Two Into One – Compiled by Jean D.Turvey
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Two Into One – compiled by Jean D.Turvey Page 1 Two Into One – compiled by Jean D.Turvey Page 2 Two Into One – compiled by Jean D.Turvey Published by Kaiapoi Co-operating Parish 53 Fuller Street Kaiapoi Email - [email protected] ISBN 0-476-00222-2 ©Copyright Kaiapoi Co-operating Parish, February 2004 Printed by Wickliffe Print 482 Moorhouse Avenue Christchurch PREFACE This is a story of three parishes - one Methodist, one Presbyterian, and one Co- operating - worshiping and witnessing in Kaiapoi in three different centuries. It starts with pioneer settlers in a small village half a world away from their homes. It ends - at least this part of the story does - in a burgeoning satellite town. Letters and news originally took months to arrive. Now they are as instant as emails and television. However, through the dramatic changes of the last 150 years runs the common thread of faith. This is a story which needs to be read twice. The first time, read what Jean Turvey has written. In any history there are those people who stand out because of their leadership, strong personalities, or eccentricities. Ministers loom large, simply because they are involved in most aspects of parish life. Buildings feature, because they provide a focal point for congregational life. The second reading of this history is more difficult. You need to read between the lines, to focus on what is not written. The unrecorded history of these three parishes is just as vital as the narration of obvious events and personalities. It consists of people whose names are unknown, but who worshipped faithfully and gave life to these local churches. They were members of women’s groups, singers in the choir, Sunday School pupils or teachers, welcomers at the door. They lived out their faith with their families, in the mills and businesses, and in the organisations of Kaiapoi. This book offers just the first chapters of our history. We write the next chapters as we worship and serve God in the future. Barry Harkness Page 3 Two Into One – compiled by Jean D.Turvey Page 4 Two Into One – compiled by Jean D.Turvey CONTENTS Introduction Kaiapoi Co-operating Parish • Chronology • Parish history • Ministers Methodist Parish • Chronology • Parish history • Ministers St. Paul’s Presbyterian Parish • Chronology • Parish history • Ministers Choirs Christian Education Girls’ and Boys’ Brigades Groups In Memoriam Organs Parish Craft Shop People Swannanoa, Ohoka, Eyreton and Clarkville Churches This and that Appendices • Parish Councillors • Circuit Stewards • Elders • Glossary • Bibliography Author’s note on the Earthquake Damage. Page 5 Two Into One – compiled by Jean D.Turvey INTRODUCTION The history of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Co-operating Parishes in Kaiapoi, is also a history of the Kaiapoi area itself. Although Canterbury was planned to be an Anglican settlement, Methodists and Presbyterian settlers were also drawn to the Kaiapoi area because of the river port and the fertile farm land. Some of the first class meetings’ of Methodists outside of Christchurch, were held in Kaiapoi. Later Kaiapoi became the base for a much wider Circuit to the north and west. Likewise, Kaiapoi was the base for Presbyterians living in North Canterbury. After the Woollen Mill was established in the 1870s a recruitment drive for skilled workers resulted in many Methodists and Presbyterians coming to Kaiapoi. Mr. George Blackwell, one of the founding directors of the mill, was proud that the immigrants provided the district with not only excellent workers, but folk who went on to become community leaders. Pauline Wood in her history of Kaiapoi noted that “these people gave the town an atmosphere unlike any other settlement in Canterbury. The enthusiasm for rowing, the affection for brass band music and the non-conformist beliefs already present in the town were strengthened by the north of England origins of these new inhabitants.” Kaiapoi, once a small industrial centre has become a bedroom community of 10,000 people who work mainly in Christchurch. The Parish has had to change to reflect this. We have moved from minutes kept in copperplate handwriting to word processed copies, and newsletters compiled using desktop publishing. E-mail is the means of communication. The tracing of a parish history is relatively easy for its buildings, the coming and goings of clergy, and the names of its office bearers, but it is the people in the past, and at the present time, who make up the parish. What cannot be adequately conveyed in this history is the vitality of life and fellowship, a life that is best experienced, rather than read about. There are many worthy and dedicated people who have contributed to the life and mission of these parishes who I have not mentioned. Some minute books are missing, and the time to research everything was not possible. My apologies to them or their descendants for any