Introduction

Introduction Kawakawa has a colourful history and we at the Kawakawa Memorial Library Museum are working toward saving as much of our past as possible before it is lost forever. Of the Churches in this booklet only one still remains in use for its original purpose, St Andrews, Taumarere. One has been deconsecrated and shifted to Russell to be given a new life in an Olive Grove, this being St Xavier and the other two burnt down and lost forever. St Pauls, Kawakawa and St Patricks-in-the-Bush, Whangae. All the information contained in this book can be found in our Museum archives. Letters/Photos/Clippings/Magazines and Churches in Northland etc. We are grateful for all memorabilia and support given to us over the years. Thank you Isobelle Cherrington for compiling all this information into one volume. Noma Shepherd (MNZM, JP) Museum Chair 1 CHURCHES IN NORTHLAND In the Beginning – Taumarere, Opua, Whangae and Kawakawa Chapter 1 St Paul’s, Kawakawa (1878 – 2004) The Church of St Thomas 2015 Chapter 2 From St Pauls, Paihia to St Andrew’s, Taumarere Chapter 3 St Michael and All Angel’s, Towai Chapter 4 St Francis Xavier, Kawakawa Chapter 4 St Patrick’s in the Bush, Whangae Walsh, Phillip – reputed to have designed Pakaraka & St Paul’s, Kawakawa 2 IN THE BEGINNING TAUMARERE Kawakawa and the surrounding townships of Taumarere and Opua owe their existence to the discovery of coal. It was described as a desolate wilderness before that. The name Kawakawa was used originally for the river. After the discovery of coal in 1864, development of Kawakawa continued at a fast pace. Schools, halls and hotels were soon established. The building of churches was much slower. Divine services were held regularly in public halls. In the Weekly News there was mention of a Catholic church being erected by subscription in 1873. Seemingly this was built not far from where the Anglican Church of St Andrew’s now stands. Another church was built later in the same area. The prime movers for this were Mr and Mrs Tautori. We can find no record of what happened with these Churches. A later addition to Taumarere’s history was the shifting of St Andrew’s Anglican Church from Paihia when the Williams Memorial Church was constructed there. The shifting and re-location tool place in 1926. OPUA St Patrick’s in the Bush, Whangae On October 25, 1865, the Mary Shepherd sailed from London with 192 passengers. Among them were 40 Irish settlers who had been granted lands under the Bay of Islands settlement scheme at Whangae, near Kawakawa. Coming as they did from the Old Country, where almost every village had the parish church, the new settlers were determined to provide themselves with a place of worship. A section was procured in the central part of the district, a subscription list was opened, and Mr Phillip Walsh (later Archdeacon of Waimate) a gifted draughtsman, prepared a design for a church. The Church was consecrated by Bishop Cowie on April 25, 1872. Among those present were the then Archdeacon of Waimate (Archdeacon Clarke), the Vicar of Kawakawa (the Rev. Richard Taylor), and the Rev. M Taupaki representing the Maori people. (see Page ) KAWAKAWA With the development of the coal mines the building of Churches in the area began with the opening of the Catholic Church in December, 1875. (see Page ) followed by the Anglican Church of St Pauls in 1877 (see Page ) and the Methodist Church in 1879 – 1974. (see Kawakawa Methodist Chronicles) 3 EXCERPTS FROM THE CHURCH GAZETTE FOR THE DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND 1872 April 28:- At Paihia, where I held services in the afternoon. Was to have gone to Kawakawa by boat, but was prevented by the violence of the wind. April 29:- Went to Kawakawa, where I consecrated a small cemetery, about a mile distant from the coal mines. Mr Williams, the manager of the mines, Dr. Parsons, Mr Middleton, and a good many of the miners and their children were present at the services. Near the landing place a small church is being built by a very intelligent Maori named Tautari, who formerly commanded a vessel of his own, in which Bishop Patterson once visited the Islands. 1874 November 29:-Rode to Kawakawa, by Mr Tabuteau’s and the Messrs Hall’s estates, about 14 miles, accompanied by Messrs John and Richard Hall. November 30:- Advent Sunday – Services at Kawakawa and coal mines at 11 a.m. in the Institute building. The congregation numbered 101, and there were 14 communicants. The offertory was over 2/-. Four children were baptized. The service is ordinarily conducted by Mr W.H.Williams, manager of the mines, by whom I was hospitably entertained during my way. At 2 o’clock left the mines in a trolley drawn by a horse for the landing stage (3 miles distant), near which is a neat little chapel recently built by James Tautari for his Maori neighbours. Reached Russell, after a three hours’ row against a head wind, at 5.30, and was most kindly received by Dr Ford, our Lay Reader there. Service held at Russell at 7 p.m. The congregation consisted of 90 Europeans and 30 Maories. 