NEW CHURCH AT ST. MARTINS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28269, 6 May 1957, Page 6

NEW CHURCH AT ST. MARTINS

Dedication By Moderator

‘Tn the name of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand I accept these keys in token of the trust committed to us. I declare this church opened to the glory and service of God.” With these words the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (the Rt. Rev. J. M. McKenzie) proceeded to the' dedication of the new St. Martin’s Presbyterian Church yesterday. After the opening ceremony, the church was quickly filled, and many members of the congregation took part in the service from outside the church, where hymns and prayers were relayed to them through loudspeakers. In his sermon. Mr McKenzie congratulated the parish on the further step it had taken in the work of the parish and the local community, and reminded parishioners that they were paying tribute to the divine initiative which had led to the building of the church. “It is primarily work of God in us and through us,” he said. “In this parish and suburb God has been given a place that rightly belongs to him,” he continued. The building was, above all, for worship, which was one of the greatest needs and greatest fulfilments. He said that the significant thing about the building was not the bricks and mortar, but that it was a symbol of the growth of a living church. Prayers of dedication were Spoken by the Moderator of the Christchurch Presbytery (the Rev. A. A. Brash). Mr McKenzie preached again at the evening service.