omissions. Acknowledgements I wish to acknowledge the help of Elaine Bolitho, David Blackwell, Gavin Gray, Barry Harkness, Rita Hewson, Bill Inglis, Nola Johnstone, John McKenzie, Fred and Sheila Pinkham, Betty Tindall, Betty Williams, Marcia Baker of Methodist Archives, the staff of the New Zealand room at Christchurch City Library, Pam Mackintosh at Rangiora Museum, the Kaiapoi District Historical Society, and Zane Purdom of Business Resources Ltd, Rangiora. Thanks also to the PAC Media Fund and other subscribers for their assistance. Jean D. Turvey Page 6 Two Into One – compiled by Jean D.Turvey KAIAPOI CO-OPERATING PARISH - CHRONOLOGY 1979 Inauguration service of the combined parish held on Sunday 4th February, 1979. The Rev. Tony Bell, appointed by the Methodist Conference, was inducted. Parish Craft Centre opened in September. The weekly newsletter ‘Korero’ commenced. 1980 On 3rd February, the first anniversary of the Co-operating Parish was celebrated. The Rev. R. Rogers, the parish’s liaison officer from the Joint Regional Committee was the preacher. The first edition of the newsletter ‘The Messenger’ was distributed, with the aim of communicating in particular with those in the parish who did not attend services regularly. 1982 The stained glass window was dedicated at a service on 7th March. The Rev. Roger Herft conducted a programme designed to help parishes find a fresh understanding to Evangelism. 1984 In October, a service was held to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Wesley Centre Church. 1985 The 50th Anniversary of the opening of the church was held on Sunday 10 February. New Church House in Otaki Street purchased. The Manse in Sewell Street, the Ohoka Church and the section in Fuller Street sold. A Stewardship programme ‘Vision ‘85’, led by Stewart Collis was held. 1989 A farewell service for Tony, Colleen, Jennifer and Cohn Bell, followed by lunch was held on 5th January. The Rev. Errol Hildreth, a Presbyterian minister, inducted on 16th November. 1990 The Parish joined with the other Kaiapoi Churches to hold a Community Service in the Kaiapoi High School Auditorium to celebrate New Zealand’s 150th Anniversary. 1994 The Rev. Hildreth retired early for health reasons. 1995 The Rev. Brian Metherell, also a Presbyterian minister, conducted his first service in March. He was at first ‘Stated Supply’ but was inducted later in the year. 1996 St. Paul’s Centre sold to the Waimakariri District Council for use as a community facility. In November a final service was held there attended by a large congregation and visitors. Page 7 Two Into One – compiled by Jean D.Turvey 1997 The Rev. Metherell retired at the end of the year. 1998 Rev. Barry Harkness inducted in February. The Parish Craft Centre closed in March. 1999 The 20th year of the Co-operating Parish was celebrated. 2000 A monthly evening service commenced. 2001 A committee was formed under the leadership of Margaret Topp, to plan the extensions to the Wesley Lounge. 2002 The extensions were opened on Saturday the 9th March. Several speakers spoke on the theme of “The church as people” 2003 Monthly evening service discontinued. 2004 The 25th year of the Co-operating Parish celebrated, together with about 150 years of the parent churches, Methodist and Presbyterian, in the town of Kaiapoi. Page 8 Two Into One – compiled by Jean D.Turvey KAIAPOI CO-OPERATING PARISH Background The first union parish in New Zealand was at Raglan in 1943. Since then there have been many changes, both in name and direction, but the concept is spreading throughout New Zealand. The Church Union movement in New Zealand has had a long and tortuous history commencing with the first Presbyterian proposal to the Methodist and Congregational Churches in 1902. It was raised intermittently over the years. A Church Union Committee was appointed in 1930 ‘to ascertain the mind of the Church on this matter’, and the first tentative possibility of including Anglicans raised. Following a ballot by the Presbyterians in 1933, 147 sessions were in favour of negotiations with Methodists and Congregationalists, and 48 against. It was agreed that the opposition and indifference to union was too great. Faced with the uncertainty of war, the Methodist Conference of 1939 called ‘for an emphatic assertion of Brotherhood in Christ which transcends all difference of Race and Nation’ and indicated that it was open to negotiations with Congregational and Presbyterian Churches. In 1971 a plan for union to form the Church of Christ in New Zealand involving the Associated Churches of Christ, the Anglican Church, the Congregational Union, the Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church, was put to the vote but was not endorsed strongly enough to proceed. However, co-operative ventures continue to be formed. The Forum of Co-operating Ventures (now the United Congregations of Aotearoa New Zealand) and Joint Regional Committees provide the umbrella under which the vision of the earlier years remain.