Opening Of New L.M.S. Church On Nauru

ON Sunday, December 11, there took place on Nauru the opening and de dication of the new Nauruan Protestant Church, under the auspices of the London Missionary Society. The Mission ship, “John Williams V.”, had arrived on the previous Friday, with Rev.

G. H. Eastman (Beru), Rev. J. H. Spivey (Abaiang) and some Gilbertese teachers and boys from the neighbouring islands.

The most historic figure was Timoteo Tabwia, who is 82 years of age, and was the first man to bring the Christian message to the shores of Nauru.

Last year a monu ment was erected on the site of his landing to com memorate the Jubi lee.

All Nauruan Pro testants were pre sent, together with a large muster of Europeans. His Honour the Admin istrator and Mrs.

Chalmers attended, with the staff of the Administration.

The British Phos

phate Commissioners were represented by the Nauru manager and his wife (Mr. and Mrs. W. V. Bott), and the assist ant manager and his wife (Mr. and Mrs. Kirk).

After appropriate sentences had been read by the presiding Minister (Rev.

Clifford L. Welch, resident in Nauru),

Rev. G. H. Eastman received the key from John Harris and led the old man Tabwia to turn the key in the lock, and open the doors. Then followed the dedi cation service at which Rev. G. H. East man preached. A statement was made by Senior Head Teacher J. Aroi in Eng lish, and in Nauruan by Head Chief T.

Detudamo. They said how much the Nauruans had appreciated the assistance

which had been so gladly given by Mr.

A. Harold Gaze (General Manager of the British Phosphate Commissioners at Melbourne office) and the Nauru man ager, Mr. W. V. Bott, the assistant man ager, Mr. R. B. Kirk, and during his absence on furlough, Mr. W. Allen. The B. carpenter (Mr. Ward) had super

vised the main structure, and carried out his contract faithfully and enthusiastic ally. All the B.P.C. staff had shown willingness to give of their time and knowledge to help, where such help had been needed. The sympathy of the Ad ministration was greatly appreciated in the freeing of John Harris (carpenter) to work on the building with the assist ance of 12 others.

A feature of the church is the stained glass windows over the altar, which were designed by Mr. W. Frater, of Yencken and Co., Melbourne. The local scenery is adapted to the design which has na tive birds, flowers and people drawn from photographs.

The building has cost in the neigh bourhood of £3,500, raised on Nauru by the people.

Nauru’s new Protestant Church, opened in December.