OPENING OF THE CHURCH AT THE WAIMEA.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 95, 30 December 1843, Page 378

OPENING OF THE CHURCH AT THE WAIMEA.

[from a correspondent.]

On Sunday, the 24th instant, the church erected upon the Waimea plain was for the first time used for public worship. On this occasion there were two services, each well attended. The Rev. C. L. Reay ofiiciated, and preached in the morning from Haggai, ii., 7 ; in the afternoon, from St. Matthew, xviii., 20. As this church is the first building which lias been raised, in the Company's settlements, expressly for the members of the United Church of England and Ireland, we notice it more particularly. The church stands upon an acre given by the Rev. C. W. Saxton, and is conveniently situated with reference to the probable boundaries of a parish, and also with regard to the present inhabitants of the district. The whole acre is fenced in, and about two-thirds of it will be hereafter consecrated as a burial ground ; and the remainder employed as the site for a school and master's house. It is expected that a parsonage house will be raised, at no distant period, upon an acre which Mr. Tytler most kindly gives for the purpose.

The present edifice is a neat, well proportioned village church. The body of the building is thirty feet in length by eighteen — the chancel fourteen by twelve ; and, besides, it boasts a battlemented tower eight feet square, and about thirty feet in height : the extreme length is fifty-two feet. The j windows are lancet shaped — perhaps somewhat too wide. In their present condition they deteriorate from the general appearance of the erection ; because the deficiency of lead in the settlement rendered it necessary to have wooden frames ; thus in some measure preventing the execution of the original design. The reading desk was presented by the liberality of Mr. Beit. The beautiful font, given by the Rev. Mr. Reay, is a miniature, designed after the celebrated one in St. Mary Magdalene Church, Oxford, or in Campden Church, Gloucestershire. This stands upon an elegant pedestal, which, together with the exquisite table, were designed and executed by Mr. Dartnall.

A Sunday school was commenced, and, we believe, there is every prospect of its success. Arrangements are in progress for the erection of churches at the Motuaka and the neighbourhood of Wakefield ; however, the exact spot for the latter f| notyet determined. ■ "^

In connexion with this subject may we be permitted to say a few words about Nelson. The entire district contains^according to our statistical report no less Wan 1,515

persons professing to belong to the*« United Church of England and Ireland, i.e., more than one-half of the whole population. Are there not resident in the town a sufficient i number to secure the commencement and the ' gradual progress of an edifice which shall at onceadorn our town, and be one of the best bulwarks of our land ? The cost of the Waimea church is defrayed, one-third by contributions of the inhabitants, and twothirds are from funds at the Bishop's dis- : posal; namely— lst, the interest of the £5,000 placed in the hands of trustees by the New Zealand Company (and be it remembered the principal may not be diminished)^ and, 2dly, contributions from the Bishop's i private friends. In this settlement, the same plan will continue to be pursued for : all church purposes, whether it be the erection of churches, schools, or parsonage ' houses, or the maintenance of clergy, &c. If the inhabitants are willing to raise onethird of the amount either in money, materials, or labour, the other two-thirds are secured. Besides, an important work might. I be completed by instalments. For instance, ; suppose a general wish to prevail for the erection of a handsome structure upon the beautiful site set apart by the late lamented j Captain Wakefield as the position for a i church. Let the estimated cost be, say | £4,500; the proportion of this amount 'to be ', raised amongst ourselves would be £1,500; i this we need not contribute at first; but say that £300 is subscribed each year until the completion of the work ; by a plan of this kind there would be an expenditure of six hundred pounds per annum in addition to the contribution of the settlers. Should : any members of the church, deem these hints , worthy of consideration, it would be desira- ' ble as early as possible in the new year to take steps for bringing them into a tangible ' form and carrying out into execution any ' plan which might be designed in consequence.