Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 1 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 2 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne CONTENTS PART ONE Foreword Acknowledgements 1. The Early Missionary Period 2. The Church in a Military Settlement 3. Methodism Comes of Age 4. Milestones, Members and Memories 1875-1900 5. Frock Coats and Bonnets-Rapid Development 1900-1913 6. The Primitive Methodist Church in Hamilton 1904-1913 7. Methodist Union 1913 8. World War I and its aftermath 9. Between Two Wars 10. At War Again 11. Starting Afresh 12. Looking Back and Moving Forward 13. Travelling Tales 14. Sunday School 15. Bible Class and Youth Work 16. Hamilton Methodist Tennis and Badminton 17. Church Music 18. The Men's Fellowship 19. Women's Organisations within the Church PART TWO Other Methodist Churches in the area. - St Johns, Hamilton East - St Davids, Dinsdale - St James, Frankton - Wesley, - Moon Memorial Church, - St Lukes, - St Albans, Chartwell - Melville - All Saints, Bryant Park - St Francis, Hillcrest PART THREE The history of the Hamilton Methodist Trust EPILOGUE-Past Imperfect-Future Conditional APPENDICES I Succession of Ministers II Circuit (Parish) Stewards III St Pauls Leaders 1989 Bibliography

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 3 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

FOREWORD Cross Currents is the story of 125 years of Settler Methodism in the river city of Kirikiriroa — Hamilton. The mighty river runs through the centre of Hamilton like the river of life described in the Bible (Revelation 22). As with all large rivers, powerful currents course through the Waikato, symbolic of the currents of life and faith which have shaped and continue to influence the nature of Hamilton Church and Society. This publication describes those currents and influences: from the earliest known Maori residents to those who first shared the Gospel; to the militia settlers and their chaplains, the farmers, townsfolk, church and city builders who followed; the people and forces that built a township and communities of faith in Kirikiriroa—Hamilton. Rivers don't always run smoothly—just as turbulent waters have a greater presence of oxygen and energy so in the turbulence of social issue and effect, the power of faith and commitment to God is more readily seen and felt. Cross Currents is primarily the white Methodist Settlers' story. It still remains for Maori Methodists to tell their own story in their own way in their own time— to describe the currents they have seen and experienced. Meanwhile the mighty Waikato flows on, carrying the memories of yesterday, the currents of today and the beginnings of tomorrow. Brian Turner Superintendent Minister Hamilton Methodist Parish August 1989

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 4 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Early in 1988 a Parish History Committee met to discuss ways of gathering the history of Methodism in Hamilton and particularly St Pauls, so that we would be able to mark well the 125th Anniversary of Settler Methodism in August 1989 which coincides with the 125th anniversary of the settler founding of Hamilton City? We began with a 'Show and Tell' Sunday in August when the congregation gathered to share memories and to view the historical displays. The video and cassette recordings of that day began our oral history collection. In the following months Roger Nuttall and Virginia Graham were privileged to record further interviews. Sincere thanks to these people for entrusting us with their memories—Hilda Bray, Mona Poultney, Fred and Yvonne Gilbert, Grace Clement, Norma and Ivy Fow, Cathy Parkinson, Maisie Pomeroy, Muriel Morrison, Betty Arthur. Others who patiently answered our every question were Chas and Pauline Hailwood, Andy and Margaret Walker, Doss Jebson, Lorna and Myrtle Ewan, Howard Underwood, Mae Tidd, Noeline Duncan and others. All anecdotes have been accepted and reported in good faith. Letters, photos, certificates and scrapbooks etc have been donated or lent and these have been most helpful. Several people outside the committee have made written contributions and we particularly thank Harold Witten, Joan Beaumont, Fred and Yvonne Gilbert, Mal Lloyd, Rev Howard Matthews, the Sie family, Alan Leadley, Joyce Witten, Gwen Petch and others who appear in the story. Thanks also to Rev George Carter and Frank Paine of the Methodist Church archives in Auckland and Christchurch and to the of Art and History and Waikato Historical Society for help received. In 1964 Howard Vyle compiled a book for the Methodist Centenary and we acknowledge the ideas and material gained from that publication. It provided our starting point and inspiration. We have tried to present the story as accurately as possible, but some errors are inevitable. Many records are written with no thought of the future historian trying to make sense of it all (present day recorders please note); photos are often unnamed and undated, and much material is missing (have you checked under your spare bed lately?) The recording of people's names is confusing and inconsistent; women used their husband's initials (we have tried to discover and use Christian names), or initials were omitted altogether making it difficult to discover (when they were several members with the same surname) which Mr Smith or Mr Pomeroy attended a meeting or held office. Roger Nuttall, Cam Storey and Rev Frank Glen of Thames provided material on the early missionary period and Roger wrote the Melville story. Cam has spent hours Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 5 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne researching through minute books and newspaper files (still no account of the parsonage fire). Doug Payne researched and wrote the sections on the Hamilton Methodist Trust, Hillcrest and Chartwell churches, Epworth Bookroom and . He has spent many hours tracking down elusive information and checking details. The Hamilton Methodist Trust provided financial support for this significant project without which the publication costs would have been prohibitive. Anne Duncan, assisted initially by Ann Saunders and Cheryl Herft, has typed (and retyped) the scripts. Thanks to Brian Turner for his encouragement and sustaining peppermints (in true Methodist tradition!) More recent events are often difficult to see in a wider perspective and we are indebted to Pat Irving who, with her knowledge of contemporary church issues, has been of immeasurable help with the final chapters and with the overall 'fine tuning'. It is simply not possible to record everyone who has played a part in the unfolding drama of St Pauls and beyond. Details of other histories written about Hamilton Methodist Churches are noted in the bibliography and there are still many stories to record, but if we have managed to bring a smile to your face, a warm glow to your heart for the remembering and if your faith has been challenged, then we have succeeded. A sincere thank you to one and all. Virginia Graham Douglas Payne

Hamilton about 1870

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 6 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne THE EARLY MISSIONARY PERIOD ‘This was a place of power where earth, sky and river met and the land had been honoured for hundreds of years. The people of the land respected the place and drew strength from it. They nourished the place and the place nourished them, and all was as it should be'. (Source unknown) The Maori people have always revered the land on which they live and it is a significant part of their spirituality. When the Wesleyan missionaries came with extensive plans for evangelising the Maori people of the Waikato, alternative beliefs, values and views of life were introduced. As early as 1825 a Wesleyan missionary, the Rev William White, explored the country between the Thames Estuary and Upper . In his journal he maintained that he travelled by river into the heart of the Waikato, just north of Kirikiriroa (Hamilton). The missionary effort was temporarily frustrated by the tension between Maori and European which led, ultimately, to the destruction of the Wesleyan Mission headquarters at Whaingaroa in 1827. In 1834 Mr White again went from Hokianga to the Waikato, the way having been prepared for him by the influential chief Tarawhiti, and established a mission station at Kawhia which was to serve as a centre for the work in the area. The following year, 1835, the Rev James Wallis opened a mission station at Te Horea, Raglan.

Hamiora Ngaropi Morley: History of Methodism "The first convert was a man of humble status, Hamiora Ngaropi. After training he was ordained into the ministry. Although he had no outstanding gifts, his faithful devoted service made him one of the beloved ministers whose influence extended over a wide area for many years." 1

1 Rev James Wallis and T J Luxton, Wesley Historical Society, March 1965 Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 7 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

Wiremu Patene – Morley: History of Methodism In contrast Wiremu Patene, by birth related to the highest chiefs of Waikato, was first influenced by the Rev John Whiteley who sought to make peace between Maori and Pakeha. Patene, notwithstanding his involvement in tribal conflict, began attending the Mission church and soon after was converted. He possessed considerable mental power and the gift of oratory. When the Methodist College in Grafton Road, Auckland was opened, he was one of the first students. Patene was a successful teacher and catechist and after being called to the ministry in 1859, worked chiefly among his own people. During the Land Wars his counsel was often sought by the Government while at the same time he was greatly respected by those opposed to the British incursion. Wiremu Patene died at the age of 74. In 1920 Rev B F Rothwell wrote of his esteem for Ngaropi and Patene and of his friendship with the sons of Patene.2 In 1852 Cort H Schnackenberg was appointed as a catechist to Kawhia and later as missionary after working for 10 years at Mokau. Before ordination in 1857 he had close contact with Hamiora Ngaropi and Wiremu Patene. He reported on the faithfulness of the Maori missionaries to their church work through all the disastrous consequences of the Land Wars. Schnackenberg set up a school for Maori children at Karakariki, where Wiremu Patene had his home. Patene and later his daughter, taught there. 3 Another significant chief and aid to Te Wherowhero was Te Awaitaia who later took the baptismal name Wiremu Nera. He was influenced greatly by Rev William White at Whaingaroa, converted to Christianity and became a local preacher, respected by both Maori and Pakeha. His wife Ngaware became a class leader who exercised a great ministry among Maori women.4

2 Ibid. 3 G I Laurenson "Te Hahi Weteriana" 1972 4 Rev James Wallis and T J Luxton, Wesley Historical Society, March 1965 Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 8 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

To overcome the difficulties of transport, the early mission stations were sited at suitable points along the coast and up navigable rivers which could be served by small coastal vessels. The mission work among the western Maoris proved very successful and the Christian message was taken by both missionaries and Maori converts to the inland tribes.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 9 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) was an important location as the Maori had a number of pa and villages along the river banks. for example stretched along the river near where the Hockin Wing of the stands. Kirikiriroa pa was established in the area roughly between London and Bryce Streets. Taught by such missionaries as the Rev John Morgan the Maoris throughout the Waikato gained new agricultural skills growing many acres of corn, wheat, vegetables and fruit. Who would ever guess that a flourishing peach orchard once grew in Peachgrove Road. Flour mills were built by the Maori who, travelling by canoe, traded their produce to Auckland, shipped wheat to Australia and flour to California during the gold rush of 1849. The people of Kirikiriroa had extensive gardens in the area where St Pauls Methodist Church stands. It is recorded that there were two large food storage pits over which the present day Centre has been built. In 1836 the Wesleyan missionaries, owing to a misunderstanding with the Church Missionary Society of the Church of England, were withdrawn from the region by direction from London, but subsequently returned in 1839 at the request of the Maori to reoccupy the area. Eventually it was arranged that the Methodists would work along the west coast of the and the Anglicans along the east coast. In 1840, an outpost of the Kawhia Mission was established at a strategic site near Te Kuiti by the Rev Fred Miller who went there with his wife and young family and worked among the Maori until his death at the early age of 32. On Saturday 23 May 1959, on the site of that early Mission station, situated between the banks of the Mokau and Mangapehi streams, a stone cairn surmounted by an iron cross was unveiled by Mr P S Miller, grandson of the missionary, and dedicated by the Rev G I Laurenson, General Superintendent of Methodist Home and Maori Missions in as a tribute to the Rev Frederick Miller of Wakatumutumu Mission.5 In 1841 another mission station was established at Te Kopua near Pirongia on the Waipa River. At Te Kopua three missionary families were important in its history and development: Rev and Mrs Thomas Buddle, Rev and Mrs George Buttle and Rev and Mrs Alexander Reid. A European grave on the site still remains today. It is that of Mrs Buttle who died in October 1856 and of her son who died in January 1851.6 These early attempts by European and Maori to lay the foundations of a Christian way of life and to establish the Methodist Church in the Waikato and Waipa areas were seriously handicapped by the troubled times preceding and during the Land Wars of 1863-64. Imperial and Colonial troops, under General Sir Duncan Cameron, moved southward from Auckland into the Waikato in 1863 to obtain land by conquest and confiscation. This was done under "The New Zealand Settlement Act" of 1863. They constructed access roads and strong points for military use as they proceeded. From

5 Elliot, Gabriel "Sowing the Seed in Pioneer New Zealand" p 3—published for the Wesley Historical Society 1959. 6 Laird, Eric J "The Missionary Period in the History of District"—published by Te Awamutu Historical Society Incorporated. Bulletin No 5 undated. Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 10 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne time to time during their southward march the different sections of the army were visited by Revs Thomas Buddle, James Wallis and John Rishworth. Since 1856 Wesleyan clergy were recognised as civilian 'officiating chaplains' although Rishworth was the first full-time chaplain. This action of the missionaries was seen by many Maori as hypocrisy and treachery. In later years missionaries also accompanied agents in land purchasing deals. The war came to an end in April 1864, with the Battle of Orakau. Following the war in the Waikato, 1,202,172 acres of the most fertile land between the Waikato and Waipa Rivers were confiscated by the Government. Later 300,000 acres were returned to "loyal Maoris", ie those who had not taken up arms against the Imperial Forces. Move to Hamilton In April 1864 Mr Rishworth was appointed at the request of the British Wesleyan Conference to the New Zealand district, to minister to the soldiers fighting or on garrison duties in the Waikato-Waipa districts. Grants of land were made to the militia to induce them to become permanent settlers. Thus it was that the army surgeon William Rayner obtained his acre of land on the corner of what is now Victoria and Collingwood Streets, and Ensign Lewis B Harris was allocated his acre where St Pauls church now stands. The arrival of these pioneers, in August 1864, is described by Mr John Davis, a member of the 4th Waikato Regiment. "We left Wairoa over 100 strong, single and married men about equally numbered, with a good drum and fife band. About August 21st we reached the Mangatawhiri Stream. On Monday we boarded barges with our baggage and were towed up the river to Ngaruawahia where we camped and started again before daybreak on the 24th, a bitter frosty morning, for the promised land of Kirikiriroa where we landed about midday. The country wore a very unpromising aspect. The Maoris had abandoned their homes and left maize crops and potato pits in various places. We were set to work to build a redoubt where Mrs McGarrigle's house now stands, at the east end of the traffic bridge." "Mr W A Graham laid off the town of Hamilton East and when this was completed we balloted for our one acre town sections. There was fine bush where the Government Farm now is and the Hamilton East School gully was full of fine timber. A sawmill was soon set up. The Government gave us each 1000 feet of timber and coincident with the starting of the mill we began to build our houses which, it need hardly be said, were not built on the elaborate plans of modern residences." 7

7 Extract from the Auckland Star Special Waikato Supplement, Friday 26 May 1922 Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 11 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The end of the Land Wars saw the Methodist Church seeking to re-establish its missionary work among the Maori of the Waikato. There had been 1700 Maoris under the Waikato Methodist Mission's pastoral care in 1863. In 1868 only 300 remained and one station had been closed. At the same time it was commencing its ministry to the Europeans in the new Volunteer Militia settlements which had arisen at strategic points throughout the area. The Rev B F Rothwell, writing of early days in Waikato says "Amongst my most tenacious memories are those of the Maori gatherings for Divine Worship. The Saturday afternoons witnessed the arrival of canoes and the work of preparation of Sabbath meals—peeling potatoes etc—none of which work was left for the sacred day. On Sunday morning there was an open air service on the flat just underneath where the traffic bridge now spans the mighty river, and the voice of prayer and tuneful praise was wafted to many a European to whom the day had brought no thought of God." "Those were the days of magnificent and luscious peaches such as we seldom see in these days. It soon got to be known that the Maoris at Whatawhata would give of their abundance to all who came. A party set out from Hamilton one bright Sabbath morning intent on filling their baskets, (those who could sport a horse took a sack) but when they arrived at their destination and made their request they were told with all courtesy, that while they were welcome to have peaches, they could not be allowed to take them on the Sabbath. The whole party return chagrined and rebuked." 8 The Rev Benjamin Francis Rothwell was born in Wexford, Ireland in 1860 and came to New Zealand as a small child with his parents who settled in Hamilton. He was the first 'son' of Hamilton to enter the Methodist Ministry being accepted as a candidate in 1883. He entered Three Kings College for training and was then sent as supply to Temuka. In 1893 he began work among the Maori in Hokianga before spending 13 years in the Auckland district .9 He died in Hamilton in 1924 and is buried in the Hamilton West Cemetery along with his sister Elizabeth Margaret Rothwell, first matron of Waikato Hospital (1896-1921) and other members of his family.

8 "NZ Wesleyan" 21 January 1920 (7) Methodist Conference Minutes 1925 9 Methodist Conference Minutes 1925. Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 12 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne THE CHURCH IN A MILITARY SETTLEMENT 1864-1880 Methodist beginnings in Hamilton reach back to the year 1864 when 26 year old Rev John Shiers Rishworth, a Yorkshireman, was appointed as Chaplain to the new military settlement founded that year by the 4th Waikato Regiment of the New Zealand Militia. This settlement grew up on a site known to the Maori as Kirikiriroa, but later named Hamilton, in commemoration of Captain Hamilton (Commander of the HMS Esk), who fell at the assault of Gate Pa. Similar military settlements were founded at Cambridge, Kihikihi, Pirongia and Ngaruawahia, all of which came under the care of Mr Rishworth. He was a man of striking personality and held strong views on church doctrine and state politics. Travelling on horseback from one military post to another, he held services in camps and blockhouses and was welcomed everywhere. John Rishworth kept a journal during the eight months he was stationed in the Waikato in which he records his visits to the redoubts, the long distances travelled and his feelings about his own spiritual journey. He also mentions the spiritual conflicts experienced by some of the soldiers in his care and of his acceptance by the local Maori; less than eight months after the Rangariri Battle he and a Maori companion were rescued from drowning in the Waikato River when Maori women swam to their assistance. Many times he expressed his feelings of inadequacy but persevered as pastor to all he met. It was a measure of his warmth and concern that the Methodist Conference Minutes of 1919 said "that to know him was to love him greatly".

