CHRISTMAS, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1089, 26 December 1877, Page 3

CHRISTMAS, 1877.

CHURCH DECORATIONS. As is usual at this period of the year the various churches throughout the city either had special services on Eve and Christmas Day alone, or in addition to the services the churches were decorated with evergreens, flowers, &c. Of the latter we may say generally that the decorations this year shewed a great advance on those of last in the matter of the tasteful blending and combination of colours and the substitution of wreathing for the somewhat cumbersome devices which were noticeable in so many churches last year. We append below a brief description of the services and decorations in many of the churches : ST. MICHAEL’S. The decorations at this church, though not numerous, were marked by much artistic excellence and good taste, the colors being well contrasted and admirably worked in, so as to display to the best advantage. Over the altar was the motto in white —“ Glory to God in the Highest.” This was enclosed in a pretty square pattern design, with evergreen pillars, wreathed with holly and scarlet geranium, and underneath the motto was a cross in white flowers having a green wreath twined acrosß.it. The chancel arch and supportin g pillars were wreathed with festoons of holly and geranium, having white lilies at the base. The organ loft and choir stalls were also prettily decorated with evergreens and scarlet geranium intermixed with lilies and holly. The lectern and reading desk were wreathed with ferns, lilies, geraniums, and holly, and had bouquets of choice flowers at the corners, giving a very pretty appearance. The windows throughout the church were traced out with evergreens, geraniums, and lilies intermixed, and the pillars were also wreathed from top to bottom with festoons of the same kind. These festoons continued the decoration from the arches, being of the same character. The font was very prettily decorated. The white stone base was carpeted with dark green ferns, upon which was placed a number of white lilies, having a very pretty appearance. The font itself was wreathed around the basin with koromiko, and from the top sprang a triple arch formed of white koromiko and scarlet geraniums, the apex being completed by a cross of white roses. This had a very pretty effect, and generally, the whole decorations were both tasteful and effective. A special service was held, commencing at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve, the celebrant being Rev. E. G. Penny. There was a very good congregation. The music arranged for the occasion was Processional No. 58 ; preces and responses (Tallis) ; canticles (Dr. carols, “See amid the winter’s snow,’’ “Nazareth,” “Once in royal David’s city,” “Once again O blessed time,” “The first Nowell.” The offertoiro was Bach’s “My heart ever faithful,” Recessional No. 60. Mr R, Parker presided at the organ, and d uring the service played “The Pastoral Symphony, with, for the first time here in connection ayith church music, the assistance of a cornet and clarionet. On Christmas Day the service was fully choral, the celebrants being the Rev. E, G. Penny and I. A. Hare. ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. The decorations at this church as in former ■years were noticeable for their great taste and artistic skill. On this occasion Professor Bickerton lent his valuable assistance, and the result was a perfect success. The most noticeable feature of the decorations of this year were the seven festoons depending from the arches ol the church into the centre, each supporting a basket of ferns or flowers. The festoons were formed of evergreens, lilies and geraniums, and the contrast with the* hanging baskets made the whole effect

exceedingly pretty. The altar rails were wreathed with evergreens, toi-toi, white lilies, and scarlet geraniums, the altar space being filled with choice pot plants. The chancel arches and windows were traced out with evergreens, scarlet geraniums, &c., the doors being also similarly decorated. The lectern and reading desk were prettily decorated with choice flowers and holly. The font was wreathed at the base with ferns and white lilies, whilst the basin was completely filled with large tree ferns, white lilies, &c. The whole appearance of the church was very pretty indeed, particularly when lighted up on Christmas eve.

The service was fully choral, the anthem being from “ The Messiah,” and a number of carols being also sung. The Rev. 11. C. M. Watson, the incumbent of the church, prior to the singing of the recessional addressed a few words to the congregation. He said that, as they would no doubt observe, the service that evening had been of a somewhat more secular character than on Sunday; that was they had bad more singing—for this be took it they bad the warrant of Scripture. It was to laboring men pursuing their ordinary avocations of tending sheep upon the bills that the glad tidings of the Saviour’s birth was revealed. This it seemed to him was a practical illustration of the fact that it was their duty to do all even in their ordinary avocations to the glory of Q-od. After a few remarks upon the lessons taught by the season, the closing hymn was sung, and the service, which had been most appropriate throughout, terminated.

