THE CHURCHES OF HASTINGS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 94, 7 May 1937, Page 52 (Supplement)

THE CHURCHES OF HASTINGS

It has been well said that a city without churches is like a garden without flowers; that the churches are the spiritual power-houses of the community. Within the walls of the earliest churches in Hastings pioneers in material things discovered consolation and that "peaee which the world ca'ri not give." Churches were among the first buildings . erected in Hastings, and, thongh there are now few of the old buildings . • ' 4 - left, the arehitectural growth of the buildings mirrors the spiritual growth of the church's parishioners.

JJASTINGS HAS SOME very - fine cburches belonging to, the various denominations. . In arehitectural beauty they rank high in. comparison with those in most of'the towns outside the four main centres. St. Matthew'i. Auglican Church, a handsome' building, occupies a site in K'ing street some two acres in extent. The original church was a wooden building capable of seating 250 people. The present church is a solid as wrell as beautifully dcsigned, structure, and is Uuilt in concrete. The interior also is very fine, not • only in-design but also an workmanship' and material. ■ The foundation' of . the present " church, wThich had to • be, reconstructed to some extent after the' earthquake, was laid on January 28, ' 191 4 j by the Et. Eev.. Dr. Averill,- then Bishop of Waiapu. The building has seating accoinmodation for 700-people. ■ ' The Eev. John Hobbs was vacar of the parish for many years, and it was during his ineumbency that the present church" building was decaded upon. The present vicar. is the Eev, Canon C. Mor-timer-Jones. Canon Mortimer-Jones is at present in England, and the Eev. K. Liggett is relieving. Sacred Heart Church The first, church for the Catholic denomination - was erected by the late Eather Eeignier in. 1880. . This building is now used. as a boys, school. The present beautiful church was erected in 1895 at a cost of £3300 during the priestly eharge of the Very Eev. Dean Smyth, who ministered to the parish for a number of years. The church i's of Cothie architecture and has a noble spire. The interior of the church is artistie and well-iinished and has seating accoinmodation for about 600 persons. Adjoining the . eku*relx is the convent,. a very handsome building, wliieh was erected in 1901 at a cost of about £2000, also while Dean Smyth was in eharge. Attached to the eonvent are the sehools of the Sisters of St. Joseph with over 400 pupils, who receive both a primary and a secondary- education. The church and the presbytery are surrounded by well-Iaid-out grounds, with a frontage to Havelock road. The parish is at present under tho eharge of the Eev. Father MeDonald. St. Andrew's Church The Presbyterian • Church, St. Andrew's, is another handsome *building, and is situated at the corner of Market street. and Lyndon road. The original church was replaced by the present building in the year 1906, the foundation stone ' ha ving been laid by the late Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon, at that time Prime Minister of New Zealand. The large square tower inakes the church -one of the town's landmarks. The minister in eharge at present is the Eev. D. J. A. Shaw. '

Baptist . Church The Baptist Church is oue of the most imposing church buildings in Hastings. The front is of a most impressive design, . embodying both the arehitectural beauty and* the m&jeetie lines typical of sacred edifices. The bhilding, which is designed;to hold some 500 people, is situated in Karamu road. The foundation stone ;was laid by Pastor H. E. Edridge on May 24, 1916. The present pastor is : the Eev. C. B. Boggis.

Methodist Church The Hastings Methodist Church was origiually situated nn Heretaunga" .street, but is now in Hastings street. The fitst church was a plain but welldesigned building, excellently finished • in the interior, and stood on a small secfcion of about half an acre. The building was of woodland had a seat•ing accoimnodation for about 250 persons. In connection with the church there was,a.Young Men's Parish' Hall. The present' church, built since the earthquake, is rather larger than the

original building and has seating accoinmodation for about 500 people. Modern church design and solid building, with a well-finished interior, are the features of the cnureh. It has, in the modern connotatiqn, a remarkably beautiful appearance. The minisier in' eharge is the Eev. E. B. Gosnelh