NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 201, 5 June 1914, Page 2

NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Opened at Waiau Pa. The Dedication Ceremony. WBißu Fa was the ec.crie of much enthusiasm and jubilation en Sunday last, on the occasion of the dedication of tlu ihw I'resbvteiian church. In spite of t!ie inclemency of the weather there was a large :oogregU' tion, the church btinc tilled with worshippers, irmnly corrposeJ of residents of the district. Visitors were present from Pukekohr, Mauku and Manurewa. Services were held at H a.m. and 7 p.m. Kcv. J. M. Saunders, M.A., of .St. David's, Auckland, was the preacher for the day. At tha morning servic: Kev. S. Nixon, Minister of the Charge, took the opening exercises. The Kev. J. M. blunders offered the dedicatory prayer and preached an eloquent I sermon from St. John, iii-3. Hie discourse wai listened to with attention. The singing, which was hcaity and uniced, was conducted by Mr A. Ward, assisted by his usual helpers and Mr W. Slade, Mr B. Findlay and Miss Fiodlay of Mauku, and Miss Kodgcrs, of Pukekoh:.

ttev. S. Nixon made a brief statement of the church finance, ar,d heartily thanked all those who liv their generous subscriptions and willing work had helped in the erection of the building, and placed the committee in Buch a satisfactory position financially. On behalf of the committee. Mr Nixon specially thanked the architect, Mr F. Mountjoy, of Pukekohe, who had most generously designed the building and superintended the work without charge to the committee. On every hand were heard cxptessions of admiration of the building which without doubt was one of the prettiest country churches in the Dominion.

Rev. Mr Saunders, in making an appeal on behalf of th 3 building fund, congratulated the people of Waiau Pa in possessing sifth a beautiful littl; church, and said that in all his travels he had never seen a moie artistic building of its kind. It reflected- gteat credit on the architect. He exhorted the congregation, who already had given splendidly, ta fall in with the desire of their minister, who s.-t a good example, and make a special effoit to clear off the remaining debt before the end of the enduing month, which closes the financial year.

Another large congregation assembled in the evening, when Kev. Mr Saunders delivered a solemn and impressive termor, basing his remarks on the iiftecuth chapter of St. Luke's Gospel. At both services collections were taken up on behalf of the building fund and amounted to close on £ls. The cost of the church building was £298, to which must be added a further sum of £SB for accessories, land transference, etc., making a total ot £356. It i 3 gratifying to know that of this amount only the sum of £BO is requited to clear the church of debt.

THE BUILDING DESCRIBED. The church stands on high giourd and is visible for miles along the country side;. The building is of no particular architectural order. It mav be classified ai being of fhe colonial type and is designed solely for service as a plac6 where men and women may reverently worship. Ihe building, to be fully appreciated, must be seen as it stands with its green-topped b:lfry tower silhoutted against a hlue sky. The black and white reprodution does not do it justice, ihe belfry is set well down on the roof and lti evenly spread claphoard base, painted zinc white, giveß an impression ot solidity. The roof of the main building, vestry and pulpit recess are finished in red oxide with spoutings in white. The front end unier the gable is panelled to represent halftimber work, the timber work chocolate-coloured against zinc white panels. The whole of the woodwork between tiie eaves and base mouldings is painted an even white and shows up splendioly against the exceptionally hi<h-waisted base which is battened and finished a slate colour.

On entering the church at the near corner one finds a neat vestibule. The interior walls of the church are wainscotted with nicelymarked rimu, oiled and Hatted. The walla above the wainscot work ati panel led to an even design with rimu battens over asbestos sheeting. A nice freize of small panel work finishes against the cornice under the ceiling. The roaf of the church is a closed one. after the English Renaissance order. The ceiling is divided into large biys by very heavy heart matai beams tapered away to the wall?, the under part being nicely chambered and rests on heavy scmi-Golhic-sunk bracket?, which in turn rest un turned corbels.

The pulpit is recessed and stands well back. The front is finished in alternate diagonal and vertical V pointed panelling. The portion above the pulpit is finished in Gothic panel work lixed above a heavy beam which gives rather a unique fmiah to the interior of the church.

The segment head windows which are of original design, are gla.::d with nicely bljndud colours of rich fancy glass. The panel work on the walls is beautifully tinted a delicate green and that in the ceiling panels a cream colour. To tlic right of the pulpit is a line large vestry nir ly finished with panelled ceiling and fancy glass windows.

The rlMirh will accommodate 100 persons. Great crccit is due to the I untiring efforts cf ths Rev. S. Nixon j for the way he has worked. Not i only has lie worked, but presented | to tlie Waiau congregation suliicicnt chairs In supply the accommodation of the- church.

The jjincry was made by Messrs Allan a-rt McUlir.tock at their

factory in Fuktkohe aid in a great credit to tin linn. The builder. Mr William Masscy, deceives a word of pre is* for Hi; »ay in which l.e hj« put the <m . k through.

'lhe name of the architect of tin bui'ding, Mr F. W. Mountj v. ba* already ben mentioned and the praise accorded I im by this church committee has been a fitting tribute to the admirable way in which lie designed the building and executed the work.