Rev John S Rishworth – Frank G. Glen

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 13 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne At that time there were 1800 Imperial and Colonial troops at Ngaruawahia, while the population of Hamilton was 1496, half of whom were children. Among the militia were Methodist laymen, including some local preachers, and they were formed into societies, as organised Methodist church groups were then known. After twelve months Mr Rishworth was transferred elsewhere and the local society continued the work of the church for two years until the arrival in 1867 of the young Rev Joseph Berry. Mr Berry was born at Preston, Lancashire, on 13 March 1846. Early accounts record his preaching and charming manner which endeared him to the early settlers. Coming from an industrial English town, his knowledge of horses and country life was limited but in spite of this he rode great distances ministering to the scattered settlers and laying the early foundations for today's church communities. If there is any truth in a legendary tale, Mr Berry's arrival was remarkable for one experience. He arrived in Hamilton before accommodation had been arranged so the Irish Catholic Sergeant of Police befriended him and allowed him to spend the first night in the cell! During his ministry the first Methodist Church was built on a section donated by one of the officers of the militia who helped found the settlement. Dr William Rayner's Gift Among the Methodists who landed at Hamilton in August 1864 was an army doctor. Assistant Surgeon William Rayner, the son of an English Methodist Minister. Dr Rayner had qualified MRCS in England in 1860. In 1863, aged 40, he was appointed assistant surgeon to the 4th Regiment, Waikato Militia - a regiment largely made up of Australian Colonials recruited in Australia as part of the Government settler plan. In 1867 when he received the title to his acre of townland, he immediately transferred half of it as a free gift, "for the use of the people called Methodists and for no other use or purpose whatever".10 The value of this half-acre at the time is thought to have been £10. The conveyance was completed on 16 April 1868, and the Trinity Wesleyan Trust, as it was then called, was established. The foundation members of the Trust were Messrs John Williamson, James Stone, Thomas Russell, James Heron and William Chisholm Wilson. In 1872 Dr Rayner moved from Hamilton at a time when the town and district were feeling the effects of the severe nation-wide depression. Before he left he offered the remaining half-acre of his property to the Methodist Church on condition that the sum of £20 which was owing by him on the security of the property, was paid by the Trustees. The Trustees, however, were unable to raise the money. The minister of the day. Rev Joseph Henry Simmonds, came to the rescue and from his own small savings lent the £20 to the Trust. He later went to Fiji as a missionary and from there had to write to the Trustees asking for repayment of the loan which was eventually repaid in small instalments. Mr Simmonds is also remembered as the Principal of Three Kings College, the promoter and first Principal of Wesley College and President of

10 Conveyance 1577 Record W1.460 Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 14 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Conference 1895, as well as for his valuable contribution to afforestation. His book, "Trees from Other Lands—Eucalypts in NZ" became a standard work. He contributed several articles to "The Journal of Agriculture".11 Thus did the whole of the original acre come into the hands of the Methodist Church. Little could Dr Rayner have realised what his gift would mean to the work and witness of the Methodist Church throughout the succeeding years. This property has provided a very substantial source of revenue for Methodist Church work in Hamilton and the Waikato. However, he did see the immediate practical outcome of his gift in the building of the first Methodist Church in Hamilton. Dr Rayner died at Auckland in February 1874, aged 51 years. The First Church A building in which the members of the society could worship had become an urgent necessity and, as arrangements were well in hand, steps were taken in 1867, immediately after the title to the land was secured, to erect a church in Collingwood Street. This church, built of pit-sawn timber and with a shingle roof, was opened for worship on 1 November 1868. On that day of small beginnings the collections totalled £2 4s 6d. Two years later, in 1870, a belfry 14 feet high complete with a "superior bell of excellent tone" was added to the front of the church. The church bell called people to worship on Sunday mornings and evenings. Periodically the belfry had to be cleared of birds' nests. This small church served the Methodists of the town for fourteen years until the congregation outgrew the building's capacity to accommodate it. When a new church was erected nearby, the original building served as the Sunday School Hall until the year 1904 when it was replaced by a new schoolroom and sold for removal, the purchaser converting it into a house in Hamilton East. Through all these years the bell in the belfry continued its tuneful task. The late Mr W W Dillicar, whose death in 1963 removed one of Hamilton's most generous benefactors and one of its oldest Methodists, acted for many years in his youth as the church bellringer. In the Trust minutes of 14 October 1901, there is recorded a resolution to send "a letter of thanks to Mr W Dillicar on his relinquishing his duties as bellringer and gaslighter, for his assiduous and faithful service". Thereafter the duties of bellringer, gaslighter and church cleaner were combined for the sum of three shillings weekly!

11 Conference Minutes 1919 Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 15 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne METHODISM COMES OF AGE The year 1882 was notable for two events which gave evidence of the remarkable growth of Methodism in Hamilton and of the fact that the Wesleyan Methodist Church had come of age. The first was the division of the circuit into three—Hamilton, Cambridge and Te Awamutu — following the particularly successful ministry of Rev Henry Bull who was appointed Superintendent Minister in 1879. During his ministry a second minister Rev Cornelius Griffin was appointed in 1880. The Hamilton Circuit, though now reduced in size, still extended to Tauwhare in the east, to Tuhikaramea and Whatawhata on the Waipa River in the west, and through Ngaruawahia to Huntly in the north. It was still a large circuit to which Rev John Dukes was appointed in 1882. The Second Church in Collingwood Street

Wesleyan Churches in Collingwood Street c1901 - Hamilton Methodist Archives The second event of note was the opening, on 10 January that year, of a new and larger church to be known as Trinity Methodist Church, at a cost of £600. The preachers for the occasion were Revs Thomas Spurgeon and A Carrick of Auckland. Work on the building had commenced in 1881 and according to a report in the of 18 October 1881, the ceremony of the laying of the corner blocks was held on 17 October that year. The blocks were laid by the Mayor, Captain William Steele, James Hulme, Manager of the Bank of New Zealand and Mr J Gribble. The following laymen were associated with the building of the church: J Gribble, John Dougal Melville, Thomas Qualtrough, Thomas Maunder, J G Culpan

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 16 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne and Noah Roper Cox. The first wedding solemnised in the new church was that of Mr William Manning and Miss Frances Elizabeth Roffey, by Rev John Dukes. They lived in Charlemont Street. Although the new building was needed, it carried a debt of £400 bearing interest at eight per cent. The Trust's income, including that from the wooden shops erected in 1880 on the site now occupied by Wesley Chambers, was barely sufficient to meet interest charges plus general maintenance of the properties. For nearly twenty years this debt was a crippling burden on the Trust. It was not until 1904, at the Church Anniversary in October, that the Trust Secretary and Treasurer, Mr James Edwin Tidd, was able to report that at last £150 had been raised, thus enabling the Trust to secure a free-of-interest loan of £250 from the Church Building and Loan Fund and liquidate this burdensome debt. The same report, after detailing the year's expenditure, continued, "Though the wisdom of the trustees has been questioned for erecting a building with a debt of £400 resting on it, it must be remembered that residents of those days possessed extravagant ideas of Hamilton's future (!) but their action is justified when the class of timber used in the building of the church is noted, it being all finest kauri, and with the exception of the renewal of the shingles will need few repairs for many years." It is interesting to read that in a Trust minute of 9 June 1902, it was "resolved to re- roof the church with iron at a cost of £30". This lends support to the story of how one Sunday morning when during heavy rain, the roof began to leak, a certain lady, instead of moving to another seat, put up her umbrella and sat unperturbed through the rest of the service! Eighty years later the same building was still in use as the Sunday School Hall in London Street and was demolished in March 1962 to make way for the present Methodist Centre.

Collection Envelope Early this century a wrought-iron Cross was placed on Trinity Wesleyan Church. The Cross was made and donated by the late Mr John Robert Fow, a blacksmith and for many years a most loyal churchman, trustee and circuit official and who was later Mayor of Hamilton for twenty years. Following the removal of the building to London Street for use as a Sunday School, the Cross found a fitting place as a memorial on the site of the old mission station founded near Te Kuiti by Rev Frederick Miller.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 17 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne MILESTONES MEMBERS AND MEMORIES – 1975 - 1900 Revealing glimpses into the life of Trinity Church up until the turn of the century are provided in the following references taken from the Waikato Circuit Minutes 1870- 1877 and from the Waikato Times 1875-1894. It appears that from small beginnings and the usual financial difficulties the church grew stronger in numbers and spirit as the years went by. 1870— 26 September—Quarterly Meeting reports 16 members, a fortnightly service but a weekly one is urged. J Allwill and W James chapel stewards. 1871 — 26 September—Members pledge to raise £150/year for minister's support. 1872—8 October—Mr Tanfield elected chapel steward and Mr D Caley elected representative at District finance meeting. 1873—1 January-A £50 deficit noted but by 26 March a clean balance sheet was presented. Twenty members by July, 26 by December. Mr Longbottom chapel steward. 1874— In March there were 30 members and this had risen to 34 by September. Mr Thomas was directed to ask the officers in charge of the redoubts if the men would like a service on a weekday evening. 1875—March—membership now 45. Concern about condition of minister's horse. The following September the old mare was sold at auction and replacement bought for £20. Horse to be accommodated at home of chapel steward. 1875—9 December- Rev H McCray delivered lecture on Foreign Christian Missions. 1876— 13 July—A successful classical musical concert given by Wesleyan soloists raises £10 for church funds. 1876—30 September—Rev Neil gives special lecture to the young. 1876—28 December "That the trustees of Hamilton property be recommended to lease a corner allotment to Mr Hay for 14 years at £20/year on the understanding that no objectionable building be erected thereon." Mr Longbottom retires as society or chapel steward and is replaced by Mr Culpan 'pro tem'. 1877 — 27 March — Mr Culpan and Mr Hedgecock's offer to lease corner allotment of Hamilton property for 21 years at £20/year accepted. 1879-27 September-Soiree held 27 September to inaugurate the opening of Wesleyan Sunday School. Mr Gribble chaired the evening, the ladies provided tea and the profit was £13.9.10.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 18 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne 1881— 11 August—"No time will be lost calling tenders for new church. Mr E Hartley architect will arrive in Hamilton today. About £130 collected already." 1882—12 January—Trinity Church was opened on 10 January by Rev Thomas Spurgeon before a very large congregation. A tea for 130 was provided by Mesdames Gribble, Maunder, Gleeson, Cox, Lovell and Griffen and Misses Gribble, Lovell, Maunder, Rothwell and Shortt. Addresses and musical items followed. Total subscription to date towards new church £168.15.7. 1882—15 April—Rev John Dukes was welcomed by Trinity Wesleyan Church. Tea was served in the old church now used as a schoolroom. 1883—15 September—The quarterly meeting of the Hamilton Wesleyan Circuit was held in Trinity Church. Rev Harry R Dewsbury Minister of St Pauls Cambridge, presided and reported an increase of ten children in the Sunday School. Income for quarter £57-9-11; expenditure £56-13-9 l/2d. 1884—3 April—The quarterly meeting of Hamilton Wesleyan Circuit was held in Trinity Church. Income double that of the previous year. It was intended to rent a house with a purchasing clause at £400. 1885—6 January—At the close of the evening service at St Peters Church, the choir, together with members of the Wesleyan and Presbyterian choirs, sang several carols. Mr Templer (the accountant of the Bank of New Zealand) conducted. 1885—2 April—Rev J Dukes, whose term of ministry was expiring, was given a farewell tea and concert. All denominations were present and the Mayor was in the chair. 1886—8 May—Rev J S Smalley was conducting a Wesleyan Mission at Hamilton. 1888 — 27 March — Rev John Dellow and Mrs Australia Jane Dellow, daughter of Rev Thomas Buddle, were farewelled by Trinity Wesleyan Church. 1890—3 July—The Annual Soiree of Wesleyan Church was held. About 150 people sat down to a sumptuous repast. 1892-29 December-The Wesleyan Church held a "Forest Fair" in the Oddfellows' Hall on Boxing Day and made a trifle over £82. 1893 — 28 December—Wesleyans held luncheon, concert and sale, cleared £40 to pay off overdraft. 1894-20 March-At Hamilton Wesleyan Sunday School, Miss Helen Houghton and Mr James Tidd, who were to be married on Easter Monday, were presented with a handsome clock by the Sunday School staff and pupils. 1894—3 April—Rev James Thomas preached his farewell service at the Wesleyan Church before a large congregation. A beautiful album and a copy of the

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 19 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Wesleyan Hymn Book were presented on behalf of the choir and the congregation by Mr N R Cox. 1894—9 October—Rev Joseph J Mather was farewelled. The Soiree—or congregational 'high tea' soon became a regular event of church life. An early reference to a Wesleyan soiree is found in the Waikato Times of 6 March 1873. Rev J Law welcomed 100 people to a tea followed by a lecture entitled 'Rambles with a Rucksack' given by Rev J J Lewis. The choir sang and the hall was decorated 'a la Chinese', hardly appropriate when the Rev Lewis' rambles had taken him to Europe and England. Some further names of people associated with Trinity Church at this time were French, Noah and Ann Cox, Thomas Tidd, Cornish, Salmon, Waite, W W Dillicar, J D Melville, Jones, Carey, Longbottom, Tanfield, Land, Roffey, Murray, Vincent Calderwood, MacDonald, Henry MacPherson, Ripley, Bloomfield, Frederick and Catherine Thomas, George and Catherine Jack, W N Buttle, H Buttle, Wright, J Gane, Mr and Mrs Culpan, C S Bridgeman, Miss Gerrans, Steele, Mr C Danvers (first Headmaster of Hamilton West School 1-873-1877), John Andrew, Robert Peterson, William and Emma Rothwell, Exelby, Webber, S Tucker, Morris, Skeates, Willey, Mr and Mrs Samuel Meachem, Jabez Home, John and Matilda Livingstone, William and Fanny Harris, Thomas and Mary Ann Qualtrough, Henry and Alice Turbott, Lindsey, Roach and Tatton.

Trinity Methodist Church and Schoolroom c 1905 - Hamilton Methodist Archives A minister and a layman both recorded their memories of the 1890's - Rev Samuel Lawry who was appointed Superintendent of the Hamilton Circuit in 1890 told in his unpublished book of memories how he found the church finances "in a desperate and muddled condition ... although for health reasons it was imperative for me to leave at the end of one year, that year's work always lives in my memory as one of the most

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 20 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne useful and effective of my ministry. I found the people keenly interested in spiritual things and anxious for the progress of the Kingdom." Mr W T Coad came to Hamilton at the end of 1887 as an 18 year old telegraphist. Some years later he recalled the friendships he made at the Collingwood Street Church at that time with Jim and Tom Tidd, Eddy Davey and others. He particularly remembered the Rev Joseph Thomas whose enthusiasm and persistence soon changed him from a reluctant and nervous young man into a devoted Sunday School teacher and local preacher. The Parsonage It was early in this period that the first parsonage was purchased at a cost of £400. As suggested by the Waikato Times' report for 3 April 1884, the house was first rented and later bought for the use of Rev John Dukes. It was situated on the western corner of Milton Street and Thackeray Street. Earlier, Mr and Mrs Dukes and their daughter lived in a rented house on the corner of Thackeray and Anglesea Streets on a site till recently occupied by the offices of Waikato Electricity Limited. In 1899 while Rev Dr John Hosking was in residence, the parsonage was destroyed by fire and all records of the previous thirty-three years of the history of the Methodist Church in Hamilton were lost. A new seven-room parsonage was built of heart rimu on the same site at a cost of £250 and was officially opened on 8 August 1899. It was occupied by the Superintendent Minister until 1915, when following Methodist Union in 1913, it was vacated in favour of the former Primitive Methodist Parsonage in London Street. Rev Dr Hosking DD was a brilliant academic, author and public speaker. 1899 must have been an eventful year for him. From 1 July to 31 October he addressed 39 meetings throughout the Waikato as the district's Liberal Party candidate as well as coping with pastoral duties and all the arrangements needed for the rebuilding of the parsonage. 12

Rev Dr J Hosking outside Wesleyan parsonage c 1898

12 Waikato Argus 18 July 1899 Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 21 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne FROCK COATS AND BONNETS RAPID DEVELOPMENT 1900 - 1913 The close of the century was marked by the disastrous parsonage fire early in 1899 in which all earlier records were lost. The oldest Trust minutes preserved are those of 2 May 1900. On the inside cover is the inscription "Minute Book of Trinity Wesleyan Trust, Hamilton" and below it appears the entry: "Note—All previous records of meetings were destroyed in the parsonage fire". The writing is in the hand of the late James E Tidd, who gave long and distinguished service as Secretary of the Trust. The entry continues: "Names of Trustees as per fresh registration on October 31st 1899, Samuel Meachem, Thomas Qualtrough, Thomas Chappell, John Andrew, James E Tidd, Albert Watts, Stephen Tucker, James Bennett, Frederick William Thomas. The last six of these names replace those of Thomas Maunder, J B Thomas, J C Hobbs, Thomas A Tidd, Joseph Mullens and Thomas Vincent. This historic record reads like a new beginning and certainly with the new century Hamilton Methodism embarked upon a vigorous programme of building and church expansion. This expansion went hand in hand with the rapid growth of the city itself. In 1900 the population of Hamilton was 1253, by 1906 it had swelled to 2100 and by 1911 the combined population of Hamilton and Frankton was 4500. Agriculture was the main activity, mainly grain and other crops, cattle for meat and sheep. Then the dairy industry boomed and smaller holdings became more viable. Industries grew up to supply goods and services for the new technology, the new styles of farming and the growing population. Several families who were part of this new growth and development were or later became leaders of the Methodist Church in Hamilton. The Hardley's hardware and plumbing business made cans and machinery for the Dairy Company; James and Seymour Treloar with their father James invented, produced and installed the Treloar Milking Machine (in 1917 the Hamilton Methodist Trust leased part of its property to the Treloar Milking Machine Co); James Tidd and his father Thomas started Hamilton Hardware Ltd; George and James Jack were builders and carpenters then moved into the building removal business; John R Fow was first a blacksmith then became an auctioneer as was William Davis. These last two men married Misses Emma and Mary Ann (Polly) Hardley respectively. Their brother Charles E Hardley had married Amy C Qualtrough, daughter of trustee Thomas Qualtrough. These marriages and others not only linked prominent business families but Methodist families. Continued interlinking of such families has provided a rich fund of stories for the history and her story of Hamilton and the Methodist church. The marriage registers for Trinity Wesleyan Church 1899-1911 and for St Pauls 1910- 12 reflect a little of the occupational composition of the town and church at that time. Twenty four farmers, 9 carpenters and 10 labourers with one or two engine drivers,

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 22 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne miners and storekeepers etc stood at the altar in those years. Their wives' occupations were usually given as 'domestic duties' or occasionally music teacher or dressmaker.

