PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 406, 21 October 1911, Page 5

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

THE NEW EDIFICE

The opening services in connection with the n?w Presbyterian Chruch Te Kuiti, were conducted 011 Sunday ias t by the Rev. J. Whyte, of Levin, to large congregations <n the morning, afternoon anci evening. The new church occupies a quarter acre site in Rora street, near the Domain. and has been erected in the Gothic style, from plans generously donated by Mr F. C. Daniel!, of Hamilton. The building is painted whit", and the roof red, and present; a bright and pleasing appearance; as seen from the outside. It is intended to build a verandah fence in front, and already the grounds have been planted with shrubs and trees. Entrance to the church is effected by short flights of steps leading to the vestibule, from whence the interior of the building is reached. Th'.s occupies an area of 40ft by 25ft, and is fitted with kauri seats accommodating 150 people. The choir has also an area capable of accommodating 50 sitters. The pulpit is very handsomely grained, and was given to the church by St. Stephen's Church, Auckland. The windows are a special kind of glass known as Muranese. At the rear are the vestry and sctioolroom. The contract for building only was let to Mr Hitchcock, with extras, for about £220, the seats cost £BO, and land, timber and joinery make up a total of £6OO. There is a current debt of £425, of which £2OO must be reduced at an early date. Mr M. W. Forsyth supervised the carrying out of the work.

At the back of the church, in Taupiri street, a section of land has been acquired at a very low figure from Mr R. Somerville, which makes it practically a gift to the church. This has just been ploughed and fenced, and work on the erection of a six-roomed manse is to be undertaken almost immediately by Mr Sellers, builder, who is doing the work on specially favourable terms. Mr Somerville has also rented the church three acres of land for paddocking at a very easy rental, so with church completed, manse building, and paddocking provided for—a very essential thing in a country district—the future of Presbyterianism in Te Kuiti is very bright and promising. The Rev. A. Armstrong has done much valuable social and spiritual work in our midst, and he and his helpers in church work are to be congratulated on the results of their labours.