S. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 22 September 1913, Page 5

S. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

: An indelible mark was made on Masterton church history, yesterday, when the new St. Matthew's Church was consecrated by his Lordship, the Bishop of Wellington. Yesterday, being St. Matthew's Day, was most appropriate for the opening ceremony, which was of a most impressive char- ■ acter. The ceremony commenced at 10.30 a.m., but quite half an'hour before this time the Church, which has accommodation for 600 people, was fully occupied, and when the time arrived for the procession, some 700 people mult have been present, indicating the great interest taken in the consecration of the new building.

THE NEW BUILDING. It is quite ten years ago that the question of building a new church was first mooted by members of Si Matthews, but for financial reasons nothing definite could be done at that time. The, matter, which was always regarded as an important one, was kept steadily in view, and a number of years agq the first step was taken in the leasing of the property, on which the building now stands, by the Wellington Anglican Diocese. About five years ago the work of collecting money for the purpose in view was commenced, and up till» year ago the work was carried on, until matters in connection with the new church began to look brighter. At a meeting of the church members, it was decided to raise the sum otf £3500 in the parish, and Mr J. F. Maunsell generously oft«r£d donate £}QQQ t<? the yorV f provided tlie remaining £2600 woi raised. By July, 1911, this latter sum was successfully raised, and the trustees were in a position to claim Mr Maunsell's splendid gift. Plans were subsequently submitted for the building by Mr C. J. Mountfort, architect, of Christchurch, but when tenders came to be called for, it was found that the lowest was much in excess of the architect's estimate. The result was that the trustees decided to postpone the erection of the tower, chapel and clergy vestry, so as to bring the scheme within the bounds of the financial fund. Fresh tenders being called, that of Messrs P. Graham and Son, builders, of Christchurch, was accepted, and in June of this year the work was commenced, the foundation stone being laid by the Bishop of Wellington. The contractors-carried out the work with despatch, and the building is a splendid example of expert workmanship. Built of brick, the church stands in a fine position. The walls are massive, and rise to a height of 30 feet, while the top of the slatecovered roof reaches 60 feet, making the building visible from many parts of the town. When the tower is erected and the laying out of the grounds completed, it is safe to assume that few nobler church buildings will stand in New Zealand. The interior of the building is beautifully finished, and presents a most pleasing appearance to the eye.

When inside, one is struck with the of east window and Reredos, which were presented by Mrs Mereditli in memory of her late husband. J The east window represents the Ser- ' mota on the Mount. In the centre of the picture is our Lord in the _ attitude of teaching, and around liim is gathered a characteristic group of listeners. Amongst them in the foreground is a scribe, a roll of law laying at his feet, pondering upon the new Teacher's words. Another noticeable figure is a Roman soldier. A . little child is playing unconsciously at j the Lord's feet. The lily and the j fowls of the air, from which the Lord drew some of his lessons, have not been forgotten, while in the ground may be seen the waters of the Lake of Gallilee.- At the head of the central light stands the figure of St. Matthew, as the Evangelist, with pen and books in his hands. Below the picture are the words that might almost be said to sum up the teaching of the sermon: "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your ' good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." The following inscription is also contained on the window: —"To the glory of God, and in loving memory of Edwin Meredith, born at Tasmania. Ausv 22nd, 1827; died at Llandaff, Masterton, N.Z., March sth, 1907, in his 80th year. This window is dedicated by his wife." On the south side of the chancel there is a beautiful window given to the Church bv the Vallance and Drurnmond families. The position of the windoiw is within the chancel, and the subject represents the Holy Communion. In one light is the picture of the Lord as the True Vine, and, in the other, Ho stands in the corn-

NEW BUILDING CONSECRATED BY BISHOP OF WELLINGTON. AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY.

fields as the laying Bread that cam® down from Heaven. In thediamond above is pictured the sacrificial lamb. Below are these words: ''To the glory of God, and in Memory of Charles Agustras Valiance, who died 1882, and Catherine Drummond, his wife, died 1875. This window is given by sixtytwo of their descendants." The Beredos, which is built of Oamaru and Mt. Summer's stone, is of simple but striking design, and at onoe attracts the attention on entering the building. The church is fortunate in having so many earnest and enthusiastic members, who have generously come forward and assisted greatly by way of gifts, tending to considerably reduce the main cost of the building. Apart frdrn the east window and Beredos and the window given by the Vallanoe and Drummond families, the choir stalls were presented by Mr and Mrs H. H. Beetham. The pulpit was the gift of Mr •George Hyde, Masterton, who designed and built it. The communicants gave the altar rails and gas standards, and the Girls' Friendly Society gave the kneelers. The altar and littany desk were the gifts of anonymous donors, while the prayer book to be used by the clergy was giveh by Mrs Barclay, bf Waikanae: Mr A. E. Winzenberg gave the offertory plates. Altogether, the.Bev. Watson, his vestry and church members are to be highly congratulated on the splendid consummation; of" their efforts, ary" the building just consecrated will stand as a lasting monument to their earnest work.

