OPENING OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, TIMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 80, 7 November 1874, Page 9

OPENING OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, TIMARU.

Foe some time past the Rpman Catholic portion of our community have been conducting their services in a very humble manner in a building not at all appropriate for such solemn observances. Mainly through the exertions of the Rev. Father Chataignier, however, a movement has been afoot, having for its objeot the erection of a proper place of worship, and accordingly subscriptions have been freely given for the purpose, the result being the handsome little building which was opened for Divine worship on Sunday last. The building itself is situate on a section of land on the western side of the boundary of the town facing its junction with Brown &treet. The foundations are of blue stone, three feet in height, the church, as is usual with all Romish ones, "being cruciform. It is built in accordance with the Gothic style of architecture, and presents a very pretty appearance, being quite an ornament to this portion of the town. Its total length from east to west is 55ft., and the extreme width 35ft. The walls, from the foundation to the eaves, are 13ft. in height, ana from the level of the ground to the apex of the roof is nearly 32ft. The iteeple is situated on the southern side of the church, being 60ft. in height, surmounted by a cross. The roof is shingled, a portion of which is colored. The porch by which the church is entered, is situate »t Jhe south-western part, is Bft. by 4ft., the steps leading up" to the -^building being of dressed blue stone, and the floor of the porch cemented. The interior of the church is 33ft. in length by 24ft. in width. The chancel at the eastern end is 20ft. in length, being apsidal in shspe. The sanctuary is reached from the body of the church by two steps, on the top one of which is the communion rail. At tbe further end of this sanctuary are two more steps leading to the altar. The whole of the work in the interior of the building is of a Gothic character, being uniform throughout to the walls. Over the altar are placed three stained glaes windows, the centre one repiesenting the Lord Jesus, to the left, the Virgin Mary, and to the right, St. Joseph. There are also two other stained glass windows in the chancel, in fact, all the rest of them in the church are stained also. On the north side, there is a recess for the singers and tbe harmonium, the dimensions being 10ft. by sft. The vestry is a small room on the ground floor of the steeple, and which can also be entered by o door from the outside of the building. At the extreme eastern end are the confessionals, Bft. by 4ft. Ascending a flight of steps from the vestry the second and third floors of the steeple are reached. In the fourth story the bell, which weighs 2 cwt. is hung. The church is furnished with comfortable seats and varnished. The altar which is of partly carved Gothic work is furnished with six candlesticks, towards the middle of each of which are shields bearing the sacred monogram in gilt letters on a blue ground. It is also tastefully decorated with artificial flowers, the whole of which, when the candles are lighted have a very pretty effect. In the rood at the entrance to the chancel is a wooden crncifix, under which is a lighted candle. As we before stated, the architect is the Rev. Father Chataignier, and the contractors Messrs Derby and Philps. On Sunday morning last the Roman Catholics of Timaru assembled for the first time in this church, which will be dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and will shortly be consecrated by Bishop Redwood. The services were conducted by the Rev. Father Chataignier, who was attired in rich vestments, attended by five acolytes, in accordance with the Romish ritual. The harmonium was presided over by Miss Griffin, and the solos were rendered very effectively by Miss Fiddler. After the celebration of the mass and the Holy Eucharist, the Rev. Father Chataignier preached a short sermon, taking as his text tbe first verse of the 121 st Psalm, Douay version — " I rejoice at the things that were said to me : we shall go to the house of the Lord." He remarked that he deemed these words as a fit expression of the feelings which had taken the steps of bis flock thither that day. To him it was a day of unalloyed and sanctified gladness. He rejoiced because he had at ?ast, at the price of much anxiety and of no small outlay of means, been enabled to offer a house to his Lord Jesus. He rejoiced because they were permitted to offer a house to the sacramental indwelling of their God and Saviour. He rejoiced because henceforth they would meet under a roof more worthy of Him, wherein to adore Him in humility of soul, and offer to him the sweet incense of praise, and raise towards His throne the childlike accents of confident prayer or tbe silent sighs of a sorrowful heart. With greater means at their disposal — had they been more numerous, instead of being a few units only, lost, as it were, amongst the hundreds making up this community — they might have been entitled to borrow other words of the Psalmist, and looking oh a majestic and more extensive pile; exclaimed with jubilant soul, " How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord God of Hosts." Their church became from that time the residence in this town of the Eucharistic presence, waiting for humble supplications, and sorrowful entreaties, to meet the first with a refreshing shower of Divine grace, and the latter with words of forgiveness and of peace. It would also be to tbe hungered, world-weary, weakened, wounded soul, the house of bread, another Bethlehem, wherein the Divine charity would keep always ready at hand a feast of love. One further consideration would add to tbe loveliness of their church. With the sanction of their . now soon-expected Bishop, it would be dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus : its name by anticipation, " The Church of the Sacred Heart." The rev. gentleman explained the reasons for naming the church as above, and proceeded to remark that such considerations guided him in doing so, and he thought he would place his flock, good and bad, in the wounds of the Sacred Heart, and thus gradually draw them to the contemplation of its loveliness, and most merciful and boundless chavity. They would now join in prayer and holy sacrifice, begging through the merits of the Sacred Victim, Jesus, help for the fulfilment of their hopeful district, while- He came for the first time to take possession of the House they had built lor Him, and to consecrate it by His sanctifying presence. At the conclusion of the sermon a collection was made, which resulted in the handsome sum. of £46 being added to the Building Fond,

In concluding our report of the opening of the churoh, we hare to congratulate the Roman Catholics of Timaru, first on having such an indefatigable clergyman as the Rev. [Father Ohataignier, -who also was the architect and superintendent of the building, and also in possessing such a pretty church as -was opened for the fir3t time on. Sunday last. — t South Canterbury Times.'