OPENING OF THE KIRIKIRI CHURCH.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1907, 1 December 1874, Page 3

OPENING OF THE KIRIKIRI CHURCH.

The new church, which has been built at the Kirikiri native settlement, Thame's River, was formally opened for service yesterday. The building is weatherboard, carefully lined and finished, has Gothic windows, and is in every respect a very neat ecclesiastical structure. At the west end there is a belfry, on which there is a good bell suspended, and over the porch there is a neat cross erected. Over the chancel there are beautifully illuminated texts in the Maori language, which were sent from England by- Miss Weald, a lady who takes a very great interest in the Maori mission, particularly in this dioceße, The clergymen present to take part in the services were: The Kight Rev Dr Cowie (Bishop of the diocese), Archdeacon Clarke, Rev V. Lush, Eev G. Maunsell (minister of the district), Rev J. Cross, Rev E. C. Stuart, Kev Piripi Patiki (of Hokianga), Eev Wm. Pomaro, minister of the jNgatiwhatua tribe, and Rev. Wm. Turipona, minister of the Thames district. Before the services commenced the Bishop and other visitors examined the building, with whicli his Lordship expressed himself highly pleased. It was built at a cost of a little under £300, is almost clear of debt, and the whole expenses have been defrayed by collections raised by the natives themselves, not a shilling having been asked from the diocesan funds towards it. .

At the opening service the church was crowded. There were several European visitors, but the congregation was chiefly native. His Lordship read the prayers, assisted by the Rev. G. Maunsell, and Archdeacon Clarke then preached a very energetic, and what appeared to be a very telling sermon, in the Maori language. The collection at the close was over £12, and the funds were appropriated towards defraying the remaining debt on the building. After the congregation dispersed, a meeting of the Church Committee was held, at which the Bishop presided. Various matters relative to the church maintenance and management, and other matters, were arranged, and the committee appointed appeared to enter keenly and with good spirit into their duties.