EASTER SERVICES.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2227, 18 April 1881, Page 3

EASTER SERVICES.

Yesterday being Easter Day the various churches of the city were decorated, and special services held. At St. John's the decorations were very tasteful, being composed of dahlias, chrysanthemums, and evergreens woven into various shapes. There were also appropriate texts on bannerets and encircling the reading desk. The services were fully choral, and of a suitably festal character. The church of St. Michael and All Angels was also very nicely decorated with flowers, evergreens, &o.; there also the musio selected was of a character befitting the joyous occasion which was being celebrated. At Holy Trinity Church, Avonside, the services on Good Friday were :—Matins at 11 a.m., Litany and meditations at 3 p.m., and evensong at seven. The afternoon and evening services wore choral, without organ accompaniment. The anthem, “ If we believe that Jesus died ” (Sir J. Goss), was sung at evensong. On Easter Day, there was an early celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 8 a.m., the office being sung throughout to a grand setting of ancient plain song ; choral matins and a plain celebration at II a.m. “The Pasoha Nostrum,” “Quiounque Vult,” introit, &0., were sung to ancient tones set by Arthur Henry Brown ; the service was by W. T. Beat. At evensong, the church was crowded. The music consisted of Tallis' Festal Freces and Suffrages, Hayne’s Grand Vesper Service, 4th set, and Sewell’s Easter anthem. Rinok’s flute concerto was splendidly given as an offertoire. The incumbent, the Rev. W. A. Pasooe, officiated at all the services. Miss Funston presided at the organ, the director of the choir being Mr Funston. Owing, no doubt, to the scarcity of flowers at this season of the year, the decorations of the church were somewhat scant, but were yet in good taste. The church of St. Luke the Evangelist was very prettily decorated for the Easter Festival Services, the chancel particularly so. Above the Holy Table was a beautiful cross of toi toi, surrounded with red and white dahlias, on either side of which were the letters A and O in gilt, the whole being supplemented by the inscription “ Christ is risen.” The communion rail, choir stalls, as also the pillars of the church, were decorated with flowers and foliage, the windows being traced with the same, whilst the font was a special object of attraction, as, in addition to its floral garniture, it was surmounted by a beautiful trophy of maidenhair fern. The walls were also conspicuous with illuminated texts appropriate to the festival of the day. The Easter services commenced at midnight of Saturday, when the Easter hymn was sung by a numerous congregation, the majority of whom joined in the first celebration of the Holy Communion. At 8.30 a.m. on Easter Day a choral celebration of the Holy Communion was participated in by a goodly number. The incumbent was the celebrant on both occasions. The eleven o’clock service was of a most impressive character, and the church was inconveniently crowded. The choir opened the service by singing the processional hymn “ Jesus Christ has risen to-day,” as they passed up the aisle to their stalls. The service was fully choral, the Rev. B. A. Lingard, assisted by the Rev. W. O. Harris, officiating. At three o’clock in the afternoon a service was held for children, and at evensong the church was again filled to overflowing The processional hymn was repeated—and the anthem, “ Thou did’st not leave ” was effectively rendered. All the sermons of the day were preached by the Rev. E. A. Lingard. The festival of the Resurrection was appropriately observed at Bt. Mary's Merivale, yesterday, which was rendered much more convenient by reason of the recent alterations and additions, which reflect credit on Mr Rastrick, the builder. The decorations were very tasteful, the chancel windows being nicely traced out with dahlias and foliage, different colors being used for each window. The reading desk and lectern were marvels of floral effect, as also was the font, on the top of which was laid a Maltese Cross of white chrysanthemums relieved by native moss and banded with bronzed leaves of Virginian creepers, • the effect of which was very striking. The base was also ablszo with floral garniture. The pillars of the church were nicely relieved by laurel loaves, interspersed with pampas grass, which by gaslight presented the appearance of silver sprays. The dado was also decorated with a running border of pampas grass and arbor vita. Appropriate texts of Scripture wore displayed on the walls, as also several very pretty white crosses of flowers. The services of the day commenced with holy communion at 8 30, at which forty persons communicated. The 11 o’clock service was well attended, the processional hymn, by the newly surpliced choir, being the first item. The Te Deum was rendered to Dyke’s music A special item was Stainer’s anthem, “They have taken away my Lord,” the solo parts being excellently given by Mrs Barry and Mr Gibbs. The service was fully choral, with festal responses. The anthem was repealed at Evensong, which service was also well attended. The Rev. J. Flavell officiated both morning and evening, preaching in the morning from “The Lord is risen indeed,” and in the evening from “ Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory.” At the Roman Catholic Church, masses were performed at 7.30, 9.30, and 11 a.m. In the afternoon a special act of devotion was rendered, viz., the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament by the Children of Mary, the Sacred Guard of Honor, the Young Men’s Society, end the Hibernians. At the evening service a solemn procession of the Blessed Sacrament took place, with striking effect. The Revs. Fathers Oinaty and O’Donnell officiated at the services of the day.