OPENING OF TRINITY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 190, 18 January 1875, Page 2

OPENING OF TRINITY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The opening services in connection with the new church recently erected fronting Manchester and Worcester streets took place yesterday to crowded congregations. In the morning the church was filled in every part, and forms and chairs had to be placed in every nook and corner in order to accommodate those who wished to be present. The Rev W. J. Habens, pastor of the church, read the lessons, which were specially selected from 1 Kings chap viii., containing the description of the dedication of the Temple by Solomon. Selected hymns were also sung, and the anthem was taken from the 89th Psalm. The Rev A. M. Henderson, of Melbourne, preached the sermon, delivering a most impressive and eloquent address, taking for his text Isaiah chap vi„ " Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory." Mr Henderson is a fluent orator, with ready command of language and eloquent diction,

and we are glad to learn that he will give a lecture before leaving Christchurch. The Rev W. J. Habens announced that Rev Mr Henderson would preach in the Trinity Church next Sunday morning, and that in the evening he would preach in the Wesleyan Church, Durham street, the congregation of which had most liberally placed it at their disposal, and proffered that the collection made should be devoted towards the building fund of the new Congregational Church. In the afternoon, there was a large attendance of children, at the special service, and in the evening, when Mr Henderson again preached, there was a large congregation. The collection amounted tp £67 18s. The tea and public meeting in commemoration of the opening of the church will be held this evening in the Oddfellows' Hall. The church, which has been erected from plans furnished by Mr Mountford, is of the Norman or early English style of architecture, the plinth being of valley stone, and the quoins, jambs, and arches, of white rock from Mr W. Wilson's quarries. The walls being built of rubble stone from Mr Ward's Halswell quarries. The plan of the church . tower, nave and transept is not cruciform but having diagonal lines, describing a side of an octagon. At the southern end of the church is the vestry, which is semicircular with class room over. The height of the wall from floor to eaves is 19ft, the ridge of the main roof being 40ft high. The roof is slated with assorted colours laid to pattern. On the east andjwest faces of the transept are gables with three lancet and one large circular window in each gable. The diagonal faces of the transept are surmounted by pyramidal roofs and ornamental iron finials. There are two lancet windows on each face, and handsome folding swing doors for exit, on the northeast and north west faces. The extreme length of the building, from the north face of the tower to the south end of the vestry, is 110 ft, the extreme width over all of the transept being 54ft; the width of nave 34ft, and the height of the tower 60ft. The gallery is capable of seating 100 persons, The nave is lit by six square headed recessed windows. The north front of the tower is worked with white rock Btrings, arches, weatherings, quoins, and jambs. The large window in the north gable over the porch consists of a centre-piece three feet in diameter enclosed by eight smaller discs. All the windows in the body of the church are very neat quarries of Chance's figured cathedral glass. Due provision is made for proper ventilation. The roof is double, and very elaborate. At the principals, curved ribs, springing from the stone corbels, form a quadrant on each side of the church. The spaces between the principals are lined with kauri panels, and subdivided by a series .of moulded ribs. It has been so arranged that the vestry and class-room can be made available for church accommodation on an emergency. The church can comfortably seat 500.