Frock Coats and Bonnets at Collingwood Street c 1890’s - Mr Eric Clothier New Buildings Rev Henry Lawrence Blamires arrived in 1900. Once the large debt on the church had been cleared he and the Trust proceeded with plans for a much-needed schoolroom. This was built in 1904 at a cost of £512, a loan of £500 at five per cent being raised for the purpose. Meanwhile, important developments had taken place in regard to the business premises owned by the Trust. In 1902 a portion of land in Collingwood Street between the Church and what is now Alexandra Street with a frontage of 125 feet, was leased to Messrs Edgecumbe and Wheeler, land agents, for 21 years at a rental calculated on a basis of five per cent of the unimproved value. This, at the time, was £1 per foot, thus realising an annual rental of £6 5s. The rental was to be reviewed in 11 years and the lease included provision for the trustees to resume possession, if desired, at the end of the period. As events turned out, the area was incorporated in a new lease before the expiry of the full term of 21 years. In 1904, the year in which the new schoolroom was built, the trustees also erected on the Victoria Street frontage a block of brick shops capable of carrying a second storey. This new block was called Wesley Buildings. It was one of several substantial commercial buildings in Hamilton designed by F E Smith, the town's first full-time architect. The accepted tender was £3,799 and difficulty was experienced in financing the venture. Eventually, a loan of £4,000 was raised bearing interest at five and a half per cent for three years and thereafter at the prevailing rate of interest. On Wednesday 23 November 1904, the trustees treated the contractor and workmen to a complimentary dinner in the schoolroom. "Rev Reed and Mr Worsley to attend to the details" which probably Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 23 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne meant their wives were asked to rally the church women to provide everything necessary. In January 1909 the Bible Classes began raising funds towards the building of new classrooms. By April they had accumulated £60 and asked the Trust for a subsidy but this was refused. Undaunted they organised the first Musical and Elocutionary Competitions ever held in the Auckland Province assisted by Mr Blamires, Mr Riley and Fred Daniell. In August a deputation representative of the Bible Classes, consisting of Messrs Daniell and Lindsay, Mrs Ethel Home, Mrs Houghton and Mrs Loveday triumphantly attended a meeting of the Trust. One hundred pounds was handed to the Trust for building purposes and £28 was retained for furnishing the rooms later. At the same meeting Mr Daniell was unanimously elected a trustee in the place of the late Mr J D Melville who had died on 26 June 1909. Mr Daniell as architect and office bearer rendered a unique contribution to the work of the Trust and the Circuit for many years. Horse and Buggy Days Something of the atmosphere and colour of this period was gained from the Hamilton Trust Minutes and from an interview with Rev Henry Lawrence Blamires in 1964 when he was aged 94 and living at Tyler House, Mt Albert. Mr Blamires is the only minister to have served two terms in the Hamilton Circuit and had remarkably clear memories of his ministry during his two appointments, 1900 to 1903 and 1908 to 1911. He was ordained in 1900 and appointed to Hamilton. The same year he married a daughter of Mr T C Collier, of Christchurch. When he first came in 1900 the church in Collingwood Street was surrounded by paddocks used for "parking" the horses and buggies and there was a small wooden shop which fronted Victoria Street. The Circuit extended from Tauwhare and Matangi to Rangiriri, with a Home Missionary at Huntly, and from Karamu to Gordonton, then called Hukanui. Means of travel was mainly by horseback or buggy and in the township by bicycle. Mr Blamires remembered vividly one of his parishioners, a storekeeper Mr Jabez T Horne riding his bicycle and wearing a straw boater. Circuit Stewards at the time of Mr Blamires' arrival were John Andrew and James Bennett who were also Trustees. The men of the Trust made decisions affecting many areas of church life. In June 1902 it resolved that "at future socials or entertainment held in the schoolroom, nothing but parlour games to be allowed". Mr Blamires as minister chaired the frequent Trust meetings and from the minutes it appears he spent many hours negotiating with tenants or lessees of church property. Time was spent discussing hircage of the schoolroom. In July 1902 the Hamilton Band was allowed to use it on Monday nights provided there was no service in the church or the schoolroom was not otherwise engaged. The rental—2 shillings for gas and cleaning. In April 1909 Miss Campbell was given permission to hold technical dressmaking classes in the schoolroom. In 1911 and 1912 severe overcrowding at Hamilton West Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 24 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne School made it necessary to hire the Wesleyan hall for classes while additions to the school were completed. Band of Hope meetings were held in the schoolroom and in July 1903 the Band of Hope executive was asked to pay £2 towards the cost of the new schoolroom seats. Twelve rimu seats were being made by a Mr E White at a cost of 11 shillings each. Kauri would have cost 15 shillings! In March 1903 the Trust sent a telegram to Conference protesting against Mr Blamires' departure but to no avail. Rev James T Pinfold arrived shortly afterwards followed by Rev Thomas Fee in 1906. A feature of that time in Hamilton was the great Open-Air Evangelistic meetings held in Victoria Street and the vigorous work of the Methodists, Wesleyan and Primitive alike, in the Temperance Campaign and the Prohibition Movement. Rev Fee who served from 1906-1908 was an enthusiastic evangelistic preacher with a passion for social righteousness. An outstanding advocate of Temperance he published a book of Temperance songs. Keen as he may have been for matters of the spirit, Rev Fee and the Trust were also continually coping with more mundane matters. As the town grew the open ground around the church must have been a popular place for parking one's horse and buggy. A picket fence and gates stood at the front but the gates were rarely closed. Some damage must have occurred for a 1906 Trust meeting called for repairs to the fence to be carried out and hitching posts to be erected. On 30 November 1906 the Trust resolved "That gas burners in the church be renewed, that doors in the vestry be attended to and that padlocks be put on the 3 church gates and that a box be erected in which to place the various church keys; further, that upon payment of 1 shilling (price of key) members of church be granted a key to give them access by means of gate." This proposal cannot have been very effective for six months later on 13 May 1907 the Trust again resolved – "That a supply of gravel be placed in necessary places in church grounds and that the fences and places for tying horses be put in repair, also that the church grounds be closed to general public and locks be placed on gates". On Mr Blamires' return for his second term in 1908, he found evidence of rapid development both in the town and the church. Business premises previously confined to one block on one side of Victoria Street now extended in all directions. The infusion of new blood into the Church in the persons of men such as William H Worsley, Walter F Mason, James Treloar, T Leonard Hames, John Robert ("JR") Fow, David Jones, (Member of the House of Representatives), H Samuel Hardley and Frederick C Daniell and their wives, had added greatly to the strength of the work. It was during his second term that Mr Blamires bought a large church building for £50 and had it transported by horsepower from Waitekauri to Te Kowhai, the total cost of the re-erection being less than £200. This was another heart kauri building and still

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 25 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne serves the needs of Te Kowhai Methodists and also local Presbyterians, as part of the Ngaruawahia Union Parish. A new church was built at Ngaruawahia and with great assistance from Mr F C Daniell, the architect, a small church, St Johns, on the comer of Grey and Wellington Streets, Hamilton East, was opened in 1910. Church had been built between the two periods of Mr Blamires' ministry, mainly through the efforts of the Thomas family and their descendants. Mr Blamires recalled the Rototuna families coming into Hamilton by buggy and on horseback, (the girls riding side-saddle) for the Sunday services, both morning and evening. Most of them were members of the choir and the same journey was made during the week to Christian Endeavour and choir practice. Home Missionaries connected with the Circuit at this time included such later well- known names as G S Cook, William Walker and W C Francis, father of Rev W R Francis who was Superintendent of the Hamilton Circuit from 1954 to 1961. The choir during this period was led first by Samuel Meachem whose daughter was the organist, and subsequently by Mr Riley who had a music shop in Hamilton. The enthusiasm for music and choir work was borne out by the success of the competitions begun in 1909, the proceeds from which were used to build rooms for the Bible Classes. At these first competitions Mr Blamires himself entered the bass solo and won with the song ‘The Gladiator'. Mr E J Gatland brought a choir from Auckland but the judges Professor English and Mr Barry Coney gave first prize to Hamilton. The Sunday School choir was trained by Mrs Blamires who had been one of the first teachers of the blind in Auckland before her marriage. Her patience and gentle nature gave the children such confidence that soon the choir and individuals like Billy Allen (Pauline Hailwood's brother) were winning prizes. Both Mrs Hailwood (snr) and Mrs Allen (snr) sang in the adult choir. On Thursday 13 May 1909 the Trustees and their wives put on a social for the choir "as an appreciation of their excellent services." From 4 May 1908 onwards it was decided that the name of Trinity Wesleyan Church be replaced by Trinity Methodist Church. Rev Harry Blamires' emphasis on ministry to youth endeared him to the children and young people. Under his chairmanship the Trust gave permission for slight alterations to be made to the classrooms so that a new scheme to popularise infant teaching by means of sand tables and charts etc could be implemented. Mr H Ford and Mr S A Pethybridge were Superintendent and Secretary of the Sunday School, followed by James Treloar. During his ministry Mr Blamires showed more of his versatility and vigour by representing Waikato at hockey and cricket and along with James Pomeroy and his sons Jack and Bill, Fred Daniell, A J Shepherd and Bill Turbott he helped to form .

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 26 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

Young Peoples Society of Christian Endeavour, Collingwood St 1894 – 1897 – Mr Eric Clothier Muriel Morrison Remembers ... The oldest member of Hamilton parish today is 92 year old Mrs Muriel Morrison (nee Melville) of Melville. She still retains vivid childhood memories of the church in Collingwood Street and the families who worshipped there. Sitting in the pews her attention was always taken by the texts in gold lettering above the three arches. The central one read 'Glory to God in the Highest' the one on the left 'King of Kings' and on the right 'Lord of Lords'. She especially remembers Mr Blamires' teaching and children's stories; on one occasion he reminded them "We often think to ask God for many things but do we remember to thank Him?" Mrs Morrison also admits to having been captivated by the size and variety of the ladies' hats which were often called 'meat safes'; by old Mrs Thomas' long plaited bun and bespangled bonnet; by the magical way Mr Mason's Bible would disappear into an invisible pocket in his frock coat at the end of a service and by the way Mr Worsley always stroked his nose after he had settled himself down in his pew. Families had their own pews and patterns of seating. The gaps when people were away were then all the more noticeable and when several families left to form new congregations at Rototuna, Te Kowhai and St Johns the empty pews were bitter-sweet indicators of progress! As Mrs Morrison remembers, the Sunday seating plan at Collingwood Street was like this - On the right hand side sat Mr and Mrs S A Pethybridge and their five children, Mr and Mrs L Hames, Mr and Mrs Tom Dillicar, Mr and Mrs William Worsley and family, the Salmons, Stevens. In the middle Mr and Mrs J Thorne, Miss Houghton, Mr and Mrs W F Mason, Nellie Bennett, the Melvilles (third seat from the back), Thomas family, Loveday family, Meachems, Mr and Mrs F C Daniell. The left hand side was favoured by the Allens, Mr and Mrs J M Jones and daughter Mavis, Mr and Mrs Davis, the Lawrys from Te Kowhai, Pomeroys, Mr and Mrs G Jack, Bycrofts until 1906 when they moved to Cambridge, Thomas Qualtrough and family. Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 27 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne THE PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH IN HAMILTON 1904 to 1913 It was in 1904 that the Primitive Methodist Church first began services of worship in Hamilton. These were held in the old Borough Council Chambers which were situated on the site of the former Public Library but now the site of the Bank of NZ in Victoria Street next to the Post Office. Mrs Harvey was the organist at this time and some of the members who attended then were Reid, Gibbs, Simpson, Palmer, Lockett, Anderson, Read, Harwood, Beer, Jamieson, Watkins, Scott, Walker, Booth, Franks, Venables, Grant and Pomeroy. Two of these families were linked when Robert G Harwood married Elsie M G Scott on 30 August 1911 when he was 21 and his bride 24. It is interesting to note that he would have only been 20 when elected to the Primitive Methodist Parsonage Trust in 1910 and just 22 when he became a member of the London Street Church Trust.

St Pauls Primitive Church Sanctuary decorated for wedding of Robert Harwood and Elsie Scott—30 August 1911 – Mrs D. McDonagh In June 1905 the 'NZ Primitive Methodist' reported on the good start made by Rev Peter Mairs, the Home Missionary appointed to the Waikato Mission. The year before Rev Mairs and his wife Emma had come from Lymm Villa, Cheshire with a family of three sons and two daughters. One of the daughters Annie died in August 1906 and a month later Emma Mairs died; they were both buried just inside the gate of the old Hamilton West Cemetery in Willoughby Street. Emma Mairs did not participate in public church life through ill health. Accounts of the day usually mention Mrs J L Wright (an evangelist and sister of Peter Mairs) as being her brother's helpmate. In September 1905 Mrs Wright or 'Aunty Wright' as she was known to the family was one of the principal organisers behind a winter garden fete held in the Volunteer Hall in Knox Street to raise money for a Primitive Methodist Church in Hamilton. The

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 28 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne garden layout was planned and carried out by Rev Mairs himself and so it is not surprising to learn that in his retirement his garden was a constant joy. Refreshments that afternoon were provided by Mesdames Bourke, W C Davis and F W Hardley. Mrs Davis and Mrs Hardley had with their husbands (both newly elected to Hamilton Town Council), recently moved to Hamilton from Ashburton. Miss A Loveday, Miss Potter and Miss Alice Rimmer (of Auckland) and Mrs Coombes presented musical items and accompaniment and Mrs Jones and Master G Hardley and Mr O'Hara each gave a recitation on that occasion. During the evening entertainment Rev Mairs announced the programme for the following evening - "Around the Campfire and Snowballing for the Ladies". It is a pity that no records exist for the early Primitive Methodist Trust so that other steps towards the goal of a new church could have been noted. However donations were called for through 'The NZ Primitive Methodist' (the Hamilton Methodist Trust gave £5) and within seven months enough capital had been raised for a foundation stone laying ceremony to proceed on a site purchased in London Street. On 30 May 1906 using specially inscribed mallets, Mr H J Greenslade, Member of the House of Representatives and Mr Edwin Watkins laid a stone on each side of the future steps of the new church.

Primitive Methodist Church London St c1906 - Hamilton Methodist Archives

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 29 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne In recent years these stones have been placed in the wall to the left of the steps after being found lying forgotten under the church. At the same ceremony Mrs J L Wright placed a bottle containing copies of the daily papers, coins, Sunday School children's names and church statistics etc in a special concrete receptacle provided. (One wonders where that bottle is today.) The Hon James McGowan, Minister of Justice congratulated the Primitive Methodists of Hamilton on their splendid site and suggested that they hold a working bee to plant trees and flowers to make the church as bright and cheerful as possible. "Religion was a joyful thing if properly carried out, and it was the longfaced man whom they had to beware as he would be the first to take you in."13 The building fund was swelled by £15 after the offertory was taken up. Later in the day the Wesleyans kindly lent their Sunday School for a tea and their church for a meeting, at which the Wesleyan Minister the Rev T Fee was one of the speakers. A parsonage was built beside the church and the rhododendron which still grows alongside today's drive may have been part of the garden. (Was its planting the result of the suggested working bee?) The opening ceremony took place on Friday evening 28 September 1906. Rev Mairs read 1 Chronicles 24, the Rev W S Potter's sermon topic was 'Christ the Chief Corner Stone' and he urged his hearers "not to trouble themselves about knotty questions of church government or abstruse doctrine but to cultivate the true spirit of Christianity which had been defined as being a Christian experience bearing fruit in character and conduct." Mr Orde led the choir and a united (ie Wesleyan and Primitive) communion service was held. Services continued throughout the weekend concluding with a memorial service to Mrs Mairs on the Sunday evening. Monday's tea meeting in the vestry was so well attended three sittings were necessary. That night Mr Watkins described the church as one of the prettiest he had ever seen -the architect Mr Burgess and the contractors Messrs Scott Bros coming in for much acclaim. The cost of construction had amounted to £800 helped by generous gifts. Mr E Watkins had donated timber, Herbert Bros of Auckland gave a beautiful leadlight window. Rev J Dawson from Wellington gave books, and the Young People's Society for Christian Endeavour of Webb Street Wellington gave an individual cup communion service. The boy preacher, Charteris from Auckland, but originally from Glasgow, visited the Hamilton church on two occasions, one of these being the first Church Anniversary when over 400 were squeezed into the church (which was built to seat 175) others had to be turned away. Again in 1908 at the Harvest Thanksgiving Services he preached to packed churches. That same year Rev A Armstrong was appointed to Waikato and the statistics supplied to the Connexion for Hamilton were 1 church, 3 other preaching places, 1 parsonage,

13NZ Primitive Methodist, 2 July 1906 Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 30 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne 1 minister, 2 local preachers, 48 members, 2 Sunday Schools with 73 scholars, 278 attendants on Sunday worship. At the quarterly meeting of 3 June "much joy and thankfulness was expressed that some 27 souls had been won during the year ... an increase of 13 members was made and that financially notwithstanding wet Sundays ... the returns were almost sufficient to meet the outgo." 14

However by October 1908 the Ladies Sewing Guild under the guidance of Miss M Baker and Mrs S Hardley were preparing for a large sale of work and a mile-long trail of threepenny bits to help rid the Trust of a £725 debt, despite the earlier generosity of some—in 1907 Mr Chilcott had donated a horse for the minister! Garden fetes and concerts were popular fund-raisers.

14 NZ Primitive Methodist, 1 July 1908 Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 31 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The garden fete held on 27 February 1907 in the grounds of the church and parsonage extended on into the evening. Mr and Mrs A C Burgess had just arrived from Wanganui and as he was the agent for 'vapour gas' the outdoor proceedings continued in 'an attractive light'. The Town Band played (would they have called it 'mood music' then?) and a concert was held in a marquee 40 feet by 25 feet. Mr S Hardley ran the Sunday School for many years and Mr Christie then Mr D Harvey were leaders of the Bible Class which met on Monday evenings. Band of Hope meetings were well attended and no Sunday School child missed signing The Pledge.

Music at London Street Mrs E Scott was the organist and an orchestra often led the singing. Three players' names are known: Messrs T B Booth, Lawn and Samuel Meachem who played the cello although he also attended the Wesleyan Church. Mr Harvey and later Mr Booth took choir practices on Wednesdays. Missions where conversions were earnestly sought took place regularly. Mrs Wright was often one of the evangelists as were two sisters from Auckland. On 26 April 1908 the Rev James Flanagan the well-known evangelist from England preached three times to an overflowing church and then to 800 in the Town Hall the next evening. Preparations for his mission throughout New Zealand were extensive, and advertised in the 'NZ Primitive Methodist' for many months leading up to his arrival; glowing reports on the success of his mission continued in many issues after his departure. In 1909 Rev J Benning was appointed followed by Rev James Clover in March 1911. He found the London Street congregation still struggling financially but he rallied the Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 32 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne faithful, the Sunday School expanded and good progress was made to reduce debts. He even raised the money to pay for most of his own removal expenses by giving lectures, the Quarterly Meeting paying the balance of 10 shillings. A plaque to his memory is on the east wall of St Pauls.

London St. c 1906. – Waikato Historical Society Photo Primitive Methodist Church and Mr Tom Evans’ boarding house on right.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 33 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne METHODIST UNION 1913 The same year in which the Rev James Clover was appointed to London Street Church, the Rev James Wrigley followed Rev H L Blamires at Trinity Church, Collingwood Street. According to Mr T L Hames, "he was a Yorkshireman of not very good physique but a conscientious visitor, a great reader and an effective, fresh and popular preacher. He habitually had full churches." It was during the ministries of these two gifted men that the two congregations and Trusts were united. That was in 1913 following the much-discussed and long-awaited Union between the Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand and the Primitive Methodist Church in New Zealand. The Act of Union was signed by representatives of these two churches in Wellington in February 1913.

The London Street Trustees at the time were William Walter Scott, Robert H G Harwood, Thomas Walker, Edwin Watkins, Walter P Scott, Walter C Franks and Thomas Beighton Booth. It was agreed that the Trusts representing the two congregations should be reconstituted as one trust on the basis of nine from Collingwood Street and three from London Street. Thus on 4 August 1913 Messrs W

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 34 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne P Scott, W C Franks and T B Booth were unanimously elected to join Messrs Fow, Tidd, Daniell, Meachem, Mason, Worsley, Dillicar, Jack and Jones as the newly amalgamated Hamilton Methodist Trust. At the same time it was decided to centralize the work on the London Street site. It is unclear when the London Street church became known as St Pauls. In order to make way for extensions to the church, the parsonage, previously situated on the east side of the church was shifted back behind the church to a 2/3 acre site newly acquired from Messrs Fow and Co for £450. Mr L A Clover, a son of the late Rev J Clover, told how that on this new section was a large Maori pit over which the parsonage was placed. He recalls the family making use of this pit as a storeroom. A smaller pit behind the house was found suitable for growing pumpkins which always gave a good yield. Church funds benefited from two large walnut trees which grew behind the church and were much admired and bore heavy crops. In later years a big old fig tree between the church and parsonage is remembered by Vivienne Pascoe daughter of Rev E O Blamires. Its wonderful spreading branches were her refuge and hiding place.

