EASTER SERVICES.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 864, 2 April 1877, Page 2

EASTER SERVICES.

Ivaiapoi “Episcopal Church. —At the Episcopal Church yesterday there was a procession, the choirmaster carrying a cross. The incumbent during the communion was assisted by two boys in surplices. The Church was very gaudily decorated. At the vestry meeting at 9 a.m. to-day, ninety-two parishioners were present, and several strangers. The parishioners were sixty-five against the incumbent and sixteen for his practices. The church accounts showed a deficiency of .690, the incumbent’s salary a full quarter in arrear, and about a quarter of a ton of candles has been burnt during the year. But for the sale of grave plots the debt would have been greater, as the cemetry account was carried in to the general accounts. The incumbent nominated Mr Birch, churchwarden, the parishioners elected Mr Whitefoord the church warden, and Messrs Porter, Bean, Rayner, Wilson, Revel], and Dr Dudley, vestrymen without opposition, on the understanding that they will put an end to the ritualistic practices, and procure the removal of the incumbent. St Michakl’s. —The service yesterday at St Michael’s was fully choral, being to music by Berthold Tours. In the morning the anthem was Monk’s “Now upon the first day of the week,” and in the evening Wesley’s “Blessed be God the Father.” The font, pillars, and end of the chancel were very prettily decorated with wreaths of flowers and evergreens. Mr Parker presided at the organ, and the Rev E. G. Penny conducted the services both morning and evening.

St Luke’s. —At St Luke’s the service was plain. The chancel screen was very prettily traced with holly and flowers, the windows, chandeliers, and font also being decorated witli flowers, Ac. The Rev E. A. Lingard officiated at the services. St. John the Baptist. —The decorations at this church yesterday, though very elaborate, are exceedingly chaste. The background of the eastern window is formed of gold, in the centre of which is a composite cross made to imitate stone, ornamented with chaplets of flowers. Each wall of the building is covered with frames of trelliscd work formed of scarlet tape, joined witli small bunches of holly leaves. The windows arc also ornamented with trelliscd work, the framing being relieved at intervals with bunches of flowers, holly leaves, and berries, the various shades blending nicely. The font and pulpit are chastely decorated witli flowers and evergreens. The lectern and choir stalls are ornamented with bunches of flower ‘.and pots containing choice blooming plants The impression on entering the church is exceedingly pleasing, and wc believe the decorations will be allowed to remain until Friday evening, when a special Harvest Thanksgiving will bo held. The attendance both morning and evening was very large, both services being full choral. That of the morning embraced Dykes’s To Deuni and Eenedictus, with special anthem “The Wages of Sinoffertory sentences, composed by Mr Neville H. Barnett, organist of the church, and Tallis’s Festival responses. At evensong, was given a Festival setting of the Cantate and Nunc Dimittis, by Mr N. Cf. Barnett, the anthem consisting of items from Handel’s “Messiah,” viz., “I know that my Redeemer liveth,” sung by Mrs Palmer, and the Hallelujah Chorus. At each service appropriate Easter hymns, including processional and recessional, were sung. The Revs 11. C. M. Watson and H. B. Macartney officiated in the morning, and the former gentleman in the evening. After the offertory at the latter service, the Rev Mr Macartney addressed a few farewell words to the congregation, as he leaves Christchurch on Saturday next. St Mary’s, Mkrivale. —This church was very tastefully decorated by members of the congregation in honor of the great Christian festival. The services, which were largely attended, were as follows; —Early celebration (choral) at 8 a.m.; matins, with second celebration, at 11 a.m., and evensong at 6.30 p.m. The incumbent (Rev T. Flavcll) was celebrant, and preached both morning and evening. The Easter hymn, “Jesus Christ is risen to-day,” was sung at the opening Of each service. The anthem was Sir Gr. J. Elvey’s “ Christ being raised from the dead.” The Te Dcum and Bencdictus were sung to chants from Mercer, and the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis to Parisian tones, arranged by Dr Stainer. Mr J. S. Jameson (organist of the church) presided at the organ. Holy Trinity Church, Lyttelton.— This church, thanks to the jcind ejforts of some of the ladies of the eoiigrpgation, was yesterday beautifully decorated. The text “Clu'isfc beipjji raised from the dead, dieth HQ

more,” in white letters on a scarlet groundwas over the arch of the chancel. The "V'a s were decorated with flowers and evergreens, which were intermixed in fanciful devices. The text, “ I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold lam alive for evermore, was mscribed in laurel leaves round the cunc i. The font, reading-desk, and lectern, were all beautifully dressed with fern leases, n iom sombre green was exquisitely contrasted and relieved by scarlet and white flowers, and the altar was'similarly decorated. The clinic 1, in spite of the dreary weather, was veil filled, and the Bev Mr Lloyd conducted the services. There was a Matin service, during which an early celebration of the Communion was held, and the offertory at tins service was devoted to the mission fund. Ihe choir, who had evidently taken great pains in preparing the musical portion of the services, assembled in good numbers. The service commenced with Hvmn 107, “ Ancient and Modern ; the Easter anthem was Humphrey’s, the Psalms for the day being chanted from Farrant, Barrow, and Fusscll. The Te Deum, Jubilate, and Kyrie ■were Griflltlis’s, in E flat, and the hymns were Bos 106 and 348, “Ancient and Modern,” the anthem being “ Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” In the evening, hymns 114, Up, and 117, “Ancient and Modern,” werfe sung, the proper Psalms being chanted to Tallis, Hay, and Kimbault, the Magnificat to Mercer, and Nunc Dimittis to Heyne, the anthem being the same as in the morning.