ST. AUGUSTINE'S GOLDEN JUBILEE.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 24, Issue 11, 1 November 1934, Page 6

ST. AUGUSTINE'S GOLDEN JUBILEE.

The event m the history of the*. Church was the series of celebrations connected with the Jubilee of the Church. The consecration of the Church took place on the second day of October, 1884, at 11 a.m. On theoriginal document the Hymns, Proper Psalms and Lessons as well as the Anthem are all mentioned but th& name of the preacher does not appear, nor. does it appear at the evening ser-f vice ,at 7.30 p.m. On . Sunday, October sth, the morning, preacher is not mentioned, but it states that a children's service was held at 3 p.m., when the preacher was Rev. I. Parkinson. There were some baptisms at 4 p.m. The preacher at 7 p.m. was. the Rev. de Berdt Hovell. There are a few people m the church still who were present then. Those people never did a bigger thing m their lives than to persist all through those long years through good times and bad until the present day. As soon as Easter was over m the present year members began to meet together to organise for the celebration of the Jubilee. A letter was sent out from the Vestry inviting all the members to Join up. The letter stated that through the slump> and the earthquake, there was a debit of £300 and suggested that each member might strive to save up one pound to put m the plate on Jubilee Day and a special jubilee envelope was enclosed. The day came and the attendances were all that could be desired. There were 320 communicants, as the day wore on the congregations increased until at 7 p.m. the congregation was far beyond the capacity of the Church, after placing 40 chairs and some forms m the

Church, the overflow was drafted into the parish hall to which the service was broadcast. The Yen. Archdeacon Bullock of St. Peter's, Wellington, was the preacher for the day. The offertory amounted to £165 the largest collection that had ever been received m all the history of the Church, Sunday, October 14th, was observed as Thanksgiving Day. At 11 a.m. the family ' service, extra seating had to be provided for the congregation. The Rev. S. Weymouth took the service and preached the sermon. At 7. p.m. the congregation comfortably filled the Church. The Yen. . Archdeacon Maclean was the preached. The Right Rev. the Bishop of Waiapu read the lessons and pronounced the benediction, the vicar sang evensong, at the close of the service, the whole con.gregation sang Te Deum Laudamus. The very first service however washeld on the 23rd of September, when the Bishop confirmed 47 candidates, .22 boys and 25 girls all of whom ■came from the two Bible Classes held at 10 a.m. every Sunday. Even at this service extra seating accommodation had to be provided. A programme of events was also provided during the week including a -choral, organ and instrumental concert. A children's evening was arranged, also an evening for foundation members and old identities was provided and finally a general parish gathering. The old identities' evening will never be forgotten. There were people from far away who had gathered from Auckland, Wellington, 'Christchurch and Dunedin. A history of the Church from the very beginning was compiled and Mr W. Lydford and Mr. J. P. Williamson gave most inspiring addresses. On Tuesday Bth, a very successful garden fete was held m Nelson Park, when about 300 people gathered. A Bazaar was held •■ii> the Foresters'. Hall on Oct. 9. When the books were made up the treasurer announced that £305 14s 6d had been received. -Congratulation's were received from the Archbishop and Primate of New Zealand. The Bishop of Wellington, the Bishop of Aetearoa, and our own Bishop, wha unfortunately for us was absent m Christchurch, at the time. In his letter, the Archbishop wrote: "St. Augustine's Church has played an important part m the spiritual life of Napier during the past 50 years and' your

jubilee will serve . to bring to remembrance many noble men and women, who faithfully 'served the. Church m their day and generation, but are now numbered with the encompassing cloud of witnesses." During Synod, m reply to a vote of congratulation, Mr J. P. Williamson said that there was far more than money gathering. It had been a spiritual experience and the unani-r mity arid cheerful work of the congregation reflected the hope and respect for their vicar-. A Book of Remembrance, was provided and was signed by 61 foundation members and old identities. Old identities meant all who had been connected with the Church 30 years and over. At the close of the social, the roll was called. This was a very interesting, impressive ceremony.