Shannon Anglican Church's Jubilee

Chronicle (Levin), 10 June 1948, Page 4

Shannon Anglican Church's Jubilee

. : AeroBS the railway line from tiie /tbw.h'8hip, 'nestling in -a setting of tall brhamental trees behind a wide', high li'edge, is " Shannon 'a . picturesque little qhHTph'of England. It was built wlien -Shannon, comprised a mere handful or pipnper, settlers, was officially opened on ;May 21, '.18-98 and eonseerated by Arch- j •/deacQn Fancourt on May 28, 1898. After some controversy it was namecl after ' the • Y enerable -Bede, ' born in tite County of Durham on' May 27, 672 A.D. |in4.died 735 A.D., who has been called ."The Father of English History." Tne Ypnerable Bede was a remarkable .preaeher, scholar and thinker, who' taught in a monastery at Jafrow. He -.died juet as he had completed the first tiailslation of the , Gospel of St. .John . eveT -;made into any English dialect and his tomb may be seen in Durham Cathedral. The; patronal festival ot Venerable Bede 's Cliurch, Shannon, /ta-kes plaee each year at the weekenu nearest May 27 and this year it was es'pecially interesting in tliat it was the "jiibilee of the church. A small eoinmittee Combined with the vestry and with thp added help of a few parishioners, the. oeeasion was made a hapjjy and inem'Pra'ble one for ' those privileged to 5e present.

vrThe/'festivities commenced with a [children ?s plain and fancy dress 2.30 tfan* p.m.' tea party on Saturday, May / 29. ; The parish liall, decorated 4rith? ^h'urlti-coloured silk bun£ing, large :tree-fferh leaves, and vases'~of flowers ph'fl . vpbrfies:. on the window sills of .the ■gpldBh.' .curtained windows, was the ,rsndezvous of 76 Sunday Sehool chil_dr'ea, ,their teachers and several parentii - Games were played ahd Mr. (J. Qrojiquest entertained with his daneJfigrdbll, marionette nionkey and •suitAple^enildfen's songs, and Mrs. J. Bar'BpfctJt,j:unr., accompanied on the piano. B'ltfing at lohg, flower decorated tabies, ihe 'ehildr.cn were led by the vicar or the' parish, Eev. M. J. S. Wheeler, in Aaying; grace before an espeeially nice party' tea was onjoyed. Prior to going 'h'orfte all ^.were served with iee-cream •an'd. given a bag of sweets. - >tn the evening a large erowd or yeung people gathered for the jubilee ■dahcb. Mr. S. Chester, assisted by 7vlr.[SiVsthyde,. was M.C. and the mu'sie was :Bhpplied by Alrs. T. Fuller (piano), Mr. UDBateman (drums'), and Mr. ±i. Pfihihi'er, Levin (extras). Prizes were givon to winners of several competitive daaces. :y;Aiter a lengthy period of cold, ! W0t weather, Shannon folk surpris-i •ihgly aWoke on Sunday morning to! •r warm',, cairn, bright day. Durkigl the 8 a.m. Hoiy Communion servlce, I celebrated by the vicar (Rev. M. J.1 S»";. Wheeler) , brilliant sunshine' shbne- .through the windov/s enchanting the beautiful embossed, dark gfeen hangings of the Sanctflary, ; against which the shining ]D|bss: : and brass vases of light bfonke and golden chrysanfchemtittis showed up to perfection. A tall brass jardinier.e of pale green ft^drangeas by the lectern, and aj Iqw bd\v| of African marigolds on the' organ top and vases of red ber-J rles and Whit'e Ester Read daisfdsj at.' the base of the war honours} "board, with :bunches of red berries elsewhere, gave an added beauty to the church. In the quieth'ess'.of- this hbur the singing of the birdk eame sweetly to .the ears. »} At.i9.45 a.m. the children of the parish, had their special service. -,^AtT- .the 11 a.m. Matins, the Venerable ' Arehdeacon H. W. Mofta- : ghan; 'vicar of All Saints5 Church, Palmerston North and Archdeacon ; of ..Rangitikei, was the preacher. His ati,4AesS, which incorporated refer- ' pnce to the iife of the Venerabie ■ £ede, ( was eminently suitabie for . the pccasion and one that will be eyer-.r'emember.ed. The Foxton All [ Sainfcs' Church choir of 14 voices ?le'd; ;*the singing, and as a processibnal enter.ed the church with ihe yclergy, singing "We Have The . ]?lace O God." They also sang fhe anthem "Let There Be Light." -'/ The bell for thi's service was rirug by Mr. H. W. Knowles, who carried . QUt .this duty in the earliest days of ■the church. ' - ' A jubilee luncheon in the parish hall .foilovved, and was attended by over 10U '* people,' many early aetive chureli work-

