OPENING OF THE NEW CHAPEL AT PAIHIA.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 7, 31 July 1856, Page 7

OPENING OF THE NEW CHAPEL AT PAIHIA.

The old Chapel at Paihia in the Bay of Islands which was built by Archdeacon Williams upwards of 30 years ago, and which was the first house erected for the worship of God in New Zealand has been for some time in a state of decay: and though it has been several times repaired it could no longer be made available for Public worship.

Under ihese circumstances the sons of Archdeacon Williams commenced a subscription for the building of a new Chapel. The first Chapel was built at the expense of the Church Missionary Society—a majority of those who contributed to the erection of the second building were converted to Christianity, and baptized w't'iiA the walls of the first. The Jews who remembered the glory of the first temple were sad when they beheld the foundation of the second, because the latter building would not attain to the glory of the former. But the temple of Christians Is a spiritual temple, acd wherever two or three are gathered together in Christ's name, there is He in the midst of them, however humble (he building in which they are assembled. Nevertheless it is meet and right, that Christians should give freely of the means which God has given them towards the building of a House wherein to assemble for bis worship : and the people of the Bay who are not a wealthy people have freely contributed according to their power. jf When the first Chapel at Paihia was erected, darkness covered the land, and gross darkness the people. But the preaching of the Gospel of Christ which first went forth from Paihia, has now been heard in all parts of New Zealand. And many it is hoped have been t rned from darkness to light, and from the dominion of sin to a blessed hope of immortal life, so that though | there is no glory connected with either the first or the second Chapel at Paihia, as the work of mens hands, yet there is glory to God in the highest, that be has sent forth his light and his truth to these uttermost parts of the earth. The new Chapel was opened by Archdeacon Williams on the 41th May, 1856, when it was not capable of containing all the Natives who were assembled. There was at the same time a collection made towards the expense of the building which amounted in all to about 601., of which the Natives contributed about 471. The whole sum collected amounts to about 3001., of which about 415 i. was contributed by Natives. The Bishop arrived at Paihia to hold a confirmatiou three days after the opening of the Chapel, and was much delighted that so commodious a Chapel should have been erected by a population so few in number, and for the most part, so poor in circumstances.