NEW CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART, TAKAKA

New Zealand Tablet, 3 October 1918, Page 13

NEW CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART, TAKAKA

(From our own correspondent.) On Sunday, September 15, the handsome marble church built of marble quarried in the Takaka Valley, was formally opened. The weather was beautifully fine, and a large company assembled to witness or take part in the proceedings. At 11 a.in. High Mass was sung by Father Kimbell, S.M., of Wellington, and the occasional sermon was preached by his Grace Archbishop O’Shea, S.M. Farmer’s Mass was well rendered by the local choir under the direction of Mrs. B. Gapper. At 2.30 p.m. Solemn Benediction was given by the Archbishop and the sermon was preached by Father Kimbell. The visitors were entertained to a luncheon by the church committee at Mr. D. Mcßae’s. In the evening a sacred concert was held in the hall, when a very pleasing and well-arranged programme was listened to with pleasure by (a good audience. Mrs. B. R. Gapper presided in an able manner at the organ for the musical portion of both services, and also for the concert in the evening. In the morning there was a debt of ,£3OO still owing on the building. At the conclusion of the day’s proceedings the church was announced as free of debt, the collection at the Mass alone totalling £233. This speaks well for the Takaka Catholics, and records a feat they should be proud of : £1250 was expended on the building. The church is the second of its kind in the Do- • minion, Motueka having the prior honor in the church of Blessed Chanel. The building is a very handsome one, the design being simple, yet striking in its simplicity. The dimensions are 60ft by 27ft, the side walls being 14ft high and the front from base to top of cross 35ft. The nave is 50ft by 24ft, the sanctuary 10ft by 12ft, and the sacristy 10ft by Bft. The entrance to the sanctuary is decorated by two polished pillars with moulded caps, from which springs a Roman arch 10ft inside diameter. The altar is of various colored marbles, and the three front arches on which the table rests are supported by four polished pillars. The tabernacle is of Silician marble with black variegated Takaka marble door. On each side of the tabernacle are two polished steps, above which rises the reredos of various colored marble, the canopy being supported by two polished columns, the whole effect presenting a striking illustration of what cab be done with our local marble. The whole interior of the church is strikingly handsome and reflects great credit on the designer and on the craftsmen who carried out the work. The church will seat 200 people and is well lighted. The roof is supported by five substantial principals and lined diagonally in panels of rimu. The whole of the marble used on the building was supplied free by Mrs. Eric Sparrow, of Uruwhenua, from the quarry on their own property. The walls and exterior work were the care of Messrs. Gray and Vass. The interior portions were the particular care of Mr. Jas. Connor, and the work of polishing was in the hands of Mr. Vass, who also gave the first sketch of what was afterwards put into full design by Mr. A. R. Griffin, of Nelson, for the style of the building. Mr. Greenam, of Nelson, attended to the carpentry work, and the tiles for the roof were made in Takaka by Messrs. Chamberlain and Stannard, of Nelson. The front of the building is much improved by semi-circular stone copings on each side, having neat iron gates at each corner of the building and large gqtes for wheel traffic on the outside of each sweep. Takaka certainly owes the energetic Catholics a debt of gratitude for making such an improvement in the appearance of the main street.