NEW CHURCH AT KAIKOURA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 52, 28 December 1899, Page 21

NEW CHURCH AT KAIKOURA.

The new church recently erected at ' Eaikoura was blessed and opened on ' Sunday, December 10. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father Walsh in the presence of a very large congregation, numbers of non-Catholics being present. The new church (says the local Star) is a very handsome addition to the public buildings of the township. At the conclusion of the ceremony of blessing the church, Mass was celebrated by Father Walsh, who also preached the occasional sermon — a remarkably able and impressive discourse. The devotion of the Stations of the Cross was performed in the afternoon, and at the evening devotions the Rev. Father Walsh again preached, basing his discourse on Psalm xix., v. 46, in which the rev. preacher showed the dependence of man on God, the necessity of prayer, and the graces and blessings that flowed therefrom, especially in helping man to withstand temptation. The music in the morning — Farmer's Mass — was exceptionally well rendered, the soloists being Mrs. Bell and Air. Fraser. In the evening the solos were taken by Mrs. Bell, Misses M. Smith and M. Gallagher, and Mr. Fraser. Miss Hollis presided at the organ during the various services: Though only a portion of the original design has been finished, still it has an imposing appearance, ' which will be materially enhanced when, in course of time, the whole is completed. The church, which is of Gothic design, is 70ft. long by 31ft. 6in. wide (outside measurements), standing 38ft. high on a massive concrete foundation. The gables are surmounted with handsome wooden crosses, each sft. 6in. high. Above the front door is a niche, with canopy, the statue for which (the Sacred Heart) is being procured from Home. The exterior of the church is attractively painted, in •elected tints, the ground work being of warm stone colour, the projections obocolate, the sashes India red. Swing doors on either side of the poroh give access to the nave of the church, which is 50ft. by 30ft, the roof being open and carried on five massive circular-bracketed principals. The sanctuary is illuminated from without by a very nice triple window of stained glass. The whole of the interior of the church, with the exception of the sacristy, is lath and plastered. The walls of the nave, sanctuary and chapels are decorated in seven tints, a dado, with a dark bank, giving the whole a very pleasing effect. This part of the work was specially directed by the Rev. Father Walsh. The high altar, which stands on a solid concrete block, is of Oamarn stone, specially selected. The bottom panel and large column are of Devonshire red marble, the smaller column of Galway grey marble. The altar, which is the gift of a member of the congregation and cost about £120, is admitted to be a fine piece of work. The two side altars (one of which was presented by another liberal member of the Church, at a cost of some £30) are very artistically decorated. The total cost of the church, with the altar*., pictures, and general furnishing, is estimated at about £2000. The church on the whole is a standing example of the piety, generosity and zeal of the Rev. Father Walsh and the Catholics of St. Michael's parish. The offertories at the opening ceremonies amounted to very close on £120.