ST. LUKE’S,

The decorations at St. Luke’s arc simpler than has been the case for some years, but they are exceedingly neat. The chancel screen is ornamented with bands formed by holly leaves, koromiko, fern, and white lilies. The lower portion of the reading-desk is prettily ornamented with lilies, geraniums, and holly sprigs bearing berries. Over the centre of the screen a star is suspended formed by holly leaves and geranium centre. The choir seats are decorated with bands of evergreens and flowers, and over the communion table is a cross formed of snow white lilies. The gasaliers are covered with spray of two colors relieved with geraniums. The heads of the various pillars in the church are ornamented with a wreath of evergreens and flowers. Over the chancel screen and altar are crosses of white lilies. The windows are traced with holly leaves. Over the side-door are the words “ Emmanuel ” and “ Ood with us,” and at the western entrance there are crosses formed of lilies and geraniums over the words “ He is our peace,” The font is tastefully decorated with holly leaves and berries and white lilies, the centre being filled with a large pot of maiden-hair fern, around which are lilies and green spray. Full choral service was held during the day, and large congregations attended both morning and evening. ST. MATTHEW’S, CALEDONIAN ROAD. This church, though very small and presenting but little scope in itself for decoration, was yet one of the prettiest visited yesterday. Over the altar was the sacred monogram in white raised characters, supporting on each side the motto “ Glory to the new-born King.” Below this, the motto being in a semicircle, was a large cross of white lilies, which looked very pretty. The choir stalls, organ recess, lectern, and altar rails were wreathed with holly and scarlet geranium, interwoven. The reading desk was most beautifully decorated with ferns and choice Dowers, amongst others some splendid white roses and blooms of magnolia grandiflora. The windows of the church were traced with holly and scarlet geraniums. The same decoration in festoon form ran round the dado of the church and the arches and pillars. At the western end of the church were two double triangles of holly and scarlet geranium flanking the word “Alleluia” in white raised characters. The miniature font had been converted for the nonce into a veritable flower garden. It was completely wreathed with white roses and ferns, the base being covered with white lilies, ferns, and scarlet geraniums. Altogether St. Matthews was as prettily decorated, if not more so, than many of the larger churches. The services on Christmas Day were plain, that in the morning being conducted by the Primate and the Rev. E. A. Scott, and the mid-day one by the Primate. ST. MARY’S, MEET YALE. i The decorations at this church in honour of ! the great Christian Festival were exceedingly effective, and showed that considerable care 'j had been taken in their preparation. Indeed, the greatest credit is due to the ladies for ' their exertions and for the extreme taste which they exhibited. On Christmas eve a j vigil service was held, when the following carols were sung by the choir —“ Good Christian men rejoice,” “The first Nowell,” “ The story of the shepherd.” The anthem was Gounod’s “Nazareth,” taken as a solo and chorus. A short and appropriate address was given by the incumbent at the close of the service. On Christmas Day the services were as follows Early celebration (choral), at 8 a.m.; matins and celebration, at 11 a.tn.; evensong, at 6.30 p.m. The services were fully choral, and were heartily joined in by the congregation present. The Te Deum was sung to Dr, Garrett’s service in F, and the anthem was the “Gloria” (Mozart’s 12th Mass). The incumbent (the Rev. T. Flavoll) preached both morning and evening. The offertories were in aid of the sick and needy fund. Mr J, S. Jameson presided at the organ. HOLY TRINITY, AFONSIDE, The decorations at this church are exceedingly pretty, with a very chaste effect throughout. The various candclabras arc ornamented with holly, scarlet geraniums, and white lilies. A wreath of evergreens and lilies is encircled round the reading desk, and from the front is suspended a white silk banner with deep silver fringe. Over the altar there is a star formed of white lilies with scarlet geraniums in the centre, and the vases on the communion table contain tastefully formed bouquets, enhancing the appearance of the rich communion cloth. The chancel windows are ornamented with white lilies on a green ground. Over the organ screen arc placed at intervals bunches of white and variegated lilies surrounded with toi grass, and on the walls at either side of the chancel there arc lettered in white floss the following words ;—“Emmanuel,” “Godwith us.” “Counsellor,” “The Mighty God,” “ The Everlasting Father,” “ The Prince of Peace.” The decoration of the font is quite a feature. A pyramid of evergreens and flowers is erected over the font, around the stand are I devices, some on a mossy ground and other’s ornamentally frosted. Over the wateiys a cross of white lilies, and altogether exceedingly great