THE CONSECRATION SERVICE. Ihe consecration se'rvioe was one of most impressive beauty and simplicity and was followed by the large congregation with the deepest interest. The Bishop, attended by his Chaplain, was met outside th« west door of the church by the clergy and choir, the churchwardens and members of the vestry. ' The petition praying the Bishop to consecrate the church was then read, and the key being given to the Bishop, the Lord's Prayer was said, and the prooession, headed by ihe Bishop, entered the building, and after a blessing was pronounced, the procession walked to the chancel singing the twenty-fourth psalm. The keys of the new church were laid on the holy table and the litany said with special intercession and prayer. After a hymn was isung, the special parts of the church were dedicated to God's service in the following order : The Font, the Lectern, the Pulpit, the Clergy and Choir Stalls, the Holy Table, and" the Communion Vessels and Linen. The Bishop then read the sentence of consecration and having signed the document, declared the church to be consecrated. The Te Deum was then sung, followed by the office of the Holy Communion, with special collects 1 , epistle and gospel.

It is worthy of note that the entire cost of the erection and furnishing of the church was upwards of £IO,OOO, and this big liability has been successfully met, being a striking testimony displayed by the members of the church. THE ORGAN. ..../■ No church can be said to be really complete without a high-class organ, and in this direction also St. Matthew's Church members are to be congratulated, as the organ in the new church is a magnificent instrument. The organ, which was used in the old church, was built by Messrs Hobday and Son, Wellington, some twelve years ago, and was a single manual instrument, Six yews ago it was eonverted into a two manual organ by the builders. Thi* has now been further enlarged by the same firm, and is a greatly improved instrument. The belloiws have been carefully tested, and a new set of French feeders, together with a new Kirkby hydraulic engine, has been placed in the basement of the vestry. The organ is now a splendidly up-to-date instrument, and the numbers played by Mr C. Spencer Compton at the opening ceremony yesterday demonstrated the instrument's beautiful tone. THE OLD CHURCH. The old St. Matthew's Church is something of a landmark, being built as far back as 1864, although for a number of years prior to this services were periodically held in another building, which did duty for a church. The section of land on which the old church stands was purchased 1 in 1863 from the Wairarapa Small Farms Association for the sum of £5. The church built in 1864 was of small dimensions, but as the membership increased the building was enlarged, and the consecration ceremony took place in 1874, ten .years after the church was erected, which had accommodation tor 230 worshippers. This building was further enlarged in 1897. It is worthy of mention that at this time the <uva of the parish was about 300 square miles, and' the population in the reg : on of 13000, of which 3600 resided in tlie town. The Mastert m parish, as at present constituted, was not "formed for some years later. THE FIRST CLERGYMAN. In the 'sixties the resident slei'i».Vman was the Rev. W. Ronaldson, Hie C.M.S. missionary to the Maoris. Mr Bcnaldson's circuit extended IVo-n the Rimutaka range to the HawW*

Buy province, and from Palliser i'a.Y to the Tararua range, from whi :h it may readily bo gathered that services in the different townships could only bo hold at considerable intervals. On his tramps from pare to part, Mr llonaldson attended to tho spiritual -Hants of the European settlers, and to this day is-hold in alfectionato remembranca by the old Maori a,nd European remittents. Tin: mission work of this noble pioneer in the Wairarapn lasted from IS-") j i.> ltftiS, when the European population was placed under tile •spiritual clrirae .of the Rev. A. Knell, whose death h .attributed to tho hardships of hi& work m this district. It may hero be mentioned that the Rev. W. itonaldson is at present living in Diiiieriiit, and is in his 90th ye-.tr. Prior to his death, Mr Knell was placed at Oreytown, and the . huge district previously worked as one was divided, the Rev. J. T. F. Teak'o being placed in 1875 at Masterton, in charge of the North -Wairarapn, thci, a .parochial district. In 1880 the Diocesan Synod constituted the, parish of Masterton. restricting the ar?a, and forming tin- northern portion of its original area into the separate parochial district of Tinui. Upon the formation of the parish, the nominators made choice ,of the Rev. W E. Paige, to the cure of the parish of Masterton; and Mr Paige remained in charge from 1881 to 18) i. when he retired and returned to England. Mr Paige'died at Torquay some four years ago. The. Rev. Alexander Campbell Yorke succeeded Mr Paige in, 1894. Mr Yorke retired in 1897 and returned to England, and at present is vicar of Foulniere, Cambridgeshire. '1 lie. 'Rev. W. Gordon Earee succeeded-Air Yorke. and had charge of St. Matthew's- till 1905. JDji-ing the year 1903 the Rev. D. 0. Hampton acted as locum tenens for Mr Earee diuThg the latter's absence in the Old Country. laming Mr Earee's term Mr Saunders Spencer wag curate. In 190-5 Mr Earee was followed by tiie Rev. Allan M. Johnson. who is now vicar of St. Pnnl's, Wellington, and m 1908 the Re/. 11. Watson, the present vicar, took chaise Wliile Mr \Xatson was in England a year or two ago the church was under the charge of the Rev. Tf. Williams, of Christchurch. The Rev. B. T>. Ashcroft is tlii* present curate under the Rev. Watson. SPKCIAL SERVICES. During the present week the important event of consecrating the new church will be celebrated bv the holding of special services at which the following clergy will assist: The Ven. Tbonias Fancourt, Archdeacon of Wellington, the Rev. A. M. Johnson, vicar of St. Paul's, Wellington, the Rev. H. G. Rosher. vicar of All Saints, Palmerston North, the Rev. H. A. Colville, vicar of St. Mnry's, New Plymouth, and the Rev. F. Askew, vicar.of St. Marks, Wellington.