six feet in diameter, filled in with wooden sashbars. The tower, which is situated on the right-hand side of the main entrance, is of simple design, and measures 10ft square, its whole height from the ground to the top of the cross being 56ft. The spire is pyramidal in shape, and is surmounted by a simple wrought-iron cross. All the exterior woodwork is treated with brown creosote, and the roof throughout is covered with red Somerset tiles. Internally the walls are finished with white plaster, and the woodwork is stained ‘ a dark oak color. The roof is in open timber work. Provision has been made in the complete scheme for a choir and organ gallery at the back of the church. An altar with baldachino, supported upon four pillars, has been designed for the complete scheme. The windows, which are kept high above the floor, are all glazed in cathedral glass of a light green tint. The architect is Mr. J. W. Warren, P.N.Z.1.A., of Hamilton.

Since the ceremony took place, the sum of £243 16s 5d has been handed in to the treasurer. It is therefore fair to say that the new church may be free of debt when the first service is held within its walls. At the conclusion of the ceremony of laying the foundation stone his Lordship Bishop Cleary administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to a number of candidates.