About 200 people attended an Easter Mass at St Paul's Catholic Church, New Plymouth, yesterday at a service with special significance for many parishioners.
The service could be the last for the Barrett Rd church, which was opened on February 6, 1966, and is now for sale.
New Plymouth Labour MP Harry Duynhoven has had a long relationship with the church.
His family were regulars at the church, Mr Duynhoven was an altar boy on the church's opening day, he was married at the church and all of his children were baptised at the church.
"Lots of families sat in the same seats each week, there were no signs any- where, it was just known where people sat."
Marie Day, who has attended the church for more than 30 years, said it had a terrific family feeling. "I've seen a lot of children grow up over the years in the church. I've always felt comfortable here, it has a lovely atmosphere and a lovely community spirit about it," Mrs Day said.
Around the region, Easter lived up to its reputation of being the busiest time on the Christian calendar.
St Joseph's Church, New Plymouth, had about 550 attend 9am Mass and another 300 at 10.30am. Father Tom Lawn said a further 300 people went to a vigil on Saturday night.
The Reverend Canon Trevor James, of St Mary's Anglican Church, Hawera, said about 100 people attended the Sunday service.
At St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Stratford, The Reverend John Mattock said he was pleased with Sunday's attendance.
LEIGHTON KEITHleighton.keith@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki Monday, 9 April 2007
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