Rev James Clover Alterations to St Pauls Church An audited balance sheet for the year ending 30 September 1913, showed a total income of £1286. Expenditure was as follows: lighting and cleaning £24 16s, repairs and maintenance £43 5s, Frankton Church and other improvements £434, interest £312 10s, Circuit Fund £40, organist £40, new pipe organ £40, and deposit on new London Street section £50, with cash in hand amounting to £182 16s 6d.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 35 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne In the light of this satisfactory statement it was decided to proceed with necessary alterations and extensions to St Pauls Church which meant enlarging the building by two-thirds its present size; Messrs Daniell and Cray were the architects. On 29 November 1913, following a report of a successful canvass for subscriptions, the tender of Mr W C Sayers for £779 was accepted, although it was also realised that removal of the parsonage and of the Collingwood Street Church would probably bring the total cost closer to £1500. Once again the friends of the church were called upon to give liberally and £500 was expected to be raised by the re-opening day. The architect’s plans were for 30 feet added onto the end making suitable accommodation for the choir and minister and enlarging the seating capacity from 175 to 450 and for the addition of a porch 11 feet wide. The enlargements and renovations took five months and St Pauls was finally re-opened on 21 June 1914 by Rev S J Serpell, President of the Conference. The Waikato Times of 22 June 1914 gave extensive coverage to the event, describing the church as having imposing dimensions, a pleasing exterior and a tasteful interior of white plaster walls and rimu facings. "The acoustic properties are all that can be desired, the possibility of echo having been eliminated." The sloping floor enabled the congregation to have an uninterrupted view of the rostrum, (and the preacher of his flock no doubt) and enabled restless children to create diversions with bullseyes and pennies which rolled down wonderfully well under the news! Rev Serpell's text on the occasion of the opening was reported as being "And for their sakes I sanctify myself". He exhorted the congregation not to let the church become just a social club but to be a man-saving and woman-saving institution. The temptations of drink and gambling were to be resisted. Misses Turner and Gaulton and Mr Robinson were the soloists, Mr S Webster played the organ and Mr T B Booth conducted the newly amalgamated choir. The Wednesday following the re-opening of the church a memorable organ recital was given by Mr White of St Johns Church, Ponsonby.

Rev James Wrigley

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 36 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The united congregations had met together for the first time on 21 September 1913 at Collingwood Street, (although records suggest that some worshippers moved freely between the two churches anyway) and continued there until St Pauls was ready. The Waikato Times reported the closing ceremony at the Wesleyan Church as being a solemn occasion when Rev J Wrigley made many reminiscences. It is interesting to read the Trust Balance Sheet of 30 September 1914. The bank overdraft was £232 16s 1d and alterations to St Pauls Church and parsonage and installation of the pipe organ had absorbed more than £1,200. Opening offertories and organ recital had brought in £236 12s. Total rentals for the year had produced just on £1,000.

In January 1915 Trinity Church was removed from Collingwood Street to London Street by Mr George Jack. There is some debate over the route the old church took. At the 75th Anniversary Banquet Mr Darius Bradley said the church was taken via the High School Hill ie Tristram Street because there were fewer telephone wires that way. He recalled his anxiety about whether the traction engine and its load would make it up the hill without mishap, let alone down the other side. However Eric Clothier (father of Pat Pinkerton), Pauline Hailwood (nee Allen ) and Muriel Morrison (nee Melville) all still remember seeing the old church on the move, but seem to think it travelled via Victoria Street. Once resited, school rooms were added along the west side during the following year and the old church was renamed Wesley Hall. In 1916 the Collingwood Street Sunday School was given to St Johns, Hamilton East and removed to Wellington Street where it was in use until 1966. The move from Collingwood Street to London Street was undoubtedly the right decision. It left a potentially valuable commercial site free for development ensuring Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 37 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne regular income for the new Trust and the London Street site was in the centre of a growing residential area and on a thoroughfare to the Frankton Railway Station. The Wesleyan Minister Rev James Wrigley had some misgivings about the decision but the two Circuit Stewards at that time Messrs F C Daniell and J R Fow did much to ensure that the changes went ahead harmoniously. This is shown in the October 1913 issue of the Hamilton Methodist Quarterly. Four months after union the Foreign Missions canvassers had raised £50, the Wesley Guild reported a successful winter session, the Lawn Tennis Club was busy preparing its courts and church membership was 324 being a small increase from the combined numbers returned by the two circuits before Union. Elected representatives to Synod were Messrs J R Fow, Hames and Marfell while Messrs Pomeroy, Gilling and Lindsay were substitutes. Mr F C Daniell was appointed by Conference to be District Property Secretary. At the Quarterly Meeting of 8 October the Revs Wrigley, Clover and Porter were invited to remain another year in the circuit. The Hamilton Methodist Church moved into its first year after Union full optimism and in a better financial situation than before.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 38 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 39 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne WORLD WAR I AND ITS AFTERMATH The union of the two congregations was, in retrospect, a providential preparation for the problems of the years ahead. No-one could have foreseen two world wars and an economic depression unmatched before or since. As a member of the British Empire, New Zealand was committed to send military support and St Pauls families like many others were soon brought closer in shared grief and pain. As the casualty lists grew longer the calls to enlist grew stronger. By 1915 married men were being asked to sign up. Patriotism was unquestioned. Mrs A E Manning, Mayoress of Hamilton, asked women to each knit two pairs of socks to go to the three thousand soldiers from the Auckland province. Mrs J M Jones of St Pauls for one, knitted socks and balaclavas and organised food parcels. Regular concerts raised money for the Patriotic Fund and for a hospital ship. Two Methodist teenagers left school to become telegraph boys at this time. Harry Fow and Chas Hailwood had the sad experiences of delivering telegrams to either conscription folk caught in the ballot or to families they knew, who would read the message the boys already knew was there—'killed in action'. Yet despite the anxiety and sadness inseparable from war the mood of minister and people is shown in a New Year greeting from Rev T J Wallis to the Circuit in January 1917. "The gladness of the New Year will be subdued by the sadness of the times in which we live. Men still slay one another and there is little apparent prospect of a speedy termination to the international conflict. In many a home the anguish of bereavement will be revived as this New Year is contrasted with the last ... Let us see that we are not enveloped in the backwash of our times. Let us live earnestly, redeeming the time. Let us fill every hour with labour. Let us prove worthy of a place when the world comes out of the crucible. Let us be found with Right's uniform upon us, a set purpose in our hearts and a glad confidence in our step". Rev Thomas Jackson Wallis began his ministry at St Pauls in 1915 at the age of 53. He came from missionary stock-his grandfather's family had established the mission at Raglan, then Whaingaroa in 1835. He himself served 12 years in Fiji and the family's time there is reflected in the names of two of his six children —Vite and Ruve. Miss Ruve Wallis still lives in Auckland and she vividly recalls a common sight of those war years. Swinging on the church gate she would watch the newly enlisted men march down London Street to Frankton Station. A quiet family man Rev Wallis was known for his interest in young people. His sermon on 9 May 1915 was entitled 'Christ's estimate of a man'. A special invitation was extended to all young men and women. Unfortunately what relevance the young women found in the topic is not recorded. The following Sunday was decreed by the Methodist Church throughout New Zealand to be recognised as 'Young Peoples' Day'.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 40 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Mr Wallis took the morning children's service and Rev C Roberts preached in the evening. In September 1916 Win the eldest child of Rev Wallis and his wife, married Ralph Herd at St Pauls. Rev Serpell of Morrinsville officiated. The young people of the church continued to plan and enjoy a wide range of activities despite the restrictions and sorrows of war and the taboos of card playing, gambling, dancing and drinking. In 1915 the Trust gave the Bible Classes permission to use Wesley Hall each night for gymnastic and social purposes provided three Trustees were on the Board of Management of the Bible Class and that any member of the Trust should have right of entry at any time. Harvey and Jack Clothier were active members of the gymnastic club which regularly gave displays. On one occasion Freddy Bauckham just could not manage to leap over the vaulting horse despite several attempts. Someone then made him an egg nog and he cleared it 'no trouble at all'. 15

September 1916 Wedding Group outside Parsonage. –Photo Mrs E. Sutton Back Row Frankton Wallis, Mrs Gertrude Picken (nee Wallis), Hazel Wallis, Rev Sam Serpell. G. Merrington, Miss Evelyn Jebson, Norman Wallis Seated Rev. T J Wallis, Mrs T J Wallis, Minnie Picken, Ralph Herd, Winifred Herd (nee Wallis), Bill Smith, Mrs Elizabeth Herd, William Herd Flower Girls Ruve Wallis, Viti Wallis, Edna Wallis The boys were often reminded to put the equipment away tidily but the warnings fell on deaf ears until finally in October 1920 the Trust minutes comment on "the thoughtlessness and destructiveness of the Young Men attending the gymnasium". Mr

15 Recollections of Mr Eric Clothier. Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 41 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Mason moved "that the equipment be removed and the use of the school room refused in future". 16 Boxing was popular and Scouts used two huts in the church grounds for regular meetings. Meanwhile the young women practised more ladylike exercises- rhythmical movements with batons, hoops and ribbons. They had their own Scout group led by Mrs E O Blamires (Aunty Nina to all). Tennis was popular on the courts in front of the parsonage and soirees, concerts and Circuit and District rallies were highlights of the year. The Young Peoples Society of Christian Endeavour met weekly and Band of Hope met monthly, providing entertainment and a talk about the evils of drink. Pauline Hailwood (nee Allen ) remembers singing "There is a little public house which everyone may close It is the little public house just underneath your nose!" In the 1920s Mrs Ready would ask Norma and Ivy Fow to sing "Father dear Father come home" at Band of Hope meetings. The title might easily have applied to them for their father J R Fow could hardly have spent many nights at home not because of drink, for he was a great Temperance advocate, but because of his many civic and church duties as Mayor, local preacher and Trustee. In 1917 the Young Women's Bible Class invited the Trustees and their wives to tea at the newly opened Theatre Royal Luncheon Rooms on Good Friday evening. It would be hoped that the Trustees showed their appreciation of the young people's energy and enthusiastic commitment in recent months. A flower show and industrial exhibition organised by the Bible Class, and the proceeds of an organ recital given by Mr S Webster, had enabled the quarterly balance sheet to show a credit of £9. However in the July Quarterly Meeting the financial statement revealed that normal income and expenditure, in spite of a succession of wet Sundays, had broken even, but removal expenses and other extraordinary expenditure had created a formidable Circuit debit. It was also reported that there had been an improvement financially at London Street through the envelope system and that this method of giving had been instituted in the suburban churches. The report ends on a familiar note—"The system (envelope) is urgently commended to the adoption of our congregations. It is the most rational way of contributing to the Church, and the only way to circumvent the effects of a fickle climate. On last Sunday, on account of the weather, the collections in London Street were fifty percent below average. This is how Circuit debts are created and neither the Minister nor Circuit Stewards can reasonably be held responsible." The remarkable feature of those war years is that, despite the diminished power of giving due to the many claims of the war. Missionary Funds received more generous support than ever, and the Hamilton Circuit announced record contributions for both Home and Overseas Missions. This is all the more notable when it is realised that the same year (1917) the Circuit was responsible for raising an allocation of £15 towards

16 Trust Minues 28 October 1920. Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 42 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne the upkeep of Church institutions in the military camps and agreed to take retiring offerings for the British and Foreign Bible Society which had added to its ordinary work that of distributing New Testaments to the troops.

St Pauls Methodist Gymnastic Club c 1915 - Photo Mr Eric Clothier Front Row from left: 6. Mae Clothier 7. Hazel Tidd (Gordon) 2nd Row: 1 Vida Wilson Elsie McCullough (Davies) 3. Doris Freer (Keightley) 4. Bessie Waite 5. Albert Morrison-Forbes 6. Albert Partington 7. Lil Lawry (Davies) 8. Gladys Merrington 9. - 10. Doris Wilson 11 Olive Merrington 3rd Row: 3. Harry Lindsay 4. Tom Davies 5. Jack Clothier 7 Albert Body Back Row: 3. Harvey Clothier? The war brought other concerns. In February 1917 Messrs J F C Daniell and G H Gilling attended Conference in Wellington, very aware that the inevitable reduction of ministerial staff could affect the Hamilton Circuits. This concern can be appreciated when it is remembered that besides London Street, Hamilton East and Frankton churches, the following preaching places had to be supplied: Rukuhia, Newstead, Tauwhare, Matangi, Rototuna, Te Rapa and Koromatua. The Ministers, Rev T J Wallis and C Roberts, followed by Rev J S McArthur, were assisted by a worthy team of local preachers and auxiliary preachers-J R Fow, J Pomeroy, W F Mason, J Treloar, 0 F Clothier, G A Gilling, L Hames, Wm Lee Martin (later to become a Member of Parliament and a Cabinet Minister in the first Labour Government), C F Lindsay, F Blacklock, W Irvine and J T Bryant, H Bedwell and H Laybourn. Some years later during Rev Hocking's ministry certificates of long service to local preachers were presented to J R Fow 37 years and James Pomeroy (snr)—53 years. Darius Bradley's contribution of 50 years as local preacher was also recognised when he was awarded a long service diploma in 1947.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 43 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The following were the Sunday School Superintendents of the Circuit: F C Matthews (father of Rev H C Matthews who was Superintendent of the Hamilton Circuit from 1947-53), London Street; A Clement, Rototuna; H Laybourn, Frankton; D Bryant, Te Rapa; J Bryant then M E Laybourn at Hamilton East. Underlying all activities in the Circuit during these years was a deep spiritual concern. A special Quarterly Meeting was called in May 1917 to consider the Work of God in the Circuit. The outcome was a week of special prayer meetings during Whitsuntide which revived interest in and improved attendance at the regular week-night meetings and also resulted in the recommencement of the Sunday evening prayer meeting. in the Quarterly Meeting of January 1920 we read of an increase in membership, of growth in the size of the Circuit credit balance, of an increase in ministers' stipends to £300 and £235 respectively, of a memorial to Conference for a third ministerial agent, of a concern "to be careful to entertain strangers" when they come to worship, of choir successes at the distric music festival and of the fact that Mr and Mrs W B L Williams from Hawera had joined the choir. Two years had elapsed since the war ended and the Circuit, under the leadership of Rev Ernest Oswald Blamires, Superintendent and E T (Tom) Olds at Hamilton East and Frankton, was showing signs of renewed vitality. During 1920 the Rev Val Trigge, of Victoria, conducted a ten day evangelistic mission in St Pauls Church, and shortly afterwards, a United Mission under the auspices of the Hamilton Ministers' Association, was held with Commander Herbert Booth, son of General William Booth of the Salvation Army, as the Missioner. Rev and Mrs E O Blamires When Rev and Mrs Blamires arrived in Hamilton with their three daughters in 1918 the Circuit received two trained people for the price of one. Mrs Blamires as Sister Annie Anderson went to England in 1908 and trained as a Methodist deaconess at Ilkley Moor in Yorkshire and then worked in the slums of London and Leicester. Returning to an appointment in Dunedin she met and married Rev E O Blamires, a younger brother of Rev Harry Blamires. She was a gifted public speaker, tremendous organiser, ardent Temperance worker and hospitable friend and spiritual adviser of the young Bible Class women whom she led. Rev Blamires is remembered for holding the first Mothers' Day service in New Zealand in Wellington in 1911 and for being one of the first ministers to deliver a sermon over the air at Christmas 1924. Church broadcasts at that time were viewed uneasily as possibly affecting church attendances. Like his brother he was an excellent cricketer and won the right to wear the silver fern on his black blazer as a New Zealand representative. His daughter Vivienne Pascoe remembers his kindness and humour and his fascinating children's talks. 17

17 Recollections of Mrs Vivienne Pascoe, nee Blamires. Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 44 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne In 1920 the whole family visited Great Britain while Mr and Mrs Blamires conducted a 'local option' campaign in Scotland on behalf of the Wesleyan Temperance Society.

Possibly a District Synod of Ministers and Local Preachers at Collingwood Street, c 1913 Back Row: 3rd from left Percy Paris 5th Rev Charles Roberts 6th from left Harold T Peat 2nd Row: 6th from left O.F. Clothier 8th-Mr West 3rd Row: 3rd from left Rev Clover 2nd from right James Richards – Photo Mr Eric Clothier

Young Women's Bible Class c 1919 - Photo Miss Maisie Pomeroy (nee Wilson) Front Row L-R Merle (Poppy) Cliff, Rene Collier, Isabel Leak, Maisie Wilson, Flossie Gilling 2nd Row Sue Warren, Lexia Joll, Jean Purdom, Mrs Blamires (Aunty Nina), Mrs Jo Williams, Miss Gaulton

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 45 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne 3rd Row Doris Child, Rita Joll, Vida Wilson, Doris Wilson, Evelyn Scherer, Essie Burnett, Vida Sanders Back Row Lorna Ewan, Ella Storry, Eileen Hill, Gladys Hill, ?, Lois Longden, Gertie Busst, Gwen Jebson It was during the ministry of Mr Blamires that services were commenced at Te Uku in response to the request of local Methodists, in particular the Peart, Lusty and Wallis families. For some time they had been without any pastoral ministry owing to the long vacancy in the Raglan Congregational Church. The 1918 Influenza Epidemic This terrible epidemic seemed to be 'the straw that broke the camel's back' for a country reeling from 'the war to end all wars'. The celebrations for Armistice Day November 1918 probably helped the virus to spread and soon many households were affected and schools and Sunday Schools were closed. Almost without exception everybody helped in some way. Volunteers nursed the sick as so many qualified doctors and nurses had not yet returned from the war. Mrs Blamires sent gifts of soup and scones into needy houses, Mayor J R Fow and Mrs Fow made a point of visiting every stricken household despite the risks to themselves. They went not just as Mayor and Mayoress but as Methodists and many were drawn to the church as a result of their witness. Roy Wilson (brother of Maisie Pomeroy) and Mr Albert Partington ('Party') worked around the clock to keep the boilers going at the hospital. Places were set up so people could go for inhalations which were supposed to keep the lungs clear. Norma Fow remembers inhaling ammonia at Mr Hale's butcher shop. Only Muriel and Harry Fow caught the 'flu' and fortunately for Hamilton and Methodism both lived to brighten many more days. One of the victims of the epidemic was Norman Wallis, son of Rev Wallis. Only a few months before when the Wallis family left Hamilton his Young Men's Bible Class friends at St Pauls had presented him with a Bible "as a token of esteem and appreciation of useful service rendered as class secretary". The signatories were: James Treloar, Leader; Eric Watkins, Secretary, Cyril Scott, Gordon Grant, Trevor Ewan, G R Harris, Roy Wilson, Win A Smith, H dark, J Tidd, C Willey, W Frank Wallis. It was a time for memorials—so many empty places at family meal tables and in church pews. A brass tablet was placed on the west wall of St Pauls and unveiled on 14 May 1922 in memory of those who had fallen in the Great War. It bears the names E J Allan H Ayling E Beach F Bauckham B J Choat L Clover Fred G S Davis F R Frear C Hall C W Hailwood Eric Hailwood W Harris G R Lynds C Meachem G Moffatt F L Monk C Peart E P Rusk C Scrivener C F Stevens J J Stevens H J Worsley

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 46 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

At the same time as the memorial tablet was placed in the church it was decided to record the names of all returned men associated with the Circuit in the Church Bible. Their names are as listed below:

Yvonne Gilbert still has the Methodist hymn book presented to her father Benjamin Webster and to all the other men listed above when they returned from World War I. The frontispiece has photos of the Circuit churches and the caption reads:

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 47 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne "The congregation of the Hamilton Methodist Circuit hail your return after the Great War of 1914-1918 with glad welcomes and desire sincerely to thank you for your loyalty, devotion and sacrifice in the service of God, Home and Humanity. Praise God from whom all blessings flow." The programme for the Thanksgiving Service at St Pauls in 1919 has on the cover the words 'He maketh wars to cease'. Inside are texts glorifying war and reassuring those hurting and daring to doubt that yes—Christ was on their side. Eric Hailwood was to die in March 1923 of wounds received; Tom Davies returned a double amputee and became well known as the lift man in Nathans Building in Auckland. Bill Borman married Ella Clothier (sister of Harvey, Jack and Eric) at St Johns in 1918 and he served as Sunday School Superintendent at St James for many years.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 48 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne BETWEEN TWO WARS William Ready The ministry of Rev William Ready (1860-1927) who was appointed to the Hamilton Circuit in 1923 is well remembered. Born in London, of Irish parents he had all the wit, eloquence, charm and personality of his forebears. His favourite expression was "Ready, Aye Ready!"

