ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 187, 8 October 1906, Page 3

ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH.

CONSECRATION CEREMONY AT PATUTAHI. i—fr—6ml Tho handsome little church at Patutahi named after England’s saint was opened yesterday under the most pleasing auspices. It was a flue Spring day, and the Patutahi people had fortunately secured the assistance of His Lordship the Bishop of Waiapau, by whom the church was consecrated. The building was packed to tho doors ; improvised seating arrangements and the use of the ante-room failing to supply the necessary accommodation for all all who attended Tho service was a very impressive one, the Bishop being assisted by the Revs. Butterfield and Coekerill. Mrs Shcrratt presided at the organ, and Mr J. 0. Woodward was choir leader. Mr R. Sherratt formally handed over tho building on behalf of the people. The Bishop- gave an eloquent sermon, taking his text from Isaiah, a portion of the seventh verse of chapter 56,—“Mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.” He showed how there was no sacrodness in the structure as it came from the bauds of the builders, but as the Lord had said that He would bo present wherever two or three people were gathered together, so a church was specially set apart as a sacred building for worship. Ho impressed on ail the necessity for devotion, and showed how each one should do his or her part in the great work. In the afternoon a Communion service was conducted by the Bishop, . about fifteen candidates accepting the holy rites.

Is is interesting «o bmtly narrate the history of She project. Is was originated by Mrs T. W. Batumi, who obtained permission from tho Bishop so make cjlb.otions whilst she was in England. The lady started a subscription list amongst her friends, thereby obtaining £lO, which formed the nucleus of tbe fund, Tne Hon. Randall Johnson gave £25, a bazaar brought in anothec £25, and with this money a half rcro ocction was purchased, costing £3O ; but the Presbyterian Church obtaining tbe section alongside, is waa deemed wiser to obtain another section, That wee done, tbe fire, plot being sold and a new site obtained at a coet of £45, including fenoing. Mr Gray, who attc-nded tho sale, also purchased an aero adjoining, which the church hai tbo use of, and wbioh may at any time be aeqaired by tbe cbutch at tho original purchase prior. It is hoped that eventually this section will bo utilised for a vicarage, The church was built by Messrs Mackre-1 and Colley, the cost being £260, and extras bringing tho ameunt up to £BOO. Messrs Holland Sons did the painting and plumbing work. The Beats, which wore copied from the Matawhoro church, and are olaimed to be tho mast comfortable in tho district, wero made in Paluiahi by Mr T. Chambers, tho vamirhing. oiling and pilisbiog being done by Mr O /enden, also of Palutahi. Tbe altar rails were a gift from Messrs Msckrell and Ojlloy, and a Communion tab ! e, which is of puriri, handsomely inla;d with boneysuck'o, was the gift of Mr and Mrs Sherratt. The latter is entitled to much praise for tho assiduous way in wh'ch she worked for the good of tbo ohurcb, and tho managing committee, Messrs T. W. Bilham, R. Bherratt, J. C. Woodward and Parsons, dosarvo great credit for tho success of Ibo work under-

taken by them. It is hoped that in tho near future to have tho building quite free of debt.