ers iio w in distuni piavi-s being present. Rev. M. J. S. Vfhei'k'r, M r. L. GKlius. (vicar's \v arden i aii'l A' r. H. u\ >rri.(people's warOen i t Mcmle'I a weivo'me to those present. . ir. ' • ^1- '4,,nq..esl spoke oi the .»• rk >>t in-* pioinnrs oi , the cl.urch and. iv. rre.l to mnny w ho ( had -passt il to t'ei: r«'-t. an wed jubilee ea ko v.as varri-.-d in f.««l tt.e f>* ( 'Hiiiiies were ht by Ihe 4 wo wardtmnn.l I'.o.mi out .iy Mj. .i. ilaluim, -- ■ stauui'h v\ (M ker 1 - > t;:e i-i'tir. h for a great nutny vears. Mrs. 11. w. Knowles, a pi: nt-er ii.vni 'i*r. v.Iio v.as .•a'Uivcty i eoinus t ed u itit the ehnn h in its lirst , days, cut tJie ea: «•. Kemeailo an-es oi iiis a-soiiai ion v. itu ni- iather, the late Mr. IMimarl >-pen er, iu tne J.uiMmg «>t the ehtircii, were given by ;.l". L. .i. S. Speueer. I nfoi'inali. y was the heynote oi, the afternoon gatlieruig, ^isitiiig. early ' I'hurch workers reuiwving a-ijuaintiune and meeting pre.-ent partsiiionerS .aml metubers of the 1 a.. Tokomaru ainl , Foxton guihks. Aftenio.in te.i vyas served and items given by the j.oliowiug: — Mr. C. M. Ci'.iiqiie.-t (stnigP- aeconi]>aiiied bv hlt. irannav (loxt.ohi, Aini Trieker (reeiiath.-nsi, .\iiss •' \ . ; Muni'ord ( j'iaiioborto si'iosi and Ptun • Clayton ('eloeut loaa'-y niualiers;,. . , Festal evensoisg v, sung at 7 p»m. t vvhen on •• e again t I»o ehtnvh was paeke/! . to overiiowing. Tiiv Foxton ehoir again ; sang a proeessional hyinn aird-- an anthem and nation G. Y. V» oud.vaid. of Levin, now retired, gave the address, appropriately touehing on the early history pi Venerabie Bede's oliureh. vv.it h wliich, wlien vicar at Foxton# ho was quite often a^soeiated, Follnvv-ng the ; service, all adjonrned to ihe parisli hall,' vvhere siipper was served. - \ Among past parishiotters present fromva distance wero the jollovv.ing:— } Mrs. J. Currie ( Thames Mrs.. K. . Henry, Alr. aml Mrs. M. Taylor (V\ ei lington ), Alr. iinil Mrs. 1>. Wilkinson (Plimmerton), Mrs. A. .Sem.ple .( Mai' tui - borough ), Mrs. \V. Kobinsou Feather stone/, Mrs. P. Burke (Linden.:, rs. ■ W. G. Vickers, Mr. and Mrs. II. baston. ! •Mr. and Mrs. A. Linburn, Miss B. ■ Bovvler, Miss ('. Woodniass i Levin j, Mr. and Mrs. I). Murray, Mrs. (Tnvve, Mrs. ,J. Tidev ( Palnsersi on North), Mrs.. J> Sat.herley (Ashhurst Mrs. L. JenJ\iiis ( Belmont ). Mr. and Mrs. \V. h'lark ,t Te Horo), Mrs. Waring-Taylor, . Miss vB. Taylor (Foxton) and Miss, N. TJiompson (Dannevirke). Rev. G. B. Stote-Blandy, of. Levin, who is a former vicar of fhe parish, was also present, y ■ .