Consecration Of Ven Bede's Anglican Church

Chronicle (Levin), 8 September 1949, Page 3

Consecration Of Ven Bede's Anglican Church

Shannon's 51-year-old Church of the Venerable B'ede, which was recently movecl from its original site in B'ryce Street to a mofe eentral positibn in Stout Street, was consecrated last Sunday afternoon by the Bishop of Wellington, the Rt, Rev." R. H. Owen, M.A. The service con'ducted: consid'erable public attention. The Arehdeacon of Rangitikei, Archd'eacon Monaghan, M.A., and Rev. Keith Elliott, V.C., were' also present at the service. The ceremony commenced with the Bishop being petitioned to conseerate the church by Mr. E. , A. Collins, the vicar's warden, after which the key of the church was handed- to Bishop Owen by Mr. N. L. Bryson, the people's. warden. The procession then entered the 'church. At the close of .the service, the vicar, Rev. M. J. S. Wheeler, read the sentencss of consecration followed by the signing of the consecration document by Bishop Owen. The annual confirmation' followed when 24 candidates were presented to the Bishop and confirmed. At both' services the church was filled to ' capacity and many were unable to enter the building. It was pleasing to note that many early parishioners, including Mr. J. Hallam and Mes'dames Knowles, ,C. B. Gunning and WaringTaylor were present for the services. The Foxton ehoir was in attendance and the organist was Mr. H. Hannay, of Foxton. During the afternoon Bishop Owen planted a cyprus tree in the church grounds to. commemorate the occasion. At the completion of the ceremony members of the ladies' guild entertained those present at tea in the Parish Hall, at which an official welcome was extended to Bishop- and Mrs. Owen by Mr. Wheeler and the church wardens. Special thank£ were extended to the la'dies. of the guild by Mr. Morgan, of Foxton. The church was again filled to capacity when Mr. Wheeler conducted the evening service at 7 p.m.