Rev William Ready President of Conference in 1912 and a chaplain during World War 1 on the transport ship 'Maheno' he had served in many parts of New Zealand—Hamilton was his last appointment before retirement. Where others might have slowed down William Ready continued to fire on all cylinders! Under his enthusiastic leadership lapsed preaching places were revived and encouragement given to local preachers. Chas Hailwood conducted his trial service before William Ready in St Pauls parlour and was judged worthy to become a local preacher. In March 1926 at Rev Ready's farewell service at St Pauls, Harry Fow was received as a fully accredited local preacher. The combining of these two events was significant for there was a close friendship between the Ready and Fow families. They often holidayed together at Mount Maunganui and it was there that Mrs Fanny Ready known affectionately as 'Ma' insisted that Mrs Fow join her swimming. Very reluctant at first Emma Fow then became a fanatic, staying in the sea for hours and swimming in even the coldest weather. Fanny Ready (nee Luxton) came from Winkleigh, Devon where she was a devoted church worker and organist. She met William Ready at nearby Hatherleigh and their

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 49 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne courtship continued by letter once William arrived in New Zealand and came under the care of Rev John Orchard. When Rev Orchard returned to New Zealand after furlough in England towards the end of 1889, he was accompanied by Fanny Luxton. She and William Ready were married on 31 March 1890 in Christchurch. They had three sons; the youngest, Gordon, was killed at Messines on 7 June 1917. 'Pa' Ready's love for his Lord showed in his fiery evangelical sermons and his calls for repentance and conversion. St Pauls would be packed of a Sunday evening with chairs needing to be put in the aisles. Cathy Parkinson (nee Treloar) remembers him banging the Bible and admonishing members of the congregation 'wake up now— you didn't come here to sleep!' Norma Fow tells the story of one summer's Sunday morning when the doors of the church were open and Rev Ready was in top gear. Thumping the pulpit he shouted ... 'now you wouldn't treat a dog like that!' Right on cue the Fow's dog Toby walked through the door and down the aisle. His love for the people under his care was renowned. If anyone was absent on a Sunday he would phone or call to find out why. He made a deep and lasting impression on the young people who today are our precious 'memory banks'. They recall his infectious enthusiasm and sense of humour time and time again. Of his constant campaign for Temperance he had this to say "You ask me why I so frequently bring before God and men this greatest of all villainies - the Liquor Traffic? What killed my father? What dug my mother's grave? What sent me out to beg, steal and starve on London streets for seven years? The Drink! If the steel had pierced you as it has done me, you would not keep silent about it." 18 William Ready left Hamilton in 1926 and died suddenly in Palmerston North the following year. Harry Fow and his father were pallbearers at the funeral in Auckland. In 1927 the people of St Pauls placed a plaque on the east wall of the church to honour the man who was truly "Ready Aye Ready". The following unedited letter reveals the charm of William Ready, his love of his Lord and of life. 15 Cotter Avenue Remuera Sunday afternoon My dear Bro Fow, It is a glorious day. It is good to be alive. I had a splendid congregation this morning at Epsom. They came around like flies around a sugar basin saying—you getting better and better tc. tc. We are opening new pipe organ last Sunday in Nov—SS Anniversary first Sunday in December. Could I take the three services? And Quarterly Sacrament on the second Sunday in Dec-and Xmas services the third Sunday in Dec. So the officers said to me this morning-we want all things to

18 "Ready Aye Ready" Lew H Court, Epworth Press London 1935 Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 50 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne take place while you are with us—so they say. Well let me thank you for your sweet and appropriate Poem on your dear boy. We think it very good indeed. My time to visit Hamilton is drawing nigh—I will be coming up by the Rotorua Express on Wednesday morning. Wishing you and yours every blessing. Hoping to see all well I am Cordially yours Wm Ready PS Preached this morning from Judges XI. 7. I am-this evening from Prov XXIX.18. Joel 2.28. Daniel X.2. Subject Vision and Life - Happy as a sandfly, "Cheer up the sun has not gone out of business" WR Written October/November 1926 Printed with permission.19 Meanwhile ... In 1923 Mr Blacklock had built an addition onto the back of St Pauls Sunday School Hall previously Trinity Church in Collingwood Street, which became known as the 'Church Parlour' and was officially opened by Mrs Emma Fow, Mayoress of Hamilton. In 1924 Hamilton East became a separate circuit with Rev F E Leadley as Superintendent and in 1925 Wesley Chambers was built on the corner of Victoria and Collingwood Streets. At the height of all the planning for the new Wesley Chambers Fred Daniell felt compelled to resign from the Trust in January 1924. As close friend of Wm Ready, friend and neighbour of the Fows, architect for Wesley Chambers and Methodist Trustee he felt a conflict of interests. His action led the Trust to ask the Connexional Office for guidance as to the requirements for trustees. Rev S Lawry, Connexional Secretary, visited Hamilton to explain the legal position and while he could find no reason for Mr Daniell to resign he felt he had probably done the right thing. However it appears to have been a technical move only, for he continued to attend Trust meetings as invited consultant on building matters. Percy Paris William Ready may have left Hamilton in 1926 but in an interesting way his influence was to continue. Thirty-two years earlier in Dunedin his preaching had profoundly changed the life of a 16 year old boy Percy Paris. Born into an Anglican home, Percy Paris had converted to Methodism, entered the ministry and now he was the man

19 From scrapbook in possession of Mrs Noeline Duncan. Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 51 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne appointed to follow in his mentor's footsteps as Superintendent of the Hamilton Circuit from 1926-1931. It is said of Rev Percy Paris that he was a man ahead of his time with penetrating insight and great moral courage. His preaching was evangelical but emphasised the grace and love of God. 'Love Conquers All' was the heading on the page that he wrote for the 'Methodist Times'.

Rev Percy R Paris This was the time of much debate about evolution-Darwin versus the book of Genesis. Percy Paris took a broader view of biblical interpretation, challenging everyone to question long held religious prejudices. His charm and intelligence appealed to the enquiring minds of the young and they loved him for the world of faith and possibilities that he helped them discover. Pauline Hailwood still remembers some phrases from the Esperanto lessons he conducted for the Bible Classes. Chas Hailwood at an anniversary occasion at St Pauls in 1988 said "He had the soul of a St Francis and this came through in his countenance and bearing. His sermons at times were fairly lengthy [45 mins—1 hour] and we are told his wife tried to think up ways of stopping the flow of his eloquence—one was to build a trapdoor in the pulpit, another to use a hymn book as a missile.” Mrs Paris was formerly Violet Rosetta dark, a shy retiring woman. Their two daughters were Athlone and Earle. Earle, now Mrs Clark is still a member of St Pauls congregation. The Great Depression It was during Percy Paris' ministry in Hamilton that the shadows of the great depression were gathering and during his last year its cruel impact was being felt throughout New Zealand. The high hopes of a brave new world which would arise out

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 52 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne of the ashes of World War I gave way to disillusionment and despair as the number of unemployed in western countries and in New Zealand grew in alarming proportions. Not only did Mr Paris have a deep sympathy for those who were unemployed, he also felt the injustice of it in a world of plenty and spoke out in Christ's name on what he called "the clumsy ruthlessness of the prevailing economic system". And the things which he taught before the depression in his sermons and public addresses he continued to say with even stronger emphasis as the frustration and the hunger of the times intensified. His ministry in Hamilton helped to prepare the people for the frustrations and bitterness of the depression years. As people moved in and out of town depending on their employment situation and personal circumstances, membership in the Hamilton circuit waned and giving became spasmodic. The Quarterly Meeting minutes of April 1932 record Rev Hocking taking a reduction of £18 in his stipend. Rev Parker foregoing his annual car allowance of £26 10s and plans being made to reduce printing costs and the running of the circuit car (a Buick). By July the deficit was £122.11.11 and Rev Parker was offering to accept a reduced stipend as well. His offer was refused and the inevitable committee set up to find ways of reducing the overdraft. Committee members were Mrs Bradley, Mrs Jones, Messrs Gordon Blackwood, E J Davey, Burgess, Robson, Black, R P Kilham, the Circuit Stewards Williams and Tietjens and the Circuit Ministers. Such a prestigious line-up could only come up with two solutions—call on the Wesley Trust and the Ladies Guild! Once more the tireless women of the church sewed, bottled, baked, knitted; sang and no doubt prayed as they organised garden parties, tennis parties, bazaars, copper trails, and concerts. Their efforts then, plus a grant of £25 from the Trust brought the deficit down to £31 11 10 within three months and their continuing efforts kept the church's finances buoyant through further difficult times. Surprisingly during these grim times of depressed income, donations to Home and Foreign Missions remained high, £143.10.1 being given in 1932-33. This showed a deep caring and a willingness to share with others less fortunate, in the same spirit as had been shown during the financially depressed days of World War I. Attendances at Holy Communion were down—only a third of members took the sacrament in 1932. So a letter was sent urging people to attend the quarterly sacramental service. Sacramental stewards at this time were Mr and Mrs Roseman followed in 1935 by Miss Grace Atkinson and Mrs Fulton. The Rev W Blight conducted a mission in Hamilton in 1932 assisted at St Pauls by students Everill Orr and George Goodman and at Frankton by students Henry Tozer and Robert Thornley. When Rev Percy Paris returned to Dunedin in 1931, his successor was Rev W H Hocking (b 1893) who served in Hamilton from 1931-1933 but resigned from the ministry at the end of his term. His wife was Emily and there were two daughters, Margaret and Ethel, and a son, William.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 53 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The Peat family followed the Hockings into the parsonage. Mrs Peat was formerly Gladys Wickett and daughter Valda married John R Prisk at St Pauls in 1935. Rev Harold Peat (b.1885) served in France during World War I as a Chaplain and later in Fiji. Originally a carpenter, he took a keen interest in church buildings and made sure repairs were always carried out efficiently. During Mr Peat's term 1933-36, a Labour Government was elected, the guaranteed price scheme boosted the small farmers' confidence and prices for dairy products rose. Gradually the benefits from a stronger farming community filtered through Hamilton's commercial world and into the collection plates. On 25 January 1936 Rev Peat conducted a memorial service for King George V and in the following year the Coronation of King George VI was a cause for celebration and a return to light-heartedness. The Temperance movement was still a strong issue within the Methodist Church. In July 1935 a committee comprising Mrs Jones and Messrs Davey, Gardiner and Jebson was formed to co-operate with the New Zealand Alliance during the forthcoming Poll. The Quarterly Meeting re-affirmed the Conference resolution regarding the Liquor Traffic and agreed to support local organizations which 'propagate the principles of Temperance' eg Bands of Hope, WCTU, Temperance Alliance and other kindred organisations. The Tinsley Touch Rev Robert Borrows Tinsley (1880-1968) was inducted on 16 April 1936 and served as Superintendent for six years until his retirement in 1942. His wife, Jessie (nee Kay) and daughters Jessie (later Mrs Valler) and Waveney, involved themselves in all aspects of life at St Pauls. Mrs Tinsley, remembered as small and serene, did not always have good health, but she regularly led a small group of women who met at the parsonage, for prayer and study, encouraging them to examine their faith and their lives in a much broader way, other than within their own particular home and church. Daughter, Jessie, led Junior Endeavour and Waveney was Secretary for the Foreign Mission Society, and of the choir and also played the organ for Sunday School anniversaries while Henry Cook conducted. Mr Tinsley's genuine concern for people, his plain common-sense, and strong Biblical preaching—a combination of comfort and challenge—was just what was needed as the scars of bitterness, deprivation, and injustice left by the depression slowly healed. His sermons called for more social concern—a move away from the usual evangelical approach. One Sunday, he preached on 'Christ in the Modern Hospital'. When he had finished he put his head down on the pulpit and wept. The night before, his daughter, Waveney, had suffered a brain haemorrhage and that morning was seriously ill in hospital. Waveney recovered and continued to lead a full life, refusing to let paralysis of her right side hinder her in any way. She sewed, embroidered and studied for her librarian's qualifications, tutored in Maths and worked as a proof reader at The Waikato Times. She and her father made a home together when Mrs Tinsley died.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 54 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne When Waveney died in 1960, Mr Tinsley went to live with his daughter Jessie Valler in Morrinsville until his death in 1968. As the pastoral needs became greater there were several calls for a third 'agent' or minister or deaconess to lighten the load on Rev Tinsley and Rev J W Parker, but the Circuit could not afford it until much later. The building of the parsonage at Maeroa was the focus for most of the Circuit fund-raising during Mr Tinsley's ministry. Quarterly Meetings Representatives to Quarterly Meeting (today called the Parish Meeting) were elected leaders from the congregations within the Circuit. In the 1930s the Circuit consisted of St Pauls, Maeroa (St Lukes), Claudelands (Wesley), Frankton (St James) and Te Uku (Moon Memorial Church). Decisions were made on finance, special collections, staffing, property, pastoral matters, membership and spiritual advance. Reports were received from Home and Foreign Mission Secretaries, the Methodist Times Agent, Sunday Schools and Bible Classes, etc. Gradually women were becoming more visible in the decision making part of church life. Mrs Gertrude Bradley and Mrs J M Jones appeared on the Quarterly Meeting first, then Mesdames McDonagh, Waite, Oates and Fulton, among others. Later Lorna Ewan, Rina Tietjens, M Carter, E C Smith, D Gadd, E Carter, Eileen Gowanlock and other younger women attended. Mrs Bradley and Mrs Jones were representatives to Conference and to Synod. Special Collections At each Quarterly Meeting special collections were decided upon and designated to particular Sundays. Recipient causes could be individual church anniversaries. Temperance Alliance, Foreign Missions, Home Missions, Youth, Chaplaincy Fund, Trinity College or the Orphanage Fund.

John Christopher Tietjens - Photo: Mrs Phyllis Burley Photo taken in 1938 when Vice President of Methodist Church of New Zealand Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 55 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne In April 1939 St Pauls choir asked for a special collection for renovating and enlarging the organ and the Circuit Sunday Schools were being asked to collect more for the Youth Movement. The Circuit debt had risen to £150 by 10 July 1939 because a new 10 hp four door Morris Saloon had just been bought for the minister, but a 'travelling music show' organised by Mr W B L Williams and a Circuit Tea Rally organized by the Methodist women helped the Circuit Appeal for funds. 'Advance in faith' must surely have been the battle cry when on 8 April 1940 with a credit balance of only £1.2.4 the Quarterly Meeting accepted the challenge of raising £750 over three years as the Circuit's contribution to the New Zealand Methodist Centennial Thanksgiving Fund. Mr J E Tidd convened the fund-raising committee and the goal was reached within the time allocated. Family Friendships The Church Fellowship was honoured in 1938 when Mr J C Tietjens was elected Vice President of the Methodist Conference in tandem with his life-long best friend Percy Paris as President. John Christopher Tietjens, his wife and family arrived in Hamilton in 1920. He served the District well as a local preacher, Trustee and as circuit steward from 1928-1935. In 1928 he began a nine year term as Superintendent of the Sunday School at Wesley, Claudelands and attendance trebled under his enthusiastic leadership. During the week he worked as a cordial manufacturer and must have enjoyed concocting mixtures, for he made excellent Worcestershire sauce as well, and gave Pauline Hailwood his recipe which she used for years. He and his wife, Margaret (nee Muir) were often representatives to Conference. Mrs Tietjens was Vice President of the Ladies Guild for many years and their daughters. Avis and Rina, were active leaders in the Bible Class. Avis married Fred Scottar and Rina married another Bible Class leader Ernie Thomas at St Pauls in November 1938. Other members of the family were John who married Ailsa Grant, Phyllis (Mrs Harold Burley), Stephen who died in World War II and Evelyn (Mrs John Macpherson) known as Dord. Rina still lives in Auckland and Phyllis is in Hamilton. Pauline Allen spent the eve of her wedding at the Tietjens' home, while her husband- to-be Chas Hailwood spent his at the home of Charles and Ethel Gowanlock. The Gowanlocks with their daughters. Jenny and Eileen, came from Bolton, Lancashire and were enthusiastic members of the St Pauls. Mrs Gowanlock and Eileen sang in the choir and before long it was obvious that Henry Cook, the newly arrived organist and choir master, was rather smitten with Eileen and they subsequently married in May 1941. (Who played the organ that day?) Eileen's older sister. Jenny, married Len Walker in 1939. Tragically, Len died suddenly a few days later and a stunned congregation gathered for his funeral service just a week after it had gathered to wish

