Taranaki Church of England

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7974, 10 November 1905, Page 2

Taranaki Church of England

SI XIIAY SflK>ol, FESTIVAL. The lirsl. festival. 1 held i,n Thurs<h'\. was an tiiKjualilied success, anil must amply repay I lie originators of tl"' movement. A large contingent ol ' scholars arrived * from Inglewoud, Si rat lord, Tariki. Midhirst, and other places. liy 'the 111. I.", a.m. (raiin accompanied by Jhc clergy and teach els. and marched in procession from '' to SI. Mary's Church, where I hey were met by the children ™ teachers of, the Okato. Il'cnui, .Voturiru, Wallace Place, and St Mary's Sundax .Schools. The choir boys ol the local church, awl. Ingle wood ami Si rat ford, then headed the procession, and the children entered SI. Mary's singing] Hymn (A. and M ), each school; | w .j„g preceded Ils '"inner. The whole of the ironf part of the ,nave was tilled with the young people, more than HUO being present, while a number of parents and friends were seated in other parts of (he building. Tlw short service was intoned by the Itev. 11. lieeve. M.A., vicar of llnglewoodf ami t'het hymns aod canticles \ver« sung, very sweetly by the children. Ill' A. E. Fletcher presided at the organ, and several menvbers of St. Mary s choir were present lo assist Uw K'nffi"S- 'Pl>o sermon was preached iby the vicar of St. Mary's, who made feeling reference to the absence of Archdeacon Cole, and trusted he would soon return in ■encwed health and strength to carr\ on his .splendid work in the Archdeaconry. J lie Rev. A. Fowler read the lirst lesson, and the Itev. F. W. Young ithe second. A noticeable feature U.I 'tile funct'ioii was tile very devout; and earnest behaviour of the Scholars, which speaks volumes in avour of their training. ~\T the "lose of the service the National \nI hem was sung, andj the children left Hi.' church singing Hymn Afterwards tile Visitors had their lunch in the. .schoolrooms, tea being provided by the teachers of the local schools. Hefore separating, some to visit the ItecreatTou Cronmls. and others the baths and beach, the visions thanked the vicar and church wardens of St. Mary's for the use of llw church. Mr Fletcher for so nl.lv presiding at the organ, and the l eaciiers ol SI. Mary's for providing the tea.

Altogether the festival left a lasting' impression of the vitality of tile Church of England ill Taranaki. and It IS t.o be hoped that, ns the years go by the annual reunion of Suml-uv B'hools wilt be increasingly popular among the dilVerent parishes of that church. Ihe tree use vol' the Recreation (.rounds and baths was kindlx given by the authorities to the visit in" ■icholars.