DEATH OF THE VERY REV. DEAN CHERVIER, S.M., LEESTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 5, 31 January 1901, Page 19

DEATH OF THE VERY REV. DEAN CHERVIER, S.M., LEESTON.

(From our Christchurch correspondent). Very sinoere sorrow was experienced in Christchuroh, and indeed throughout Canterbury, on Monday morning when news wu received of the death of the Very Rev. Dean Chervier, S.M., on Sunday at Blenheim, where he had gone a few weeks previously with the hope that the change would benefit his health. The faot that he was able to do so raised the hopes of his congregation and numerous friends, who fondly cherished the thought that, perhaps, despite all he had suffered, Divine Providence would spare him still longer to them. This happy condition, however, was not to be, and the sad intelligence of his demise was received by his Lordship the Bishop in a brief message on Sunday night at a late hour. John Claudius Chervier was born in Lyonß, France, on January 5, 1833, was professed in the Marist Order on January 3, 1857, and shortly afterwards was ordained to the priesthood. He was thus at the time of his death 68 years of age. He came to this Colony in 1 861 , and was appointed assistant to the parish priest of Christchuroh — the Rev Father Chataignier, S.M. — and signed the original document placed under the foundation stone of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament (now the Pro-Cathedral). When the ohurch was recently lifted from its foundation for removal to its present site this document, with the signature still legible, was discovered, and is now framed and much valued at the Episcopal residence as a historical relic. Father Chervier waß associated with Father Chataignier until June, 1869, when the latter removed to Timaru to founi the now prosperous mission there. Father Chervier remained, and was appointed successor in pastoral charge, a position he held until 1871. After this time another change was made. The province of Otago was erected into a new diocese, and Christchurch and suburbs became a parish, and the country districts a separate one. Rev. Father Ecuyer (lately deceased) took charge of the former in June, 1871, Father Chervier being placed over the country districts. The latter fixed his residence at New Headford, or Shand's Track, near Lincoln. His parish embraced all the districts from Christchuroh southwards to the Rangitata River, northwards to the Hurunui, and westwards to the dividing line between Canterbury and Westland. He established schoolH in Lyttelton, Shand's Track, Leeston, and Aahburton, and the li-t of churches he erected is as follows:— Leeston, opened December 5, 1869 ; Rangiora, July 31, 1870 ; Shand's Track, January 1, 1871 ; Ashburuon, July 16, 1876 (all these are now used as schools, new and more commodious churches having taken their places) ; Loburn, May 30, 1870 ; Southbridge, September S, 1878 ; a new church (that of the Reparation) at Shand's Track. September 19, 1880; Darrield, church, October 31, 1880; and the fine new church of St. John the Evangelist at Leeston, the foundation stone of which was laid by his Lordship Dr. Grimes on April 1, IS'.U, on which occasion the Bishop conferred upon Father Chervier the dignity of Dean. He erected a fine convent for the Sisters of the Mission, whom he introduced to teach his schools, and this was blessed by his Grace Archbishop Redwood on October 2, 18D8, and also a handsome presbytery at Leeston. His last undertaking was the removal of the old church from its original foundation to a more populous part of the town for educational purposes, the whole forming now in close proximity one to another probably the finest group of church buildings to be found in any country district in the Colony. The late Father Chervier ministered to the spiritual wants of the Catholics of Akaroa in the far past, and it is truthfully Baid of him that every day he would, in the long ago, take his ' swag ' and make a circuit over the hills of the peninsula to the north, south, or westward, as occasion required, and in frequent journeys was in imminent risk of losing his life by the dangerous nature of his labors. At each of the places where his missionary efforts were exercised his memory is revered by all classes of the community, with whom he waß very popular. Immediately on the news of his death being received his Lordship the Bishop sent instructions for the mortal remains of the late Dean to be embalmed and conveyed to his old parish for interment, and this was done by the Rev. Father Fay (who, by the way, is a former pupil of the deceased). The coffin containing the remains was taken to Wellington on Monday, and was brought down by the ' Tarawera ' which arrived at Lyttelton on Wednesday morning. A solemn Requirm Mass will be celebrated at Leeston on Thursday morning, after which the interment will take place in the Catholio cemetery. Rev. Father Fay accompanied the remains to Leeston. Failure of the heart's action was the immediate cauße of death, weakness of the organ being the primary cause of the prolonged illness. — R.I.P

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