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 56 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne him and his young bride well at their wedding. After some years Jenny married Toby Blackwood.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 57 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne AT WAR AGAIN The last three years of Mr Tinsley's ministry saw the outbreak of World War II. The first reference to the war appears in the Quarterly Meeting Minutes of 22 July 1940 when it was resolved that "the Society Stewards, President and Secretary of the Ladies' Guild be appointed a committee to arrange to farewell any of our members leaving the country for active service abroad." Nine months later, Mr A C Burgess was asked to keep "official records of our members serving in the forces on active service overseas". The Ladies' Guild set up a Parcels Packing Committee and a 1943 Report reads: "This year we packed 127 parcels making a total for the two years of 222. We also sent three pairs of socks and an 8/- package of chocolates to each of the two prisoners of war, Geoff Beebe and Bill Johnston. Cash contributions totalled £27.3.9 and gifts of shortbread, cakes, biscuits and sweets for the parcels were received." Mrs Shepherd, followed by Mrs Allan Smith acted as Secretary for this committee and packing sessions were held regularly. In the files of the Ladies' Guild are listed letters of thanks from servicemen, E Nunn, B E Woodhams, J C Tonkin, B Kirker, R Miller, J Standbridge, H Burley, W Shepherd, L Goldring, C dark, B dark, A Mays, B Smith, R Fulton, Padre Peat, S Ashworth, A S Perry, A Burgess, B Pomeroy, H Valler, Gordon Smith, Brian Black, R Taylor, B Petch, G Bradley, S Poultney, G Woodward and Ken Bradley (brother of Mona Poultney) who penned his appreciation in verse. Some tasks are hard for folk like me, Not used to wordy phrase, But here's a note from o'er the sea, That's written in your praise. No doubt you've heard from other chaps Your thought has helped to cheer, And they have tried to say, perhaps, What such things mean out here. When life becomes a dismal thing And home far distant seems, The thought behind your gifts can bring A bright and happy gleam. Then sadness fades—An inner glow Thrills listless hearts to life His seeds of Love God then can sow Despite man's foolish strife. And thus it is the Ladies' Guild Are helping to release This world from war. Then we shall build An ever-abiding Peace. Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 58 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The Pacifist Issue Most people had been swept along by the fervent patriotism during World War I, but in the 1920s a growing number had begun to quietly question whether war under any circumstances was justified, and many had joined the Christian Pacifist Society. This questioning was very strong among the Bible Class movement of the Methodist Church, no doubt because its members saw themselves as potential 'cannon fodder'. They felt they should have the right to choose, rather than have military service imposed upon them. Back in 1928 the Hamilton Circuit Quarterly Meeting had passed a resolution that compulsory military training be abolished, but there was still the general feeling that if the call came young people should serve their country. Pacifist meetings were held regularly in Hamilton causing inevitable tensions within city and circuit. By 1942 there was a strong military presence in Hamilton. The RNZAF had set up a stores depot, training units were camped at Claudelands Showgrounds and Te Rapa Racecourse and No 4 General Hospital had taken over the new Hamilton West School driving disgruntled pupils and teachers back up to the old school on the hill (site of today's Waikato Polytechnic). The military personnel were generally welcomed and offered hospitality by most Hamiltonians. So being a pacifist meant that one was not exactly the 'flavour of the month'. Hilda Bray (nee Silvester) recalls the unquestioning patriotism of some local Methodists. Their '1914-18 mentality' meant cruel comments and ostracism for the families of 'conchies'. Her two brothers John and David Silvester, and Colin Clark were three young men from the Hamilton Circuit who made a stand. Unable to complete his accountancy examinations because conscientious objectors were denied civil rights, David Silvester subsequently spent five years in detention camps. Then followed thirty years as farm manager at the Pacifist Riverside Community in Motueka. He married Isobel Bennett, sister of Revs George and Trevor Bennett. Colin Clark and John Silvester both entered the Methodist Ministry—John later became lecturer in Systematic Theology at Trinity College. The Church had a responsibility to support and care for all its sons and daughters no matter whether their conscience led them into military service or detention camp. Both Rev C H Olds and Rev J W Parker had sons serving overseas and being supportive yet impartial cannot have been an easy task. The Rev J W Parker, described affectionately as 'a holy old boy' was given to plain speaking, although some complained that he 'scolded' his congregation of a Sunday. He and Mrs Parker had a large family, two sons entered the ministry, a daughter married a Methodist Minister and another son is a builder in Hamilton. He retired in 1946 and was commended for his 'forthright spiritual leadership'. Mrs Parker was a perfect foil for her husband: quiet, gracious and serene, she was an effective leader of the Ladies' Group at Frankton and Maeroa.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 59 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Words of Wisdom In 1942 the Rev Charles Henry Olds (1884-1969) commenced his ministry in Hamilton. A learned man with a love of words, Mr Olds' preaching had a strong evangelical note, but was always related to the affairs of the day. Once he gave a series of sermons on the great themes of the church—justification, reconciliation, propitiation, etc. Yvonne Gilbert (nee Webster) who was taking a secretarial course at that time recalls listening to those big words and mentally translating them into shorthand!

Rev Charles H Olds and Mrs Amy Olds (nee Fee) 1942 Stan Harris one of Henry Cook's protege organists remembers whispering to 'old CH' that he had announced the wrong hymn. Rev Olds with his usual elegant turn of phrase asked the congregation to "please excuse my mental aberration". The following year Mr Olds served as President of Conference, Mr and Mrs Tietjens were farewelled with a social prior to their moving to Auckland, Te Rahui Wahine was opened by the Home Missions Board, the proceeds of the various Harvest Festival auctions helped pay off the Maeroa parsonage debt and the Circuit elected its first Methodist representatives to the newly formed Hamilton Council of Churches. They were Messrs R P Kilham (St James), C T Lindsay (Wesley), C H Town (Maeroa) H C Wood and C E Paterson (St Pauls). The sons of Mr Olds were away on war service for much of his time in Hamilton, but all three were spared to return and enter the Methodist ministry—Norman in 1946, Stan in 1949 and Mac in 1951. Their sisters, Florence and Jessie, participated fully in church life. Florence, the older, had a beautiful singing voice and was much in demand for choir work and other functions. Jessie also sang in the choir and both girls Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 60 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne were active Bible Class leaders. Florence later married Ray Whiteman and Jessie married David Kemsley. Church Union In the early 1940s negotiations began between the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Churches for possible union. Mr Olds, a known advocate (Raglan Union was established under his direction and guidance while Superintendent) encouraged widespread discussion within the Circuit and District. On 20 July 1942 the Quarterly Meeting recorded "its sincere belief and earnest desire to the union upon an acceptable basis of the negotiating churches". After discussion on the proposed basis, its amendments and further changes, the meeting voted thus: six were against union, 16 voted for the proposal and amendments and one person wanted the proposed basis as it read. These negotiations broke down; organic union has not yet occurred.

Church union became a 'hot topic' again during the ministry of Ashleigh Petch—1962- 1971. As convenor of the Church Union committee representing the Methodist Church on the Joint Standing Committee and later as Chairman of the Joint Commission on Church Union he was totally committed to reconciliation and this spilled over into his Circuit work and preaching. By now there were five negotiating churches— Anglican, Church of Christ, Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian but the Anglicans rejected the Plan for Union thus shattering the hopes and dreams of the rest for a comprehensive united church.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 61 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Since 1964 co-operative ventures have been established as well as Union parishes eg All Saints (Methodist and Anglican), Chartwell (Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican), St Davids (Methodist and Presbyterian), Hillcrest (Methodist, Anglican and Presbyterian), Raglan Union, (Methodist and Presbyterian). A Third Agent Appointed Finally, in 1944, Rev R H (Bob) Allen was appointed to care for Frankton and Maeroa. He boarded with a church family while Rev J W Parker remained in the Matai Street parsonage and ministered to Claudelands, Te Uku and Te Rapa. Two years later, Ivan Clucas was appointed by the Home Mission Department to replace Bob Allen . Happily for Ivan he was able to live in the cottage on the property of Mrs A Silvester in Higgins Road for there he met and eventually married his landlady's daughter, Lois. 75th Anniversary In August 1942 an old fashioned tea meeting was arranged by the Ladies' Guild to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Settler Methodism in Hamilton. War-time petrol restrictions prevented many former members and friends from being present and the absence of senior young men and a number of young women from the Bible Class reunion was a vivid reminder of the inroads made by the war into the life of the congregation. Nevertheless, it was a most happy occasion and a time of thanksgiving for those who pioneered and developed the work of the Methodist Church in Hamilton. Speakers were Messrs E J Davey, W W Dillicar and W T Coad. A music festival of a very high standard was one of the main attractions of the celebrations. The programme was provided by well-known musicians — Henry G Cook, St Pauls organist and choirmaster, Mona Poultney, Kenneth Ayo, Mary Beckett, Miss Cathy Treloar (Parkinson), and the choir, while the Rev C H Olds recited "The Leper", by Willis. The President of the Conference, the Rev William Walker, was the guest preacher and unveiled a brass tablet on the east wall of the Church to the memory of Messrs W H Worsley, W F Mason and J E Tidd, three of the honoured leaders of former years. A space was left at the bottom of the tablet and at the end of the following year, after his death, the name of J R Fow was added, as planned. Civic Leadership At the same 1942 gathering the Mayor of the time, Mr H D Caro, referred to the outstanding service given by Methodism in civic affairs. As Hamilton and the Methodist Church grew up together, it is understandable how service to the church and community went hand in hand. As very early church records are largely non- existent it is almost impossible to find and record all who served before 1900. Mr S Tanfield, a Wesleyan leader, was a member of the Hamilton West Town Board in the

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 62 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne 1870s. Jabez Thornton Home (1850-1941) was one of Hamilton's first conservationists. Working from his attractive home and garden in Clifton Rd, he tidied up the western bank of the river replanting it with trees and shrubs and primroses from England. The tree planting on Garden Place Hill in 1894 and the Rose Arbor on the Victoria Street side were all his work. His first wife was Kate Trewheeler, then in 1896 he married Ethel Houghton, half-sister of Mrs J E Tidd. The bride was 19 and the groom 45. For many years the Mayor (J R Fow), Deputy Mayor (W F Mason), Town Clerk (E J Davey) and five Justices of the Peace were members and office bearers of St Pauls. John Robert Fow (1868-1943) occupied the Mayoral chair for 20 years. A blacksmith by trade, but later an auctioneer, he moved to Hamilton with his wife, Emma, in 1905. Since his late teens in Waimate he had been a Lay Preacher and he was glad to help out wherever there was a need, be it Presbyterian, Church of Christ, Salvation Army or Methodist, both Wesleyan and Primitive. His children often accompanied him to country preaching places where he would preach twice a day. A whimsical sense of humour and good sketching ability helped capture the attention of young and old alike.

John R Fow and Emma Fow The town was amused when 'Dirty Dick' the town 'tippler', who was often charged with being "drunk in charge of a horse and cart", was persuaded by Mayor Fow, a staunch Temperance advocate, to display on his cart signs which read: "Vote Prohibition — or you'll end up like me" and "Vote for no Licence today". Devotedly J R Fow served as Methodist circuit steward and trustee and on numerous civic organizations. He liked punctuality, had no time for pacifism (ran the local Patriotic Fund), found mixed bathing abhorrent, thought dancing was the "very devil

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 63 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne at work", but at home quietly encouraged card playing. "A good game of Bridge or '500' kept the boys at home!" 20 From their home in Piako Road, Emma Fow could look across the river and see the people coming out of St Pauls at the end of the Service; she then knew it was time to put the vegetables on for Sunday dinner. Emma Fow and her dear friend Fanny Ready started the Sunday School at Wesley, Claudelands. When John and Emma Fow later moved to 'Te Waimate' in George Street, Emma Fow continued quietly and efficiently to create a well managed welcoming home for her family's many friends and the variety of people from church and community that found themselves invited to the large house on the hill. Walter Frederick Mason (1861-1936), Deputy Mayor, Councillor, JP, Accountant and Winter Show treasurer, was a tall thin man, known behind his back as either 'Storky' or 'Hoppy' because of his lofty bearing, springy step and habit of hopping up to admonish noisy children in church. One glare from over his glasses was enough to make the parent concerned slink out the back door with the offending child. Perhaps the nickname 'Storky' came from his heavenward-looking stance when taking up the offering. Before the more recent days of envelope giving a good steward never looked to see what was being put in the plate. One wonders what advice he would have given a later steward, Mr Macintosh, when Andy Walker and his brothers gained notoriety for putting sweets and other small items in the collection plate! Walter and Annie Mason are buried in the Hamilton West Cemetery. They had no children, but a niece Nellie Bennett lived with them while she worked at Hall's Draper Shop, where Petals Florist is today.

Mr & Mrs W H Worsley - Photo: Mrs Muriel Morrison Trustee & Circuit Steward Headmaster Hamilton West School 1900-1922

20 Memories of Norma Fow

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 64 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The Headmaster of Hamilton West School from April 1900-May 1922 was Mr William H Worsley. He was an enthusiastic member of the Beautifying Society and was never seen without his pipe. As circuit steward for four years and trustee for 20 years he was much respected. His son, Harold Worsley died at the Battle of Somme in 1916 and Alice the eldest daughter died in 1921. A Miss Worsley and Miss Houghton arranged the flowers for some years, first at Collingwood Street and then at St Pauls. Mr E J Davey was Town Clerk for 19 years and Secretary/ Treasurer of the Trust. In earlier years he also served as Society Steward, Circuit Orphanage Secretary and Envelope Steward. Described by Rev Howard Matthews as an 'old fashioned Methodist' he was so jealous for the good name of the Church he believed that the Trust could not charge rentals at commercial rates, but that Methodist rentals must always be cheaper than neighbouring properties. In 1897 E J Davey had married Rachel Sargeson. (Their son Norris Davey is better known to us as the author Frank Sargeson [1903-1982]). Edwin Davey served faithfully until failing health caused his resignation. His place was taken in 1948 by Mr W (Bill) Aubrey Smith, a public accountant. James Edwin Tidd, a quiet solid businessman. City Councillor and Hamilton West School Committee member, was Trust Secretary for 30 years. Appointed in 1899 at the age of 27 he served for a nominal remuneration during arduous times. His father T A Tidd was a Trustee before him while his son was the third generation to be a member of the Trust. Edwin Thornton Tidd (named for his father and his uncle by marriage, Jabez Thornton Home) known as Jack, made it possible for the Methodist Trust to purchase further property in London St, which is now known as Thornton Court. His wife Mae is remembered for her gracious support of the Ladies' Group, and was one of the small group who arranged the church flowers each week. Their family Helen, Peter, Mary and Margaret belonged to the Sunday School, Bible Classes and the Tennis Club. James Edwin Tidd had two daughters—Miriam married Vie Lundy and they farmed at Morrinsville, and Hazel Tidd who married Alex Gordon-the parents of Rev Bruce Gordon formerly President of the Methodist Conference and Superintendent of Dunedin and Auckland Central Missions. Bruce, in his retirement, is now chaplain to the Everill Orr Homes. Methodists who have served as members of the Hamilton Borough and City Council over the years include : Albert W Bryant, W N Cann, W Dey, Noah Roper Cox, E J Davey, W W Dillicar, A L Fow, H H Fow (sons of J R Fow), H S Hardley and J W Hardley, W F Mason, T Qualtrough, D Salmon, H M Salmon, J E Tidd, James Treloar, Norman Pomeroy and B E (Bunny) Woodhams. There may be others. Noeline Nuttall of Melville is a member of the present Council.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 65 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 66 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne STARTING AFRESH Tremendous social and political changes followed in the wake of World War II. There were problems of re-adjustment for returning servicemen, some severely disabled, and for women for whom the war had brought about increased socialization. With the men overseas they had been "running the show" at home. For most it was the first opportunity for them to hold a job and earn a wage. Some had dared to smoke, wear lipstick and go dancing. In the home women had coped with rationing, ageing relatives, and with all the natural human emotions evoked by the absence of brothers, fathers, husbands, sons and sweethearts. For some couples, turning back the clock to pre-war models of interaction was impossible and many marriages crumbled. Alcoholism was not uncommon, as some men drank to blot out painful memories. The rash of war time and immediate post-war marriages and the resultant 'baby boom' created a seemingly endless demand for houses, which could not be met because of the simultaneous shortage of building materials.21 Transit housing was a stop gap measure until the State could provide homes in the new estates of Fairfield and Melville. Rehabilitation meant new educational opportunities for the returned servicemen, and as Hamilton lacked a University, Teachers College, or Technical Institute, many young families left the newly created city of Hamilton for Auckland city, so that husbands could gain new qualifications eg Geoff Beebe, who left for teacher training at Ardmore. Some balloted successfully for rehab farms and moved south into the . Telephones and more schools were also needed; no new schools had been built in Hamilton since 1926. Above all, everyone was striving to build a life of harmony again and values of security, unity and happiness in home and family life were endorsed and encouraged, especially in the churches. In 1949, Mr Kent, the district organiser for a scheme for the continual advance of the Church as a whole, prepared by the Spiritual Advance Committee of the Methodist Church, came to Hamilton to outline strategies. The second year of the five year plan (which read rather like a military campaign: 1949 Organise Vanguard of Advance in Every Church, 1953 Commando Year) was designated 'Home and Church Year' — "to make the church more conscious of the Home and the Home more conscious of what the Church has to offer all the family." One only has to read the Minutes of the Ladies' Guild and the Young People's burgeoning Bible Classes to realise that Home and Church in the Hamilton Churches were already much intertwined. The scheme gained one or two further mentions in the Quarterly Minutes, then quietly beat a retreat!

21 Thirty eight marriages performed at St Pauls in two year period 1943-1944, but thirty one in 1945 alone.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 67 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The marked population increase and the mushrooming of new suburbs presented the Circuit with new missionary opportunities, although sometimes its zeal may have been unrealistic. A 1947 Quarterly Meeting letter to Government said that "while it recognized the urgency of building houses, it requested that the erection of Sunday Schools be given the same priority as Primary Schools." Later, however, the Hamilton Methodist churches sensibly supported the Dominion Peace Thanksgiving Fund which channelled aid into new housing areas. Within the next ten years Te Rahui Tane (Maori Boys' Hostel) was established, services were to commence at Melville, the Moon Memorial Church at Te Uku was opened, both St James, Frankton and Wesley, Claudelands extended their facilities to cope with expanding youth work, and services took place at Te Rapa for a time. Mr Finlay, brother-in-law of Mr George Trebilco, a loyal member of St Pauls congregation donated a riverside section at Karapiro and Camp Epworth gradually took shape. A New Ministry—A New Look Rev and Mrs Olds moved to Cambridge in March 1947 and Rev C Howard Matthews, his wife Flora, and their daughters, Margaret and Heather, arrived to take their place. A son Kenwyn was born in 1948. For Howard Matthews it was a return to his childhood home for his father had purchased a grocery business in Claudelands in 1914 when Howard was four years old. Rev Wrigley, who had previously known the Matthews in Waimate, wasted no time in involving the family in the life of St Pauls. Each Sunday saw Mr Matthews, (Snr) with young sons fore and aft, cycling across the railway footbridge to teach Sunday School. Miss Houghton was in charge of the Primary Department in those days and thirty years later she was still in the congregation when her former pupil, Howard Matthews, returned as her minister. Some years later, he felt privileged to officiate at her funeral service.

Rev C Howard Matthews - Photo: Mr Colin McLennan Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 68 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Mr Matthews was a vigorous Circuit Superintendent and during his ministry the affairs of the Hamilton Trust were re-organised and urgent maintenance on Wesley Chambers carried out. St Pauls Church did not escape the 'extend and improve' mood of those years. The church pipe organ was old, frequently broke down and the old tracker action was difficult to manage. Power cuts were common and often someone would need to scurry out the back to pump the lever to get the organ going again. The console (keyboard) was built into the instrument, thus making it difficult to control the choir or to communicate with the Minister, as minister and organist were back to back at pulpit and keyboard. Mr Matthews' ideas were for a new organ to be installed and for the sanctuary to be redesigned. Leigh, de Lisle and Fraser, architects were consulted. A plan was drawn up transferring the high central pulpit to one side, the purchase of a new organ (£3000) and the necessary sale of the old one. The new organ would have a detached console set down into the floor so that the organist could see and control the choir members, who would be grouped around the console, but in such a way that the organist was not seen by the congregation. A new communion table would come in front of the panelling hiding the organist, and around it would be built a communion rail — prior to this, worshippers had always been served Holy Communion in alternate pews. However, Mr Matthews believed that the act of coming forward to receive the elements was a far more meaningful act by the worshipper. The Trust gave the 'go ahead' to all the alterations and extensions and T S Henry Limited carried out the panelling and building work supervised by Mr Howard Underwood, manager and foreman. "Finer quality panelling would be impossible to find anywhere." 22 It was Mr Matthews who persuaded Howard Underwood to become a Trustee and his practical advice and service for over 38 years have been immeasurably valuable.

