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ST. MARY'S CHURCH, BURRA.
For the last few years the members and
congregation of the Church of England
at the Burra have been working earnestly
for the purpose of erecting a building
for divine service, as the school-room
hitherto used far that purpose had become
very dilapidated, and was also badly situated.
The movement so earnestly begun has at length
resulted in the commencement of a building
which the promoters trust will answer these
requirements. It is situated between Kooringa,
Redruth, and Aberdeen, and is within easy
access of these townships. It is designed in
the early English style, and will be a handsome
building. The nave will be 60 feet long by
40 feet wide, the chancel will be 21 feet by
18 feet, and there will also be octagonal tran
septs, and an organ chamber and a vestry. The
height of the wails will be 23 feet, with a clear
38 feet to the centre of the roof. One large
arch with two smaller ones will divide the nave
from the chancel, and in the latter will be two
side arches separating the organ chamber on
the one side and the entrance on the other.
There will be a slight slope in the floor of the
nave towards the chancel. There will be sit
tings for 350 people, and the total cost, in
cluding everything, will be about £3,000. The
ground (one acre) was given by the South Aus
tralian Mining Association. The walls of the
church are already a considerable height, and
the masonry is of the most solid description.
The architect is Mr. Wm McLagan, and the con
tractors Messrs. Sara & Dunstan. The Lord
Bishop of Adelaide (the Rev. Dr. Short) very
kindly consented to lay the memorial-stone, and
it was arranged that the ceremony should take
place on July 3. The services in connection
therewith began on Wednesday evening, July
8. Prayers were read by the Rev. Hartley
Williams, the Rev. F. T. Whitington read the
Lessons, and the sermon was preached by the
Rev. C. O. Elcum. On Thursday morning there
was a choral celebration of the Holy Com
munion at 8 o'clock, and at 11 Matins, Litany,
and sermon. Prayers were read hy the Rev. H.
Howitt; the Ven. Archdeacon Maryat and the
Rev. Canon Coombs read the Lessons, the Rev.
C. C. Elcum sang the litany, and the Bishop
preached an eloquent and suitable sermon. The
musical part of the various services was con
ducted by Mr. A. Boult, Cathedral organist.
The memorial-stone was laid at half-past 3
o'clock, and was inscribed —"To the Glory
of God. July 3, ad. MDCCCLXXIX." The
Bishop and clergy met at the house of Mr. F
B. White, lay reader, and preceded by the choir
singing a processional hymn, walked to the site
of the Church, when the service provided for
sach occasions was read by the Bishop. Dr. W.
Peel Nesbitt (Mayor of Burra) presented His
Lordship with a handsome silver trowel on behalf
of the congregation, with which he laid the stone.
The Bishop and the Incumbent delivered suit
able addresses, and the ceremony was concluded
by the choir singing the " Church's One Founda
tion, " during which an offertory was made and
contributions laid on the stone amounting alto
gether to £37 10s. After the ceremony, the
people adjourned to the Burra Institute, where
a tea was provided. At half-past 6 o'clock there
was a choral evensong, when the Rev. C. O.
Elcum officiated. The Lessons were read by the
Revs. S. Green and F. T. Whitington. At this
service there was a very large congregation, the
church being nearly full. A concert was held in
the evening in the Institute Hall, and again the
people showed their hearty sympathy with the
object by assembling in great numbers. The
front seats were all full, and extra seats had to
be brought into requisition. The proceedings
commenced with an overture on the piano by
Misses Nesbitt and Dawson, and consisted of
songs, duets, aud choruses, in which the Misses
Cave and Loutit, and Miss Dawson took part,
assisted by Misss. Cave, Loutit, Newman,
Webb, Yeomans, and the Rev. Mr. Elcam. The
Rev. S. Green gave two humorous readings, and
Mr. Boult a selection on the piano. The concert
passed off very successfully. The whole of the
day's proceedings were marked by the most
perfect goodwill and kindly feeling. The mem
bers of other denominations rendered most
valuable assistance in various ways, and their
practical sympathy was heartily appreciated.
The offertories and the proceeds of the tea and
concert amounted to £75.
$