St. Matthew's Church, Hastings

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 36, Issue 7, 1 October 1945, Page 4

St. Matthew's Church, Hastings

A VISIT TO

By "J. H."

(Special thanks for help to Canon C. Mortimer- Jones, Vicar of the Parish when this article was begun)

Those who visit New Zealand towns are' seldom advised to visit a church, as a matter of cultural interest apart from religion. By contrast, all England takes pride m ancient cathedrals, old church yards where famous Englishmen lie, and also the history associated with these places and immortalised by great writers. It is time we m New Zealand took steps to inculcate the love of old buildings and their traditions and began to record unknown treasures so that those who have eyes may see and remember. Here is the story of St. Matthew's Church, Hastings, briefly written, with many omissions through lack of space. Old residents remember the first Anglican Church, built where Thompson's butchers shop now stands m Heretaunga Street, and how, about 70 years ago, the "new" ■church was built years later.

Later the "new" church became the "old," for it was incorporated into a fine edifice modern Gothic m style the architect being De Clere, of Wellington! With its grey walls, overed with tinted creeper m Autumn, and giving out glorious lights from stained glass windows by night, this is certainly an outstanding building m Hawke's Bay. In 1931 came "the ' earthquake," No. 10 on Rossi Florel scale, which caused great damage where the new concrete , roof joined the older building. Services were- held m a tent on the Vicarage lawn. In May, 1932, St. Matthew's was re-opened after an expenditure of £1350 to rebuild the tower, four central .columns and roof arches. Enter by the beautiful lych gate, with brass memorial tablets to John Townsend, 1890, and Mary, wife of John Hobbs,. and from beneath its shelter continue through the main door and straight ahead, where above the Chancel isi the Te Deum window given by Miss Williams, Frimley, m memory of James Nelson Williams and his wife. It depicts angels,

archangels, Seraphins, Cherubins, Apostles, Martyrs, Virgins and all Saints praising God, with the central figure of Christ as King of Glory. The -window was designed by John Bonner,,of Chiswick. It lights the whole body of the chancel. Below the window and above the Altar is an oak, carved reredos, taken from the "Last Supper," by Leonardo da Vinci. This was a copy of a reredos m Lichfield's Theological College, carved by A. Bridgeman and Firm at Lichfield, England^ and given by George Beamish to St. Matthew's m memory .of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Beamish, his parents. The beautifully carved oak choir stalls were the. craft of Linley Ellis* Wellington, who also carved the oak pulpit (given by the G.F.S.). This is a copy, of the pulpit m Eton College Chapel. On the right is the organ, a valuable instrument by Norman and Beard, London, given by late J. N. Williams and late William Nelson. Near the organ is the solid brass lecturn, the oak litany desk, the oak

litany desk carved beautifully m fleur-de-lys, and a prayer desk m relief work, and a marble tablet to the memory of William Charles Maddison, father of Mr G. A. Maddison, for several years Mayor of Hastings, who died m 1908. Above, where old and new church roofs adjoin, are historic and battered flags which once belonged to the early Hawke's Bay Mounted Regiment. Near the doorway of the main building is the font, destroyed by earthquake, 1931, but still showing the date on the pedestal: Born Jan. 31st, 1878— died Aug. 28th, 1878— a little, sister of General Sir Andrew Russell. On the exact opposite side from the font is the Children's Corner, carried out m blue and gold, with these words over the tiny altar: "Dear Child, this is your corner of the church. Rest here. Read. Look at the pictures. And before you leave kneel down to thank God and to ask for his guidance m your daily life." By the main doorway you may pause to read an interesting framed "Table of the Succession of Bishops from the sending forth of the Apostles" to the present time, beginning with St. Augustine, Nov. 16th, 597, and ending with the present Archbishop of Canterbury. THE LADY CHAPEL The Lady Chapel of St. Matthew's Church has an atmosphere of sanctity and is veryImpressive m its beauty. Dark wood chairs on a carpet of religious blue, deep ivory-tinted

walls with panels of green m mosaic colourings, and light gleaming through the richly coloured stained glass windows, all give their silent tribute to God, who is the giver of beauty. Comfort has come to many who have prayed here during the years of war and heart-breaks Above the Altar gleams the East window of the Annunciation. It is designed by the artist, E. Parsons, of London, m memory of William Russell Russell and his sons. It. is so beautiful a window that visitors to the town should really try to see it. The Virgin Mary and Child are central amongst six figures. At the base are purple and red anemones,

the "lilies of the field" of Palestine. The star-lit sky, the tree, the deep blues, green, gold of the colours chosen are very fine m conception, and religious feeling m the window dominates the whole. Below the East window and above, the Lady Chapel Altar is a vivid .reredos m ornate Flemish period, carved and gilded, with curulean blue panels and carved painted figures. This artistic piece of work cost several hundred pounds andi was carved by R. Bridgeman and Sons, of Lichfield. One notices the exquisite gold filagree of vines surrounding the panels. It was given by Miss Henrietta Kelly. It will surely be years after the war • before such work will be carried out once more. There are side windows m this Chapel of stained glass, m memory, of the mother of the late Harold Russell and of Margaret Candy. - All have exquisite detail and colouring and wear the touch of the great artist, E. Parsons. Chapel and choir screens, which m design and moulding match the East window, were erected m memory of John Hobbs, first vicar of the parish m 1890, who died m 1932. He was a most beloved figure through, the long years of his life of over 80 years. On a wall, near the Chapel door are tablets m brass, marble and bronze, which perpetuate the memory of the late Sir William Russell," one of the fine pioneers of the district, and his wife and sons, the latter killed m action as young men. There are tablets on other walls to John Cecil Tosswill, died 1934; James Nelson Williams, died 1915; Walter Mason, died 1918, and William Bateman Beilby, died 1902.