CHRISTMAS SERVICES.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2134, 27 December 1880, Page 3

CHRISTMAS SERVICES.

ST. JOHN’S. At this church on Christmas Eve, as is the annual custom, there was a card service, commencing at eleven o’clock. The church was crowded to excess, there not being even standing room. The choir, under the able directions of Mr A. Laudorgan, sang the following carols very nicely indeed:—“The Story of tho Shepherds,” “The First Nowell,” “ Good King Wenceslaus,” “ Once in Royal David’s City,” “When Christ was Born,” “Christiana Awake,” and “O Come all ye Faithful.” The Rev. H. O. M. Watson, incumbent of the church, read the prayers, and the Rev. Mr Pym delivered an address. On Christmas morning there was full choral service, the church being very prettily decorated. The lectern, choir stalls, font, &0., were wreathed with evergreens, interspersed with flowers and the usual mottoes. A lino of evergreens ran round the walls and window spaces, and generally the decorations were in excellent taste. Tho music was festal, the anthem, selected from the “Messiah,” being “ Oh, thou that tellest,” sung as a solo and chorus.

ST. MICHAEL’S. 8 The decorations at this church wore marked with tho usual good taste seen here, advantage , being taken of the many points afforded for j display of the various flowers and evergreens, j The chancel, lectern, and choir stalls were ) wreathed with lilies, geraniums, &0., and the (. font was a mass of color. The service on ) Christmas Day was fully choral, and there was ! a very large congregation. 1 ST. MARY’S, MERIYALE. The church of St. Mary at Merivalo presented a charming appeararance at this season ! of general rejoicing, the decorations being of [ unusual beauty as compared with all former . efforts. First to attract the eye on entering ( the church was the font, on the top of which . bad been constructed a Maltese cross of i flowers, the base or pedestal being ornamented with a border of crimson flowers. The walls I of the church were adorned with some very beautiful devices, consisting of interlaced triangles, Maltese crosses, and circles, containing the inscription I.H.S. on a white ground | relieved by flowers of a brilliant hue, and 1 fringed with holly leaves. The pillars on either side of the building were tastefully | decorated, toi toi grass, holly leaves and flowers being used for the purpose, and from the large cross-beams was suspended a foliated cross of white lilies, having a ; chaste and very beautiful effect. The decorations continued to the chancel, with appropriate texts from scripture, done in 1 illuminated writing, and relieved with great taste by floral effects and other flowers of vegetation. But the most loving caro, it appeared evident, had been devoted to the chancel itself, in respect to which the ladies who kindly assisted tho incumbent in beautifying the church may well be complimented. In addition to the accompanying effects may bo mentioned a magnificent design over the holy table, combining a foliated cross edged with maorocarpa, encircling a six-pointed star flounced with variegated holly, inside of which was I.H.S. on crimson ground, and over the whole of this again was a circle formed of holly leaves and red berries. The general effect of this design was gratifying from an artistic point of view, and generally pleasing to the eye. Taken in at one glance, however, and without respect to detail, the prospect of the interior of St. Mary’s was more than creditable to the parish. Divine service was held at this chnreh on Christmas eve. On Christmas day a choral communion was held at 8.30 a.m., at which a large number of communicants were present; and there was full choral service at 11 o’clock the Rev. Mr Flavell (incumbent) conducting each service, assisted by the Rev. Mr Harris.

ST. LUKE’S. The decorations in this church, though not elaborate, were exceedingly pretty, especially about the chancel, and gare evidence of considerable taste on the part of these whose busy hands had produced the effects. Service was held on Christmas Eve at eight o’clock. On Christmas morning the celebration of Holy Communion took place at seven o’clock, and a choral celebration was observed at half-past eight; the usual service at eleven followed, when the Bishop preached ; and in the evening at seven o’clock, the incumbent, Mr Lingard, being the preacher. Both services were choral. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, AYONSIDE. The services during Advent were specially suited to the occasion. The suffrages were sung in harmony without organ accompaniment. The anthems were, “ Lord, for thy tender mercies’ sake" (Farrant), “ Like as the hart” (V. Novello), “As pants the hart” (Spohr), and a very beautiful motett, “ Hear us, O Saviour,” by M. Hauptman. The evensong services were Hayne’s Vespers, Ferial use. There was a carol service on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas Day there was early celebration at 8 a.m. The service was sung throughout to ancient plain song, special setting, with festal harmonies. The number of communicants was forty-two. The Rev. W. A. Pascoa acted as celebrant. There was full choral Matins at 11 a.m., followed by the second Celebration Service by W. T. Best. Anthem—“ Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts” (Dr. J. Stainer). The Rev. W. A. Pascoe preached. At evening there was full choral service—Hayne’s Vespers, with speoial’y elaborated harmonies for festal use ; preacher the Rev. W. Dunkley. Processionals and Recessionals were sung at all the services The carols sung were those edited by the Rev. Thos. Helmore and J. M. Neale, D.D. The treble solos in the anthem were sung by Master Robert Gibson, the solo boy of the choir. Director of the choir, Mr Funston; organist, Miss Funston. The floral decorations were in perfect harmony with good taste, and reflected great credit on those who bestowed so much care in arranging them. On Sunday the services were the same as at Christmas. His Lordship the Bishop of the diocese officiated in the morning. ST. MATTHEW’S, COLOMBO STREET NORTH. The custom of decorating the church at Christmastide was faithfully observed in regard to St. Matthew’s church, the interior of which presented a very pretty picture, the windows "being edged with evergreen, the beams similarly adorned, and the chancel appeared rich in a holiday suit of living colors. The usual services were held on Christmas Day, the Rev. Mr Mortimer being the celebrant on both occasions, and preacher in the morning, the Rev. Mr Anderson preaching in the evening. CATHOLIC CHURCH, CHRISTCHURCH. The decorations at this church, so far as the ■ arrangement and blending of colors were concerned, left nothing to be desired. On entering the church, the eye was arreated by the inscription, in large letters on a white ground, “Credo,” “Gloria in Excelsia Deo,” “Et Verbum Caro Factum Est.” The high altar was magnificently decorated, aa also were the altars of “The Blessed Virgin” and “The Sacred Heart,” all bearing evidence of correct • taste in embellishment—alike florally and otherwise. The approaches to the high altar were flanked on either sido by the tasteful banner screens of the Children of Mercy and 1 the Guard of Honour. The body of the church was also appropriately decorated. The usual Christmas Eve vigil was dispensed with, ■ On Christmas Day, Mewses were celebrated at, 6,7, 8, 3.30, and 11 o’clock in fha forai noon, and also the usual evening service, Father Ginaty officiating. GERMAN CHURCH. • This- neat little church was decorated with ; correct taste, and in strict keeping with its ■ architectural features, the altar and fent being t prettily wreathed with evergreens and flowers, 1 tho silver crucifix recently added to the 1 former greatly enhancing the effect. Tho : usual. Christmas services were held, the Rev. 1 H. Jacobsen officiating. s t CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD a PHILLIP3TOWN. i '• At this church Advent and Christmastide t have been well obierved. There hnva been i daily services, with an excellent attendance. On Christmas Day tho church, which was - prettily decorated by many willing hands, was t, filled with devout congregations. The »er!r vices, which were semi-choral, consisted of e matins and celebration at 10.30 and evensong a at 7. The preacher, both morning end evening, was the curate, the Rev. H, J. O. Gilbert.