A New Catholic Church at Hanmer

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 42, 20 October 1904, Page 20

A New Catholic Church at Hanmer

(From a correspondent ) The opening of the above church on Sunday, the 9th inst by his Loidship the Bishop of Christc lunch (Right Rev Dr. Gnmes, S.M.). attracted rauch interest throughout the whole of North Canterbury. During tne preceding week a large number of visitors arrived at the Springs to assist at the opening ceremony. On Saturday the SUi inst., his Lordship and a dpecjal choir were met at Culveiden by a four-in-hand coach and driven by the Rev. Father Price to Hanme»\ After a three hours' journey the party arrival at the Plains and were warmly welcomed by both residents and \i-i-the following day, the Feast of the Mateinity of the Blessed Virgin, his Lordship the Bisfcop solemnly opened and blessed the new church which m future^vill be known under the title of ' Our Lady ami St. Roth. Mass was sung by the Rev. Father Pure, Rector of the irKh his Lordship occupying a throne in the santttiIry and. assisted by vie Rev. Father Martiane S.M , of St Mary's Christchurch. The music of the Mass was Farmers in B flat fi.r which Mrs Mercer was organist, andTeiaml Mead a*d Burke, Misses R White Ponder,, and Byrne, and Messrs. Bevendge, Schwarf/, and Pvk'e comprised the choir. After the first Gospel, in a preliminary address, his edt,t appropriate in a health resort. This is the tSiid church he has dedicated to the service of Almaghty Gol in the district, owing to toe earnest work and imt ring energy of the Rev. Father Price. He then preached a iowertal and convince sermon from tie texts < Behold P th? tabernacle of God is with ™.'™**™g that although the earth itself appeared a fitting tabernSle, mankind, as members of a social community, felt

the desire for a temple in which to assemble for united worship,, and that in the pages of Holy Writ a most nnnute description for the erection of sui'.h is given by the Almigihty Himself. Continuing, his Lordship explained that although Solomon in his glory was enabled to enrich his temipile with gold and plreciojus stones, yet the altar reeked with the blood of sacrifices, and was not so acceptable as v our temples of minor value, but whpro love abounds. A special offertory towards the extinction of the debt on the buildmg amounted to over £7<J. In the evening his Lordship again preached, taking for his subject devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Prior tio the Bishop's sermon the Rev. Father Price announced the result of the morning's collection which, 'lie said, was 1 most gratifying. He also thanked his Lordship for coming to open, the new churdh and for the interest he has always taken in the Hammer Plains district. lie expressed t/he hope that his Lordship would be long vSipared to frequently revisit the Springs where he was 1 already well known and universally laved. Pontifical Benediction, at which the Rev. Fathers Price and Mainane assisted, closed the day's ceremjonies, which were in 1 every respect a brilliant success 1 . The church will seat about 160 people. The nave is 3ioft long by 20ft wide, and tihe walls lift high. There are three lancet windows on the south side of naA'e and four on the north ; the west window is a la r ige threelight window. Access is obtained to the nave by a poroh 6ft by sft, with double doors ; it is so placed that the doors > are well streetoeu Prom tjhe soiutjv-west winds. The dome-shaped sanctuary is 13ft by lift 6in, with octagonal end, and two very flne6dcxuble lancet windows of a preH4ry design, made up of cathedral glass.. In the sanctuary is a handsome altar of white and gold. The nave and sanctuary are divided by an Ornamental red pine railing with double gates in the centre, and the arch to the sanctuary is a hattidsome Gothic one with turned shafts and caps On the south side of the sanctuaiy is a sacrhsty, 9ft by 7ft G\n, and fitted with a convenient vestment press. The whole of the inside woodwork is figured red pine. The roof ifc 1 an open tiniiber one, with diagonal boarding. Particular attention has been paid to the ventilation, which is got luirough the cathedral glass windows ; every window has a small iron lid which lifts up, and this Iras the eflect of thoroughly ventilating the whole of the church. The windows are7gla/ed with different-colored cathedral glass, whuh has a very pretty effect. The outside walls of the church are covered with weather boards, and the frame is strongly bolted to a s<olid concrete foundation, so that there is very little chain ce of the church being moved from its foundation by an unusual force. The "architects ware Messrs. Collins and Harman (ChrisicTfiireh), and the contractors were Messrs Gulliver and Rogers (Rangiora). The church grounds have been tastefully laid out and planted unfler the supervision of Mr. Wilcox,, chief government gardener at the Spa. ___________