BECOMES A CHURCH

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 46, 17 May 1927, Page 14

BECOMES A CHURCH

BALLROOM CHANGES NOT A “NUISANCE” NOW Eighteen years ago, when the Hanscresc.ent Hotel, 3asil Street. Sloane Street, S.W., opened its beautiful ballroom, an injunction was obtained by its neighbours against the “nuisance” of the noise. Since then the room has never been used for its original purpose and yesterday it became a church, where, under the title of The Sanctuary, services will be conducted every Sunday morning and evening, with a “service of healing” on Wednesday evenings.

Bishop Frederick James, the head of The Sanctuary, received his orders from the Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands, w T ith which the late Archbishop Mathew, who to be Earl of Llandaff, was associated. The service consists of a service by the bishop-mediator and a highly ornate ritual, representing the consecration portion of the Mass as celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church. The wording of the Lord’s Prayer is slightly different from that in ordinary use. The phrase, “lead us in teinptatation” replaces “lead us not into temptation.” The Sacrament of Communion concludes the service, and is given to all without question, the confirmation of any church being accepted. Vestments of a beautiful design, incense and candles are used; there is a statue of Buddha on one side facing one of Christ, below which is a “spirit picture” in faint colours, said to have been painted “under influence.” The bishop, who served during the war as chaplain to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, preached a sermon which he said was to be free from facetiousness, as the lease of The Sanctuary has yet to be confirmed. Nearly 200 people were present, about 20 being men.