RICCARTON CHURCH DEDICATION FESTIVAL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1367, 3 July 1878, Page 3

RICCARTON CHURCH DEDICATION FESTIVAL.

The twentieth anniversary of the dedication pf the parish church of Eipcarton was celebrated on Monday evening with the festivities customary on the occasion. St. Peter’s Day falling this year upon a Saturday, an inconvenient day for country folks, it was decided to postpone the commemoration to the following Monday. This was fortunate, as the weather, which for the past fortnight had been wet and stormy, suddenly cleared up on Sunday, and was pn its best behaviour on Monday—a delicious day, with bright warm sunshine and hard, dry roads. Pino weather, encouraging as it does a large attendance, contributes an important clement to tbe success of any country gathering, and if the festival on Monday is to be judged by this standard, its success must be pronounced a very decided one. The proceedings commenced, as usual, with a tea in the large handsome schoolroom above the parsonage, which was made unusually attractive bv the artistically arranged ami tempting tables provided, and presided over, by the ladies bountiful” of Eiccarton. At a o ter-past (nv + iin church bell sounded out, su r oni.itr the 1 stiyal service, wh:' biging beinft 1 ■ h choir. . * to o- v .■ ivoc.u -.’•.ami cn was recently in chaj ■ incumbent's absence John, xvtii,, b? ar application of Pilate o famo. nuescio, , , ;s iputh,tp t-ljv '4?wbtf‘ and reiicmii* wi ? the present day, The prayers wore intoned ny the Eev. C. Bowen, incumbent, and proper Itssoas JffiLjjw first by the LUy. H. E. East,

the second by the Rev. J. Stack. There was a large and attentive congregation. The service over, the worshippers made their way back to the schoo roo a in which the tea had been hr Id at an earlier period of the evening, and which had meantime been duly arrayed for the concert, which has for many years formed the concluding feature in the day’s proceedings. Though the room is a large one, capable of accommodating over 300 persons, it was crowded to excess, and many bad to throughout the concert, iho programme was sufficiently varied to suit the tastes of all, and included four part songs, which we c very creditably rendered by the parish choir. Two duetts, violin and piano, by Messrs Cohen and Gilmore were much admired. The absence in England of Mrs L. Harper, a lady who has bo often delighted Eiccarton audiences with her singing, left a blank in the programme which was felt by very many present, but her place was ably supplied by Miss Harris, who most kindly came from Christchurch for the purpose, and whose cultivated style was fully appreciated. Mr T. Acland, who also sang, was well received as usual. The other items included a vocal duett, two pianoforte duetts, and a pianoforte solo, by ladies resident in the parish, and three readings, the last of which, a humorous one in Mr Worthy’s irresistible manner, gave occasion to some hearty outbursts of The National Anthem concluded a very enjoyable evening. The proceeds of the concert, which must be considerable, and the offerings at the festival service, will be devoted to the Church organ fund.