taste has been displayed in this portion of the decorations. The windows throughout the church are traced with holly. Full choral and early services were held during the day. THE LYTTELTON CHURCHES. _ For several days members of the various denominations had been busily engaged in decorating the various places of worship, and never before has such a beautiful display been seen as that witnessed yesterday. We commence with the English church. On entering the church a prominent object is an inscription in white Gothic letters on a red ground, bordered with white, above the wall plate of the nave. The wording was “ His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” Below this the openings of the windows are tastefully bordered with wreaths of green foliage, relieved by scarlet flowers, and in the interspaces, double and single triangles, also wrought in with evergreens. The font especially deserves notice, being filled with white lilies and fern fronds, a large fern rising from the centre, while around the outside of the basin, in leaf Idler on a white ground, runs the legend “ Suffer little children to come unto Me.” Proceeding down the aisle, and following the left side the ornamentation of the organ next engages attention. On the front of the pipes is a beautifully executed scroll in crimson and white, bearing in straw letters the words, “ Glory to God in the highest.” This is surmounted by the sacred monogram in blue, crimson, and white. On either side of the opening of the chancel, at the junction of the transept, is suspended an elaborately decorated barrier, the design of each being the sacred monogram surmounted by a regal crown, the colors used being gold, scarlet, and purple, the staves being purple, terminating in gilt Maltese crosses; on either side below these on the transept wall is a shield, that on the left bearing the emblem of the ancient Greek church, and that on the right the Alpha and Omega, The lectern and reading-desk have each a white banner suspended in front, bearing the sacred monogram in crimson on a white ground, the banners being fringed with gold. Over the chancel arch on a frame occupying its central line is the inscription in Gothic scarlet letters on a white ground, bordered with a tracery of green leaves on a waved stem —“ Unto us a child is born ; unto us a son is given.” The altar rails are decorated with wreaths of evergreens. Above the communion table in blue letters on a white ground are the words “I am the bread of life.” The chancel window is bordered with fern tree fronds, and in the centre of the sill stands a sTnall cross in white llowcrs. Above the memorial window in the south transept, on a white ground bordered with blue, and in straw letters, is the legend “Peace on earth.” The blank spaces arc filled up with a number of smaller decorations arranged most tastefully. The whole of the work has been carried out by a committee of ladies under the superintendence of the Incumbent and Mrs Townsend, assisted by Dr. Eousc, Mr H. H. Webb, and other gentlemen. The effect of the decorations as a whole is very striking, the Christmas colors —white, crimson, and green—of English Church ornamentation predominating. The Eoman Catholic Church was, as usual, most tastefully adorned. The altars were made beautiful with flowers, and the beams and pillows were wreathed with masses of beautiful evergreens, interspersed with bright blossoms. Over the centre arch in the aisle was a translation of the “Gloria inExcelsis,” “ Glory on high, and on earth peace to men of goodwill.” The Wesleyan Church was also an exceedingly pretty sight, for a number of ladies and gentlemen of the congregation, under Mr Radcliffe’s superintendence, had spared no pains in decorating it. Over the altar was the one word “ Hallelujah,” and in front “Emmanuel.” These devices had been worked most tastefully in holly, laurel, and laurestinus leaves. The texts “ Peace on earth and goodwill towards men,” “ Glory to God in the highest,” “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,” in fanciful letters formed of leaves, adorned the transept, and down the aisle, on the walls and round the pillars and windows, were rich wreaths of evergreens, made to look bright with great masses of scarlet geraniums and other flowers. CATHOLIC CHURCH. The above church is not specially decorated this Christmas, but in the aisle and transept festoons of evergreens are suspended and the altars are decorated with numerous bouquets of choice flowers tastefully disposed. The first mass yesterday was held at 5.30 a.m., after which half hour masses followed until eleven o’clock, at which hour solemn Pontifical high mass was celebrated by the Right Rev. Dr. Redwood, Lord Bishop of Wellington. Large congregations were present at each of the services, and at every mass hundreds of communicants approached Holy Communion. At the eleven o’clock mass his Lordship preached an excellent sermon on humility, taking for his text “ The Crib at Bethlehem,” contrasting the present rules which govern society with those of our Lord’s coming. His Lordship also officiated and preached at vespers to a crowded congregation. DURHAM STREET WESLEYAN CHURCH. There was a special Christmas Eve service at this church, which was fairly attended. The musical portion of the service included selections from “The Messiah,” which were nicely sung, and several anthems.