Completed

New Fiji Church

By Volunteers

Suva, Mar. 9.

ST. LUKE’S Anglican Church at Laucala Bay, Suva, was com pleted on March 7, and stands as a monument to co-operation and personal self-sacrifice among people of a very small community.

The picturesque and beautifully finished little church, built of lime stone, strikes an essentially English note in its tropical setting. It has been built by the parishioners themselves in 21 years of voluntary spare-time work.

Rev. Dr. G. R. Hemming, who has been the principal force behind the job, conducted the first service, which was broadcast. Previously he had built a church in the Solomons, and carried his enthusiasm back to Fiji, where he enlisted the services of Anglicans at Laucala Bay and of several parisioners of the Holy Trinity Cathedral at Suva.

Examples of the voluntary work which has gone into the furnishing of the new church are the laying of 900 blocks of native woods for the parquet floor of the sanctuary; the panelling of the east wall with yaka wood, donated by Mr. W. E. Good sir, by Mr. C. Stinson, who also made the first stained-glass window ever produced in Fiji; the altar, made and presented by Mr. K.

Garnett in memory of his father; the altar covering made by Mrs.

H. S. Sabben and altar cloths presented by Mrs. J. A. Garnett and Misses G, Morrison and D.

Mune; the altar furnishings (book rest, candlesticks and Cross) made by Dr. Hemming of dilo wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl.

Women members of the church made the sanctuary carpet (8 ft. by 6 ft.) in 1 ft. squares which were formed into the complete carpet by Mrs. Hemming. The timber for the pews was provided by Mr L C. Bentley, and Mr. S. Beeby oaid for their construction, together with the lectern, prayer-desk and hymn board. The lectern and prayer desk were completed in time for their consecration by the Arch bishop of York during his visit to Fiji m 1951.

The church roof, 70 years old came from the demolished pro cathedral, and the framework was built by Mr. A. E. Kennard. French polishing of the panelling was done by Mr. E. S. Hales, and Mr G Larsen was the architect who supervised the building.

Until now Anglican services at Laucala Bay have been held at the house of Mr. and Mrs. R. S. who also put many hours of work into the building of the church.

The foundation-stone was laid by

the Bishop in Polynesia (Rt. Rev.

L. S. Kempthorne) in 1951, and the church will be dedicated on May 2 and 3.