St Pauls interior prior to 1954 - Photo: Hamilton Methodist Archives

22 Recollections of Rev H Matthews Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 69 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The late Mr W W Dillicar then offered to pay for new windows to be installed and these were later dedicated to the memory of his wife, Marjorie Evelyn Dillicar, who died 4 July 1953. Other church families presented Sanctuary furniture to honour esteemed leaders of former years. Brass Cross - Mr and Mrs J D Clark Sanctuary Chairs - James and Helen Tidd, Hilda Peggy Buchanan Pulpit Chair - Seymour Treloar Font - Mr and Mrs James Treloar In more recent years two small brass vases and pew Bibles have been given in memory of Iris and Daisy Lee-Martin. A wooden box containing four wooden turned candlesticks on the Communion Table was made and presented by Howard Underwood in memory of his wife, Emily who died in September 1987. He also made the two kneelers which are used during communion.Other bequests were Mayes bequest which was used to buy With One oice, and bequest from Mr and mrs RBrown used to buy the first copier. In 1963 Mr and Mrs T W Chapman and their daughter, Joan, gave a silver salver and communion cup in a blue presentation box for taking the sacraments to those unable to come to church. In 1952 the large roof ventilator was removed, and officials promised to have the leaky roof repaired "when it stopped raining!" Eventually, the aisles and sanctuary were carpeted (not without some haggling over designs and colours) and the atmosphere and appearance of the church were greatly enhanced.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 70 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The Boom Years By the early 1950s the results of the 'baby boom' were coming to Sunday School in large numbers. The Primary department had up to 90 some Sundays, St Pauls and Maeroa were competing with each other with numbers between 130-145 and Wesley had over 100 children on its roll. More classrooms were added onto the east side of St Pauls Church. Circuit and District rallies were well attended. Rev Allan Walker, M A, of Sydney conducted outstanding services in 1949 and two years later Rev George Laurenson. Dominion Director of Crusade for Christ, preached at Hamilton (His daughter Helen Gregan is a member of St Pauls today) The phenomenal growth in all areas of church work put a critical strain on Mr Matthews as well as Rev Williams then Rev Werren who ministered at Frankton. Much of the load was in pastoral work caused by the large number of public servants moving in and out of the city. Mr Matthews did a survey and discovered that while 250 members and adherents had left Hamilton in five years, the same number had moved in. He therefore initiated a scheme whereby young men who were prospective candidates for the ministry came to St Pauls to assist with caretaking duties, youth work and pastoral visiting, and at the same time received guidance in preparing their tests and examinations as candidates for the Ministry. They were George Trebilco, Ernest Heppelthwaite, William (Bill) Abbott and Lewis Major. Wilfred (Fred) Gilbert was also nominated for the ministry by Howard Matthews, following in his brother Geoffs footsteps, who was nominated from St Pauls a few years earlier. Ed Marshall was ordained in 1948 having started at Wesley College as a Lay Principal. Mary Astley, who later returned to Hamilton as Rev Mary Astley, boarded with the Matthews family at the parsonage from 1949-1950. She recalls the fun of Monday night's Youth Fellowship meetings in the church parlour. Energy, initiative and imagination abounded after the strain and strictures of the war years.

George Trebilco, Florence Olds (Whiteman) Ron Lindsay. 1947 Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 71 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Wesley College Visits During Mr Matthews' ministry Mr Ed Marshall, the Principal of Wesley College Paerata near Pukekohe, suggested that he would like to bring a bus load of his boys down to Hamilton where they would conduct a Sunday evening musical service. The church ladies provided a sumptuous evening meal for the visitors. An inspiring musical service followed then after supper the bus returned to the College. It was always a full church that night, as family, friends and former pupils attended and the school gained much-needed publicity. In 1988 Jenny Capstick (nee Pomeroy) recalled how she and Margaret Petch and other young Bible Class girls of the 1960s devised a silent rating system using fingers and hands as to which members of the Wesley Choir took their fancy during the service. Brian Turner, the present Minister of St Pauls on hearing this story, immediately wondered what his rating had been as a knobbly-kneed third former! The annual visits continued with great success for many years until 1970s. A smaller group of students, which now includes girls in the senior school, has visited St Pauls during the ministry of Rev Brian Turner. Harvest Festivals Another feature in the Church Calendar was the annual Harvest Festival. In earlier days the Quarterly Meeting set the dates for all the Circuit churches. Late on the preceding Saturday and early on the Sunday morning church members brought in their produce. At St Pauls the Pinkerton and Emo families were largely responsible for decorating the sanctuary area and windowsills with fruit, flowers, vegetables, bottled preserves, eggs and sheaves of wheat. The centrepiece was always a large loaf of home baked bread often in the wheat sheaf shape or a triple-tiered cob loaf. Familiar harvest hymns had their annual airing—'Oh Lord of Heaven and Earth and Sea', 'We plough the fields and scatter' and especially for the small children 'All things bright and beautiful'.

The sanctuary decorated for a Harvest Festival during Rev Peter Stead’s ministry. – Photo: Miss V Emo Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 72 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The Monday night was not to be missed. For 60 years produce was auctioned by a Fow, first John R and then his son Harry. In the true style of their calling they coerced and cajoled the congregation to part with its money, aided for years by Bryan Williams the recorder of all this merry bidding. Some folk ended up with produce they didn't know they'd bought and for prices that hadn't gone under the auctioneer's hammer but it was all great fun. Father and son also conducted the auctions at other circuit churches and are remembered with affection for the fun and laughter they brought to those gatherings. Visit of Fiji Rugby Team Howard Matthews reminisces... During my Hamilton Ministry it was announced that the first ever Fiji Rugby Team would visit Hamilton and play a match against Waikato on the Saturday. On behalf of the Church (learning that of the 29 players and Managers all were Methodists save one) I visited the officials of the Rugby Union and offered to provide hospitality and entertainment on Sunday. This was a "First" for the Rugby Union and they did not quite know what to do. It was finally agreed that the team (billetted at the Commercial Hotel in Victoria Street) would be taken sight-seeing during Sunday morning and early afternoon; but on returning for an evening meal at the Hotel would attend the evening Service at St Pauls. One of the team was a Methodist Lay Preacher and he would be the preacher; the Manager of the team would conduct the service; and the Fijians would sing. Complimentary tickets for the Stand at Rugby Park were given to myself and my wife; and at the Match, for which Rugby Park had capacity attendance, during the half-time interval I was permitted to broadcast over the speaker system an invitation to one and all to the following day's evening service. This invitation was repeated as the crowds left the grounds. Seats in the Church were reserved for Officials of the Rugby Union, Dame Hilda Ross MP, etc, but at 5 pm people began to arrive for the 7 pm service!! When 7 pm came the Church, its porches, etc, were all "jam packed" with people. The aisles were jammed and so many were in the building that there was difficulty in getting the Fijians in, after their arrival. Crowds were outside the windows, on the front steps and footpaths ... I have never seen a greater attendance at any service. When the Offertory was announced the Stewards had a most difficult task taking the plates around all, in and outside the building. A three- penny piece was a popular coin in those days, and so many were contributed that evening that Mr Bryan Williams later stated that he was every evening of the week counting three-penny pieces! I still recall that Fijian man standing and preaching on the subject of the Man let down through the roof by four ropes to be near Jesus, and his passionate appeal to one and all to have a like faith. It was a memorable occasion, and the talk of the city for long afterwards, while Circuit Steward Bryan Williams was able to report a record return for the quarter."

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 73 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne In the parsonage Mrs Matthews had her hands full with a young family. Heather, the eldest, was at school and Margaret, probably missing her sister, decided one day to explore the town. On being found and asked her name and what her daddy did she replied 'He sits at home all day and answers the telephone!' Rev Matthews stayed for a record eight years before he left at the end of Coronation year. However, he returned in February 1954 to dedicate the new organ.

Hamilton Parish Stewards. Harold Witten Senior Steward, Dorrie Hosking, Pat Irving. –Photo: Methodist Archives His successor was Rev William (Bill) F Francis BA BD, who also stayed for eight years and led a splendid teaching ministry. Good humoured with an unforgettable laugh, he was an able administrator, and a caring compassionate friend not only to his congregation, but to his fellow ministers. Under his leadership the Hamilton Circuit was one of the first in the Connexion to embark upon a stewardship campaign; the church at Melville was established and later an attractive brick hall was built there; the development of St Andrews area came under the pastoral care of St Pauls, and the two-storeyed parsonage in Liverpool Street was purchased. In December 1958 Mr and Mrs Francis and their daughters, Enid and Alison went to Melbourne where Mr Francis exchanged pulpits with Rev Hugh Jago for two months. Margaret Francis (nee Burton) is remembered for her pleasant unassuming manner, her work as President and Vice President of the Ladies' Guild, and for the invaluable contribution she made as a mother and the partner of a busy minister. This contribution by the wives of ministers is often unacclaimed and seldom rewarded. Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 74 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Enid Francis, a teacher, married Brian Underwood an engineer and managing director (son of Howard and Emily, long time loyal workers for St Pauls) and they now live on the North Shore, Auckland. Alison, also a teacher, is married to John Bowis, Executive Officer of Save the Children Fund, and they live in Wellington. Circuit Stewards (now known as Parish Stewards) The only official church records of circuit life in existence before 1900 are the Waikato Circuit Quarterly Meeting minutes 1870-1877. From them were gleaned the names of the Circuit Stewards for that early period. Omissions in the Circuit Schedule Book and an incomplete set of minutes after 1900 have meant a few gaps in the sequence of appointments to the office of Circuit Steward and the list in Appendix II is therefore only as complete as possible.

Mr W B L Williams Circuit Steward 1924-1963 The Circuit Stewards (from now on referred to as Parish Stewards) act as the executive officers of the Parish Meeting .or Quarterly Meeting. Their job is to maintain regular discussion on parish life with the members and the parish; to exercise a pastoral role to the ministers and their families and to generally see that all aspects of parish life run smoothly. In 1968 the Quarterly Meeting minutes recorded that the appointment of Mr F Geoffrey Dean from the Melville congregation was the first time in over 60 years (ie as far back as could be investigated) that a Parish Steward was not a member of St Pauls congregation. Mr Les Missen from Melville later served for five years and Mrs Dorrie Hosking also from Melville, is currently one of the three parish stewards, and the first woman appointed to the office.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 75 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The second woman appointed is Ms Pat Irving, a deputy principal at the Waikato Polytechnic. Pat replaced Mr Alton England who moved to Australia in 1988 after 15 years of meticulous and dedicated work not only as Parish Steward but also as Parish Treasurer and Trustee. Today Parish Stewards normally serve for three years and retire by rotation one each year. This hasn't always been the case. Mr W B L (Bryan) Williams served for an amazing 39 years as steward of the Hamilton Circuit. Appointed in 1924 during the ministry of Rev William Ready, he retired in 1963. At a function in October of that year to express the Circuit's gratitude and affection, tributes were paid to his outstanding service not only as a Circuit Steward but as District Property Secretary, and distinguished choir member and bass soloist. The title and status of Circuit Steward may have rested on Bryan Williams for all those years but accolades are also due to his wife Mrs Jo Williams (d 1966) and no apologies are made for honouring her contribution in this particular chapter. On her arrival at St Pauls in 1920 she immediately became Bible Class leader and member of the Bible Class Union Executive. The Guild, Missionary Auxiliary and choir all gained from her loyalty and devotion. She represented St Pauls congregation at Quarterly Meetings and at Conference. Her Hair with flowers made her a valued member of the church flowers roster and a welcome visitor at the hospital. The parsonage families were glad of her unobtrusive but protective support. Mrs Doss Jebson, President of the Ladies' Guild in 1963, said of her "Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her ways are peace". The wives of men who were leaders in church and community in early years remain almost anonymous in records and to single out a few may seem unfair but other information about the women as individuals is very difficult to come by. Therefore this may serve as a reminder of services unheralded "Oh you men who climb the ladder of success all flushed and heady "Never forget the women who stood below and held the ladder steady!" Circuit Leaders Of The 1950s Those on the Quarterly Meeting included: Messrs: Harry Fow, John Jebson, Wilf Grayson, W B (Bill) Pomeroy, K J Pomeroy, Darius Bradley, Peter Mantle, A J Minnear, Thomas Emo, Mal Lloyd, A J (Dick) McNaughton, Frank Goff, Les Missen, Fordyce, Steven, Howard Vyle, David Kemsley, Maurice Arthur, D Crabb, Walter Pinkerton, A J Heatherley, J N King, Alf Smith, B Holmes, Barry Hipper, W B L Williams, Rashleigh, Vickers, Sims, Neil Marquand, Aubrey Blakley, H Peart, Thompson, Brenner, Park. Mesdames: E C Maunder, C M Baker, Kammer Grainger Alice Smith, E J McDonagh, M Brooks, Zena Brooks, Silvester, Doss Jebson, Eileen Grayson, J A Davys, Williams Woodward, G Bradley, Elsie Pinkerton, Hilda Bray, Adams,

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 76 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Minnear, Vandy. Holmes, Waite, E Dann, M Weir, Walker, Buss, Stratton, E Cook, Rashleigh, Richie, J R Robertson, Curtin. Misses: B Wait, P Sansom, Lorna Ewan, Grace Atkinson, Thomas, Goldsworthy, Waveney Tinsley, M Parkinson, A Adams. Awareness of Social Issues Sometimes when reading earlier Minutes and reports the impression is gained that current local and national affairs made small impact on the life of the church as it was recorded. In 1957, however, a committee comprising Rev Ian Ramage and Messrs Dean, Kemsley and Missen was set up for the Abolition of Capital Punishment with the main purpose of raising peoples' awareness through the distribution of material, and meetings for education and discussion. In 1961 the Circuit sent a strong letter of protest to the Hamilton City Council about its decision to allow picture theatres to open on Sundays. Back in July 1955 when Dr Donald Soper (now Lord Soper) brought his Hyde Park oratory to Hamilton, none of his listeners could have remained ignorant or apathetic about the radical social reforms he preached. Further back still in 1943 the Ladies' Guild had written to the Prime Minister protesting at the curailment of religious services on weekday radio.

St Pauls Church c 1980

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 77 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

Hamilton Methodist Centre, London Street, Hamilton c 1980 Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 78 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne LOOKING BACK, AND MOVING FORWARD The 90th Anniversary was marked in August 1956 by celebrations held in conjunction with Hamilton's Festival Week. Already Mr John Jebson was gathering memories and researching the early history of Hamilton Methodism in preparation for the large celebrations planned for the church's centenary in 1964. As part of Mr Jebson's research it was discovered that the beginnings of Methodism in Hamilton could be dated from 1864, not 1866-7 as previously thought. For some time Mr Harry Fow had been urging church leaders to investigate the feasibility of a new Church Centre particularly for the use of youth. Money was set aside in a special fund by the Trustees and eventually a new Methodist Centre was built behind St Pauls, after the old parsonage and Sunday School hall were demolished, and the Primary Department hall moved to Wesley Church, Claudelands. Not everyone felt happy about the changes. The youth felt comfortable in the old hall and made several pleas for it to be retained, but it was not to be.

The Opening of the Hamilton Methodist Centre 28 April 1962 L-R Revs A K Fetch, E C Leadley, A Walker W R Francis Photo: Mr Al Roundthwaite Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 79 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The new Centre was officially opened on Saturday 28 April 1962 by Rev E C Leadley, President of the Conference, three months after the close of Mr Francis' ministry in Hamilton. The people of St Pauls welcomed Mr Francis back for this significant occasion to dedicate the Memorial Plaque sited at the western entrance to the Centre which reads as follows "To the Glory of God-this building is dedicated to the memory of the pioneers of Methodism in Hamilton who laboured faithfully, who gave generously and who left us our inheritance." Presiding over the occasion was Rev A K Petch BA (1916-1983) who had commenced his ministry as Circuit Superintendent in February 1962 supported by his wife Gwen (nee Hewson) and talented outgoing daughters Catherine, Margaret and Elizabeth. Then followed several eventful years. Inspired by the potential of the new Centre members conducted a successful house to house visitation in the central and northern suburbs of Hamilton. The response resulted in an increased membership at St Pauls and ultimately in the establishment of All Saints Co-operating Parish at Bryant Park, . Ecumenical fervour was further fuelled by the 1962 Ecumencial Conference held in the Waikato Winter Show Buildings. In August 1964 after many months of planning, led by Howard Vyle and Grace Atkinson, St Pauls hosted a week of Anniversary events marking 100 years of Methodism in Hamilton which coincided with the centennial of Hamilton City. The events started well when the youth had a 'high tea' (what happened to the word 'soiree'?) followed by a ball in the Centre Auditorium. President of Conference, Rev Athol Penn gave the address at the first Sunday service when there was "grand singing by the choir—obviously inspired by their new blue robes and mortar boards". That evening Rev Howard Matthews, back in his former pulpit, delivered a challenging address entitled The Living Church'. A Trust dinner, historical pageant and centennial banquet were resounding successes. The following Sunday a morning service conducted by Rev W R Francis and an evening Civic and Community service in the Founders Theatre brought the centennial celebrations to a fitting climax.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 80 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Pleased with the successful organisation of Centennial Week, the Circuit leaders confidently moved into planning for the Annual Conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand which opened in Hamilton on 4 November 1964. Among the candidates for the ministry received at that conference were the present minister of St Pauls, Rev Brian Turner, Rev Alan J Leadley (who as Area Secretary of COMEC works from the St Pauls Centre), Rev Morehu (Buddy) Te Whare (Immediate Past President) and Rev Graeme Mclver (presently on leave from the ministry but worshipping at St Pauls). After the hurly burly of 1964, the following year was relatively quiet. March 1965 saw the first refugee family arrive, the 'Well for India' project was initiated—both appropriate events in the Year of International Co-operation and a plaque recognising the contribution of Primitive Methodist minister Peter Mairs was dedicated on 22 August 1965. The Vietnam War was a controversial issue along with the Civil Rights movement in the United States of America and the oppressive apartheid system in South Africa. Mr Petch was often to mention these issues of conscience from the pulpit and some people took exception to the mixing of politics and religion. Many in today's congregation will remember a certain lady banging her walking stick angrily during a service, while she challenged Mr Petch on his views of the situation in South Africa before walking out of the church. It was a time of change—1967 saw a new Order for Holy Communion introduced and church began at 10 am instead of 11 am (not many farmers to consider any more). However, ongoing problems needed addressing. Youth Leader Bob Short was concerned at the lack of planning and commitment to youth work which was not helped by inflexible perceptions as to the use of the Centre.

