Hospital Chapel

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 11, Issue 9, 1 August 1945, Page 5

Hospital Chapel

Where less than a month ago scrub and heaps of leaves lay rotting/ m an overgrown cocbanut plantation m New Britain, there stands to-day a chapel which is a credit to its builders. Padres, m the area who had parishes m Australian country towns have looked with envy at the chapel and -. stated • how proud they would have been to have had a similar building. Known officially .as St. Luke's, the chapel is attached to an Australian N General Hospital. ' Bush timber only was used m the construction of the chapel, which has been built on, simple lines. Pillars from : ;cocoamit logs form a solid foundation and give an impression of added height. The roof is thatched like a native hut. Furniture and arrangements of the chancel are net and simple. The only ornaments are two brass crosses beaten out of shell cases, and a number of brass vases. The back screen is of fibre m Gothic design. An inspiring sermon was preached at the dedication service by the Bishop of New Guinea (Dr. R. Strong) who visited New Britain for the occasion. Dr Strong emphasised that the mission of a hospital was to minister to the needs of sick humanity, hot the least of which was the spiritual need for communion with God. In handing over the chapel for the use of chaplains, the commanding officer of the hospital congratulated!:, all -those who assisted m the construction; The chapel is^to serve the:iCh,urch of England and other denominations.