New Catholic Church at St. Andrews

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 19, 7 May 1903, Page 20

New Catholic Church at St. Andrews

On Sunday last the new Catholic Church at St. Andrews was solemnly blessed and opened '>y Ins Loi dship Right Rev. Dr Grimes, Bishop of 'Jhri.st' him-h It was only with considerable discomfoit (sa\s the Timaiu ' Post ') that Dr Grimes was able to be pie.sent, a-> he had been recently laid up with a painful accident, and Sunday's ceteniony was the iirst at which he had boon able to ofliuate for six weeks The church was packed to the doors both morning and altei noon and by iar the ma.ioi lty of these came lrom a distance chtet mined not to be absent on such an auspicious occasion, despite the miserable weather

The Church stands on an admit able site of over nine acres, of course facing west, and on that side of the railway , a \eiv good view of it is obtained fi om the line The inside finishing and furnishing ai c pai ticularl.v worthy of notice, the wood lining and rafters of tl^e roof and the carved altar and other iittings presenting a most solid and good appearance Exceedingly chaste and handsome, too, aie the cathedral glass windows, in \arious tints, and the tout ensemble of the interior is most striking and beautiful The acoustic propei ties o! the building were, ol course, an unknown quantity until Sunday, when they proved to be everything that could be desired, each word that was utteiod or sung, and every note of the music being most clear and audible Nor was any fault or blemish discoverable in the extenor, and it would be hard to fmd n moie perfect little church of its kind As is generally known, it is constructed or brick, plastered, the effect being most pleasing and handsome To return to the interior once moie, the seating accommodation (for about 300) is plam, but substantial and comfortable, and the carved stone bosses add not a little to the beauty of the walls The total cost of the church was about £1300, and of this- large sum no less than £1000 has already been collected, a tribute to the generosity of the givers and the earnestness of the Rev Father Tubman. their pastor, which spoaks nobly for itself Shortly before eleven o'clock The Ceremony of Blessing

the now church was periormed by Bishop Grimes, iminodialely alter which Mass was celebrated by the "Rev. Father Tubman, the choir rendering 1 Farmer's ' Missa Cantata ' in B flat, excepting the ' Benod ictus ' and ' Agnus Dei,' which were fi oni "Weber's in C The choir consisted of Miss McGuinness (so[irano), Misses Ah Kenna and Fgan Calto). Mr Jeflerson donor), Mr McDonald (bass), Mrs O'Mceghan, Miss V. McGumness (organist), and Messrs Coombs (violin^ O'Loarv, Knight, Kane, and Coughbn At the afternoon service the church was crowded again, though by this time the rain had sot in heavy and steady The devotions consisted of the recitation of the Rosary, sermon by the Bishop, and episcopal benediction, at which the celebrant was assisted by the Rev. Father s Tubman and Taylor Dr Grimes also

gave an eloquent discourse in the morning after the first Gospel. The Bishop had not intended to preach in the afternoon, but did so on account of the large congregation, at the earnest request of Father Tubman. After- the sermon at Mass his Lordship made an appeal to the congregation to give according to their means, so that the church might be as far as possible free of debt not a mortgaged and encumbered house of prayer At the collection subsequently taken up, nearly £100 was received. Father Tubman heartily thanked' those }\ -n v co , ntn buted towards the church in any way, the l'i c ;hop for h's great kindness, the choir, nnd all wh o had helped or sympathised, including many kind friends of other denominations Father Tnhman likewise said he fully appreciated the motives of the Bishop in not even mentioning his own great building of a new Catholic Cathedral in Christchuich, and promised, on behalf of the congregation, that they would not forget it, but would help the work to the (utmost of their means. The Bishop then appealed to the Catholics of the district to initiate contributions of (>d a week. He felt sure that none ol them would wish to see the great work stopped fen- want of funds, and that he could look to them for the small contribution for which he asked. At Mass his Lordship preached an eloquent sermon from the text, ' I have heard thy prayer, and I have chosen the place to myself,' the words of God to Solomon on the completion of the Temple at Jerusalem In conclusion Dr. Grimes heartily congratulated the congregation, for on that clay they could take a legitimate pride in their church. Passers-by would notice the beautiful landmark, and would recognise in it the faith piety and generosity of its Catholic builders. In the afternoon his Lordship preached from the Epistle of the day giving a history of the Cross, and explaining the meaning of the Sign of the Cross St Andrew's Church is the first in the diocese of that name, and is also, we believe, the only church in the Colony of the same name as its parish.