TE KUITI CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 54, 1 November 1907, Page 3

TE KUITI CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Opening Services

The opening services of the new Congregational Church at Te Kuiti were held on Sunday morning last, when a large number cf residents attended. The occasion was a memorable one, inasmuch as it marked the completion of the first church building for Te Kuiti. Quite a number of visitors attended from Auckland and other centres, and with beautiful weather prevailing the celebrations were inaugurated under the happiest auspices. The opening ceremony took place at 10.30 a.m., the distinction of opening the Church door falling to Mrs W. H. Lyon, of Auckland. The congregation then sang the Old Hundredth psalm, and the choir rendered the Te Deum. A short prayer concluded the ceremony. The opening service began at II a.m., and was conducted by the Rev. W. Day," of Mt. Eden, Auckland. The appropriate text of " Where two or three are met together. in my name," was chosen b} r Mr Day who, in the course of a powerful sermon, defined the constitution and purpose of a church as being not a building for the performance of set forms or creeds, but a place where two or three had met together, in the name of Christ, to worship. During the service the choir rendered the special hymn, " Assemble at Thy Great Command," and the anthems, " Exalt Him," and " Rock of Ages."

The evening service was held at 7 o'clock, when Mr Day preached to a very large congregation on the subject of God's love. Taking for his text " God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish," the minister exhorted his hearers to contemplate the marvellous extent of the Creator's love for the world. The breadth of His love for everyone of His creatures was daily exemplified ; the depth of his love was such, that he gave His only Begotten Son for the sake of humanity, and the height of His love was evidenced in the great gift of eternal life to all who believed in Him.

A special hymn service was rendered by the choir during the evening, and Mrs Rouse sang the solo, " Come unto Me," Mr Blackman "Nazareth," and a quartette, consisting of Messrs Turner, Blackman, Baker and Hira, sang " Lead Kindly Light." A special service for young people was conducted by Mr Day in the afternoon.

The collections taken on Sunday, which are to be devoted to the Church Building Fund, amounted to about £l2.

On Monday evening a highly enjoyable social evening was spent. Addresses were 'delivered by the Revs. Day, Davidson, Mitchell and Harris, and Mr W. H. Lyon, and members of the choir contributed vocal items during the evening. The collection taken up, in aid of the building fund, during the evening, amounted to well over £5, making a total of nearly £lB for the opening services. The financial statement, presented by Mr Mitchell, showed that the cost of the building, with extras, reached £2OO. The money raised to date was about £IBO. including|£7o obtained in the South by Mr Mitchell, and £llO raised in Te Kuiti district. Various contributions in the shape of an organ from thejHon. G. Fowlds, pulpit from the Rev. C. E. Davidson, and half cost of lamps from Messrs Cruickshank, Miller & Co. had been received, and promises had been givenfor other necessaries.

It is indended to hold a sale of work in March or April next, and considerable support has already been received. The total cost of the building, furnishing, and section reaches about £260, and a loan of £7O or £BO is to be raised from the Congregational Mission Union.