Consecration of S. Peter's Church, Mamaku, Rotorua District.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume II, Issue 3, 1 September 1911, Page 44

Consecration of S. Peter's Church, Mamaku, Rotorua District.

Sunday, August 20th, dawned fair and beautiful. It is a Sunday long to be remembered m Mamaku, for that morning saw our new Church that we have been so long working for solemnly consecrated and set apart from all profane uses for the worship of Almighty God m the name of *St. Peter, Apostle and Martyr. Shortened morning prayer, with special Psalms and Lessons, was said at 10.30 a.m. Immediately after, the Bishop, attended by his Chaplain, the Rev. F. A. Bennett, was presented by the Vicar, the Yen. Archdeacon Tisdall, and a number

of the Church members with a formal petition that the Church be duly consecrated. The petition being received by the Bishop, was drdered by him to be read aloud to the congregation. After the Reading of the petition, the 24th Psalm was sung, and the Bishop then proceeded with the beautiful and solemn service of consecration, which was followed by the Order of Holy Communion. The Bishop delivered a very earnest and moving address from the text "My house shall be called the house of Prayer." In the afternoon the first baptismal service m the Church was held, and the infant, Winifred Maud Maurice, was christened and received into the congregation of Christ's flock. The christening was followed by a short service for the Maoris resident m Mamaku, who were addressed by the Bishop m a few simple words, and invited by him to realise that the Church was also for their use as well as for the Pakeha. In the evening the building was crowded to its utmost capacity, when, after shortened Evensong, the Bishop administered the rite of Confirmation. The Bishop's address to the candidates and congregation was based on 1 Peter, 2, 4-5. It was an address surely never to be forgotten by all who heard it. The collections for the day amounted to ,£l7. And when the Vicar announced after the evening service that the amount of £2 was still needed to make up the sum due to the contractor, this amount was immediately guaranteed by one of the congregation, Mr Skellern. Our new church is the fruit of much self-sacrifice m time and money, and hard work on the part of many, and we rejoice that so far as it is built and furnished, we have been able to present it to God free of all debt. Built on the native rock of the place, situated on the most imposing site m Mamaku, may it ever be a witness to all m the place that God calls them to a life of prayer and service, and ever remind them that having come "unto the Living Rock chosen of God and precious, they also are living stones, built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."