1876 January:- Kawakawa, Bay of Islands – The Bishop arrived here on January 15 from Waimate, and was the guest of Mr W.H.Williams, the traffic manager for the mines. In the evening of that day the Bishop presided at a meeting of the Church Committee, held in the Hall. A financial statement for the past year was read, showing a balance of more than 50/- available towards building a church. The Bishop re-appointed Mr Williams as his member of the Church Committee; and Dr Agassiz and Mr Parnell were elected, by the congregation. A Building Committee was also elected, consisting of Messrs Ronaldson, Williams, Parnell, Bethell, and Keatley; and the Bishop was asked to obtain drawings for a suitable building, capable of holding about a hundred persons. The Committee were to call another meeting on receiving the plans for the church. 4 On Sunday Jan 16 the Bishop held morning service in the Hall. He baptized seven children, and after the sermon administered the Hoy Communion. The offertory was for the Church Building Fund. In the afternoon the Bishop went down the river to Russell. Service was held in the morning for the Maori congregation, in J. Tautari’s chapel, by the Rev. W. Pomare, who was resting at Kawakawa for the day, on his return from Waimate to Mahurangi. 1877 December:- Kawakawa, Bay of Islands – The foundation stone of the new church, to be called St Paul’s was laid here on Thursday October 11; and it is expected that the building will be finished by the time of the Bishop’s visit to the Bay of Islands in January next. A bottle containing a copy of the Church Gazette for October, some manuscript papers, some coins, etc, were deposited at the N.E. corner and covered with cement. 1878 February:- Kawakawa – On Thursday January 24 the Bishop opened a handsome church at this settlement. The day was quite perfect in sunshine and temperature; and there was a very large assemblage from the country round about at the opening service, which was held at 3 p.m. The Bishop arrived at one, accompanied by Archdeacon Clarke, from Taumarere, where he had held a Maori Confirmation in the morning. Hospitable arrangements had been made for receiving the guests by Mr W.H.Williams, the manager of the mines, and other residents at Kawakawa; a substantial luncheon being provided in the goods shed of the railway. Among the visitors were Mr and Mrs Carleton, Mr and Mrs Simcox, Mr Greenway and Mr Laing from Paihia and Russell; Mrs Hall and the Messrs Hall from Wangai, also Mrs Bindon and the Messrs Bindon, Mrs Tabuteau, and Mr Higginson’ Messrs H and J Williams, and Miss Hutton, from Pakaraka’ and Mrs Tautari from Taumarere. The Church, which is very well situated, was crowded some time before the service began, and many would have had to leave for want of room but for the activity and good management of the Committee. Psalm 24 was chanted as the Bishop entered the church, preceded by the Revs. Piripi Patiki, Meinata Te Hara, and Matiu Kapa. The Bishop said the usual Consecration prayers; Evening Prayer was said by Archdeacon Clarke, the first special Lesson being read in a scholar-like manner by Mr Carleton, Lay Reader of St Paul’s Paihia, and the second by Mr W H Williams, to whom the congregation are mainly indebted for the erection of their church, which has cost more than 500/-. The Bishop took for his text the words Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? Or, as some scholars prefer, in my Father’s house. 5 In the course of his sermon he spoke of the good work done in the congregation for many years by Mr W. H. Williams, the Lay Reader of the district, to whom our people are mainly indebted for the erection of the church. The offertory collection was for the Building Fund, and amounted to nearly 19/-. Afterwards the Bishop baptized eight children, the rest of the service being said by Archdeacon Clarke. The Kawakawa population employed at the coal mines has much increased of late and is likely to go on increasing, so that the new church was much needed. For the present, regular Sunday services will be conducted by Mr Williams; and Archdeacon Clarke hopes to visit Kawakawa once in two months for a Sunday, to administer the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

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