CONSECRATION OF THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY, LAWRENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 178, 6 July 1871, Page 5

CONSECRATION OF THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY, LAWRENCE.

; The ceremony of consecrating the Epis- , copal Church; recently erected in White-haven-street, Lawrence, was performed on Friday last, the 30th June, by the Ristht Rev. the Lord Bishop of Dunedin, assisted by the Curate of the district, the Rev. G. P. Beaumont; %.M$ and the Curate, of Tokoraairiro, the. Rev. R. L.

.Stanfor.d f ,^M.. T At Jl o'clock the. Bishop was-receivea at the church- door by the clergy above named,, •a.nd by members of • th 6 Church Bnilding, Committee. The petition praying the Bishop to consecrate the church was then presented by Mr. W. N. Gooday, Barrister, who was directed by his Lordship to read the same, which Mr. Go'oday accordingly did ; after which, the Bishop signified his consent to consecrate the church, and the procession was then formed up the aisle, the Bishop reading the 24th Psalm, "The earth is the Lord's," responded to by the congregation.

The instruments of conveyance having been presented, and laid upon the altar, the prayers in the consecration service were offered up by the Bishop, who afterwards read and signed the sentence of consecration, and ordered the same to be enrolled and preserved among the muniments in the Registry.

The Psalms were read by the Rev. G. P. Beaumont, and the Lessons by the Rev. R. L. Stanford.

Jackson's Te Deum was beautifully rendered by the choir, and before the commencement of the Communion Service the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus was sung. The sermon preached by the Bishop was from the 3rd verse of the 9th chapter of the Ist Book of Kings— " And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication that thou hast made before me : I have hallowed this house which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever ; and mine eyes and miae heart shall be there perpetually."

The reasons for consecrating and setting aside for worship exclusively, were commented upon and explained by the Bishop, whose able and eloquent sermon was listened to with profound attention.

Holy Communion was celebrated at the conclusion of the service.