Rev Chas. O. Hailwood Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 81 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne As the move towards ecumencial understanding grew, interchurch house groups met to discuss Church Union and to work through studies on 'Issues we face as Citizens' as part of 'Interview 1969'. Evening services became more intimate with regular discussions of current issues. Both Prime Minister Keith Holyoake and Opposition Leader Norman Kirk wrote lengthy replies to letters sent by Mr Petch on behalf of the Leaders' Meeting, protesting at the resumption of nuclear testing in the Pacific. Behind the scenes the 'bread and butter' work continued. Mrs Alice Smith, wife of Circuit Steward Alf Smith, kept meticulous records of church membership and assisted with clerical work; Mrs Frank Baker followed by Mrs Myrtle Brokenshire kept the Stewardship records, Emily Underwood was minutes secretary, Maurice Arthur managed the Centre, Walter Pinkerton kept the Society Stewards on their toes and Keith Coatsworth, Marge Perkins, Rob Nicholls and Eric Brokenshire chaired the principal committees. Sister Nicholls was honoured at a 1967 congregational meeting for her work as a Home and Maori Mission deaconess. During Mr Fetch's Presidential year (1967) and his visit with Mrs Petch to Uppsala, Sweden in 1968, for the Fourth Assembly of the World Council of Churches, Rev C 0 Hailwood came as supply. It was a 'return home' for both Chas and Pauline and their very special ministry that year is not forgotten. They retired in Hamilton the following year and since then have been treasured members of St Pauls. Chas continued to preach regulary until 1987 with his unique blend of scholarship, wisdom and whimsical wit, which always inspired the congregation to ask for a copy of his sermon. In 1968 the Trust decided to refurbish the interior of St Pauls and put Norman Law in charge. The ceiling and walls were painted and Howard Underwood arranged for a new communion table to be made. After much discussion it was decided to place a crown of thorns symbol on the front of the table. The design originated from Coventry Cathedral and an exact replica was made by a fitter from the Meat Research Institute Engineering Department. It was painted gold and at the same time the organ pipes were also painted gold — much to organist Albert Bryant's displeasure. The red curtains at the back of the choir stalls were replaced by patterned metal screens made and bolted into position by the Law family. The adjoining wooden screens were built by Howard Underwood. Other key events during Mr Fetch's ministry were the Methodist Women's Convention held at St Pauls in 1966, the Lloyd Geering debate in 1967 (supported by Mr Petch because it made people think), the visit by Rev Ted Noffs from Kings Cross, Sydney in 1971 and a series of discussions based around the issues facing mature adults entitled 'Focus 71'. Back in 1967 Mrs Petch had seen a need for practical support for the wives of ministers and so initiated the first Ministers Wives' Retreat. Held at Rotorua it was an opportunity for the women to 'let their hair down' and share their experiences, problems and joys.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 82 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne On 31 December 1966 Catherine Petch, a school teacher and fine pianist, married Bob Short at St Pauls. It was a real church wedding: everyone helped with the catering arrangements and flowers etc. Bob and Catherine are living in Singapore where Bob is Chaplain to the New Zealand Forces. Margaret and her husband Rev Paul Ranby live in Palmerston North where Margaret is head of the music department at a secondary school and Paul a Presbyterian minister. Elizabeth (Mrs Tony Laurence) is a school teacher and creative fashion designer in Hamilton.

Rev Ashleigh and Mrs Gwen Petch Margaret Elizabeth and Catherine 1962 Photo: Mrs Gwen Petch We remember Ashleigh Petch for his humanity and insight, his forthrightness and his guidance. Gwen Petch is back amongst us at St Pauls; her wisdom and serenity are an inspiration and a blessing. Developments in Social Services and Ecumenism 1972 brought two new ministers to the Circuit—Rev Peter A Stead to St Pauls and Rev Ron Major to St Lukes, Maeroa. Mrs Ngaio Stead (nee Chapman) joined the choir and then showed us her creativity wasn't limited to music; Mr Stead's green cassock was soon adorned with a beautifully designed and embroidered motif. During the week Mrs Stead worked as an occupational therapist at Tamahere Eventide Home encouraging the residents to try new ways of creative expression. Their eldest daughter Stephanie left shortly after the family's arrival to study at Massey University. Rachel and Paula participated in Bible Class and Sunday School activities. Peter Stead's eight year ministry in Hamilton saw several developments in the fields in which he had particular interest: new co-operating venture at St Davids Dinsdale and work on inter-church activities at All Saints Pukete; discussions towards closer union began between the Melville churches; and 'Mahi Tahi', a short term hostel for women and young girls was established in conjunction with Methodist Social Services and the Bryant Trust.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 83 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Concern was still being raised about the falling away of youth work in the Circuit due to lack of leaders and inadequate use of the Centre. This was due to a number of reasons eg the baby boom people were now in their twenties, married and raising families in the suburbs. Youth group members tended to come from families other than the regular St Pauls worshippers so it was difficult for the people of St Pauls to feel the youth group was 'theirs' and identification with them and their problems was difficult. In 1975 the Quarterly Meeting sent greetings to Rev J W and Mrs Parker formerly of St James and St Lukes on the occasion of their 70th wedding anniversary. "All nine of their children are still living, truly a unique and wonderful record". A year later the meeting congratulated Mrs Minnie Gilling (sister of Doss Jebson) on her 100th birthday. It is interesting to note the Circuit budget details for 1975 and compare them with the figures of earlier years. The anticipated expenditure was $36,170, anticipated income $30,970 and the accumulated deficit was $5,200. The deficit situation prompted a special appeal which yielded $3,314 and a stewardship mission in June 1976 brought a 79 increase in pledged giving! At the same time a letter was written to Government expressing concern at the cutback in overseas aid. Mr Stead travelled far and wide in 1976 as President of Conference while his friend and mentor Rev Robert Thornley of Rotorua acted as supply. The Circuit was kept up to date with Presidential proclamations and peregrinations (the ghost of C H Olds!) through the Circuit Magazine edited by Ann Aylett. Derek Aylett was Sunday School Superintendent, Trustee and Synod Representative at St James. Both he and Ann were warmly thanked for all their work in the Circuit and particularly at St James, when they moved to Cambridge in 1976. Opportunity Shop Changing perceptions of fund raising methods and the need for the security of regular income led to the opening of the Opportunity Shop in 1978, firstly in Ward Street then in the Claudelands Subway Shops and other locations since. Miss Joan Beaumont was the first manager until August 1980. Her position was then taken over by Walter Pinkerton who, with his wife Elsie, has worked long hours collecting, sorting and pricing goods and arranging a roster of volunteers until their recent retirement. They have also raised seedlings for sale at the shop. Shirley dark, Dorothy Fordyce and Harold Witten now share the administration. It is a pity that volunteer work is seen as of less value than paid work, for the Op Shop not only provides cheap clothing but a listening ear and reassuring presence which have a value beyond price for its customers.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 84 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Circuit Commission A Circuit Commission was set up in 1978 to look seriously at the possible future role of St Pauls and also to consider the amalgamation of Hamilton and Hamilton East parishes. One positive outcome was the appointment of Youth Worker John Grant— ten years after the idea was first mooted. A further auxiliary form of ministry was recognised in the self supporting ministry of Deacon Edna Webster. The Crossroads programme also began thanks to Marge Perkins and Edna Webster and continues still each Thursday morning. A Communion Service is followed by morning tea, then a speaker and discussion, to which everyone is welcome. Once again the Conference of the New Zealand Methodist Church was held in Hamilton beginning on 1 November 1978 with the Opening Service held in the Founders Theatre, Hamilton. The Sunday morning ordination service was held at Turangawaewae Marae, Ngaruawahia, at which St Pauls choir participated. The Last Decade At the end of 1979 as Mr and Mrs Stead were preparing to move to the South Kaipara Co-operating Parish, the Rev Bill Morrison (son of Muriel Morrison) District Chairman, explained to a special Quarterly Meeting, that Conference was unable to make a permanent appointment to St Pauls for 1980 owing to a shortage of ministers. Rev H A (Jerry) Darvill agreed to take up a temporary supply for six months but this became two years. Jerry and Alison Darvill brought a quiet commitment to all aspects of church work as they sought to know members, encouraging them to participate in all aspects of church life. A good place to start was to update the pastoral roll; this was achieved under Norman Law's capable direction. Committees in recess were revived and regular opportunities made to chat over a cup of tea after church. The 'Over 60s' week away camps at Waihi enabled people to interact and share with one another in an unhurried manner. The problem of St Pauls changing role investigated initially by the Circuit Commission of 1978 continued to be addressed by a strategy consultation conducted by Rev Barry Jones in September 1980. Realistic action goals were outlined in order to achieve lively pastoral care, interpersonal growth, new forms of worship and discovering our role as an inner city church. Plans to change the interior structure of the church were later set aside because of the church's listing as an historic building (Category B). The church faced major social issues in 1981. Lengthy submissions were made to Government about the proposed changes to the Liquor Advertising Laws, which allowed more advertising in the media, and the visit to New Zealand of the South African Rugby Team during the winter months, caused major discussions. Should this country engage in sporting contacts with a nation that ignored basic human rights by

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 85 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne its government-imposed apartheid system? Should sport and politics never mix and contact between different ideologies be seen as a way of building bridges?' Members of St Pauls congregation belonged to both camps. Many local clergy and church people including Alan Leadley and Jerry Darvill joined the protest march on that famous Saturday in July when the Springboks came to play Waikato at Rugby Park. Unfortunately the records of that period do not fully explain the situation. There is no specific reference in the Quarterly Meeting's minutes, and the minutes of St Pauls Leaders' Meeting only refer to the regular meetings being held to stop the tour (city- wide not just church based), to petitions and to an unwillingness by the Hamilton Council of Churches to endorse either viewpoint. The October 1981 meeting tells of hopes by St Pauls SSPQ committee that strong feelings evoked by the Tour will subside and that a meeting should be held to heal the rifts. It appears that church leaders wished to put the pain behind them and move towards reconciliation. The appointment of Rev Wilf Ford and Rev H Mary Astley to St Pauls in 1982 was significant for several reasons. It was the first shared ministry and the first time a woman had been appointed. Both Wilf and Mary had connections with very early Methodist history in the area - Wilts great uncle Rev John Dellow was minister at Trinity Wesleyan Church, Collingwood Street, 1885-1888; Mary's great grandfather Cort Schnackenburg had worked as a missionary on the Waikato west coast in the 1840s to the 1880s and was ordained during the later period of his missionary work. Mary herself had been an active youth worker at St Pauls for several years up to 1950, while teaching in the Waikato. She subsequently became Director of Children's Work in the New Zealand Methodist Department of Christian Education for thirteen years before she was later ordained. Mary had 9 years school teachingbetween the Christian Education Department and becoming a minister.

Rev Mary Astley with her husband Rev Wilf Ford. Photo: Rev Wilf Ford

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 86 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Theirs was a very caring ministry—friendship lunches, Lenten studies, a course on 'Coping with Conflict' and a parish trip to Tonga led by Rev Sifa Hingano (minister at Melville) created shared experiences and memories and brought people closer. The shut-ins and the elderly appreciated Mary's pastoral care, and her skills, ability and experience in education were a special joy to children and adults alike during Sunday morning worship. Wilf’s preaching was notable for its breadth of subject, its convincing argument and richness of theological insight. He faced issues head-on yet in a way that we could all understand. Their skills in preaching and pastoral care are still welcomed as they continue as members of St Pauls congregation in their retirement. Every Member a Minister Rev Brian Turner, Te Rua, Peter and Hana moved into the Road parsonage in February 1986. Brian came to St Pauls after eight and a half years with The Aid and Development Division of the National Council of Churches (now Conference of Churches).

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 87 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

Rev Brian Turner and Te Rua Turner Both Brian and Te Rua have a ministry within the Methodist Church. Te Rua is educator facilitator with the Maori Division while Brian, as well as being minister at St Pauls, is also Associate District Superintendent and in the wider church, a member of the World Council of Churches Commission on Inter Church Aid Refugees and World ! Service and the New Zealand Inter Church Commission for Immigration and Refugee Resettlement. Peter now works in the Justice Department and Hana is in the sixth form at . At the first Quarterly Meeting he attended Brian said that he saw every member of the parish as a minister, thus affirming the ministry of all believers. He continually encourages each of us to find new roles within the church that develop our potential and provide resources for both church and community. Inner city ministry and the development of a bi and multi-cultural church and society are also important priorities for Brian.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 88 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne There has been further lay participation in planning and leadership of worship and a variety of worship styles eg dialogue presentations, involvement of Sunday School children, group leadership, drama by Covenant Players and youth services. In August 1988 a 'Show and Tell' day was organised to raise awareness of the early history of St Pauls and the preparations being made for the 125th Anniversary in 1989. In the church setting the children were encouraged to explore the memorials of early church pioneers and to interview older members of the congregation about their own memories of Sunday School and church life. An historical display was set up by Cam Storey, Joan Beaumont and Virginia Graham and after lunch a large number of people shared their memories.

'Show and Tell' Day August 1988 'Swapping Memories' L-R Muriel Morrison, Pauline Hailwood, Doss Jebson, Eileen Sutherland, Mavis Gibens A feature of Brian Turner's ministry is his readiness to ensure that all members are addressed, treated and valued equally—the use of inclusive language in worship, along with shared leadership and responsibility in church processes are indicative of this commitment. From 1980 there has always been at least one woman clergy serving in Hamilton Methodist or Union parishes, but this pattern has its beginning earlier in the years 1964-1969 when Rev Dr Phyllis Guthardt MA PhD one of the earliest Methodist woman ministers, served at Melville and as hospital chaplain. She later returned as ecumenical chaplain at the University of Waikato. Subsequent Methodist University chaplains have been Rev Dr Douglas Pratt (1985-1987) and Rev Lindsay Cumberpatch appointed in 1989.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 89 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

Congregation 14 August 1988 St Pauls Methodist Church, London Street Front Row: Mrs Helen Gregan, Mrs P Stratton, Mrs Emo, Mrs B Arthur. –Photo: Mrs BethGeorge Tongan Fellowship The Tongan Fellowship is led by Lisiate Manu'atu with the support of his Samoan wife Sina. Lisiate candidated for the local ministry (Tongan language only) in 1987 and is now a Presbyter-in-training in the Methodist church. A wider group of Pacific Islanders had been meeting at First Church (Presbyterian) in Frankton. In 1983 when Rev Sifa Hingano was appointed to Melville Methodist Church the Tongan community began meeting there. In 1986 the Tongan Christian Fellowship shifted to St Pauls and now a congregation of 60-70 worship each Sunday afternoon, as well as participating frequently in St Pauls morning worship. Members of the Tongan Choir also sing in St Pauls choir.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 90 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

Lisiate Manu’atu Leader of Tongan Fellowship - Photo: Viginia Graham In April 1989 the Hamilton Tongan Fellowship hosted the Tongan Advisory Committee which met at the Centre and was an opportunity for Tongan Methodists to review their life and work in New Zealand. An Inner City Church The centre of the city is developing between Collingwood Street and London Street and interestingly this development is flanked by two significant Methodist properties—Wesley Chambers where our story began and St Pauls in London Street where it continues. Wesley Chambers certainly won't be there in 25 years time-will St Pauls? With the mushrooming of suburban churches and co-operating ventures the Hamilton and Hamilton East parishes are the only remaining Methodist causes.

Mrs Pat Bruce Methodist Social Worker 1987 – present -Photo: Doreen Bennett The patterns of life, work and family have changed and the church has had to adapt. Family camps, for example, have been a successful way of bridging the generations, of strengthening the bonds of friendship and faith through shared experiences. We've

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 91 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne all received blessings from the joy of planning and participation in worship together on the Sunday despite late night '500' sessions, foot massages, music and laughter! St Pauls therefore is constantly assessing its role as an inner city church. It is now open daily inviting passerbys to 'come in, rest and pray'. Those who accept this invitation will enter through two glass doors, installed in 1988, which have been etched with a design depicting the development of the church in Hamilton. Many office workers value the small patches of green and the seats, amidst the concrete, glass and steel of commercial buildings, as a restful place to eat their lunch. Hopefully the daily comings and goings around the Centre are seen as the church and community working together. The Centre is used widely by community groups, eg our neighbours the New Zealand Dairy Company for seminars, Hospice, Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation Society, Waikato Embroiderers Guild, St Johns Ambulance etc as well as a base for church groups ie St Pauls and beyond. A church bowling club meets each Monday evening and an informal badminton group meets on Tuesday evenings. Crossroads meets each Thursday, there is a 'drop in lunch' on Fridays (hosted by Gordon and Faye Ford) and the Men's Luncheon on a Tuesday. The Annual Anglican Synod uses the Centre each July. The Inter Church Trade and Industry Mission ITIM (Waikato) is based at the Centre, staffed by Director, Deacon Anne Hunt, Co-ordinator Jane Prenter and Barbara Marks, Secretary. It provides training and support for chaplains in industry. Also at the Centre is the office of the Council for Mission and Ecumenical Co- operation. Rev Alan Leadley is the Area Secretary assisted by his Secretary Mrs Cheryl Herft. Mrs Pat Bruce began work as the Social Worker for the Hamilton Methodist Social Services in 1987. Based at St Pauls but with concerns Hamiltonwide, Pat follows on from the work begun in 1983 by Mrs Val West and before that by Rev Jean Cotter who was the Inter Church social worker. The Parish Roll is presently 278 including a Tongan membership of 30-40. Therefore 200-300 people worship at St Pauls and Melville each Sunday Assistance to Refugee Families Since 1965 St Pauls has been involved in sponsoring refugee families from Europe and South East Asia. Mr and Mrs Gusjenac and daughter Niwes were the first to be given assistance with employment and accommodation when they arrived from Yugoslavia. They were followed in 1969 by the Sie family (see later story). In 1980 Ly Chi Chay arrived in Hamilton, after escaping from Vietnam, and lived with Ted and Bev Page. Left behind were Trinh his wife, son Trung and daughter Guyen, born just a week after Chay left. Chay maintained contact with his people in Vietnam persisting with arrangements to bring his wife and children to New Zealand, and with the guidance of the Page family saved steadily from his earnings at Bisleys Ltd. In Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 92 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne 1982 he bought a takeaway business with the help of St Pauls people as guarantors and on 1 August 1983 Chay became a naturalised New Zealand citizen at a ceremony attended by many people from St Pauls. Eventually Chay and his family were reunited in January 1986. Today they have a new 'takeaway' business in Frankton and a new daughter Nga born in January 1988.

Cambodian Family with Val West Methodist Social Worker L-R Te Eam Keat, Lov Sim, Lov Ngon, Kuoch Cheng 1984 - Photo: Mrs Joan Beaumont The Cambodian family of Kuoch Cheng, daughter Lov Sim, son Lov Ngon and son- in-law Te Earn Keat arrived in New Zealand from a refugee camp in Thailand in 1984. They settled in Hamilton and worked very hard, attending night classes in English and working as machinist, metal worker, dressmaker and student. They all became New Zealand citizens in December 1987. When Cheng's mother made her way from France to Melbourne, the family eventually moved there so that the family could be reunited. On 4 July 1986 Trinti van Di and his wife Nguyen Thi Thu and daughter Dung (3) and Trang (1) arrived in Hamilton. Son Tai was born in December 1986. Di and Thi were determined to live in the Bryant Park area as it was close to Di's work at Fletcher Aluminium. They were helped to build a home in a new subdivision in Pukete being established by C Nicholls Ltd; Rob Nicholls the managing director is a member of St Pauls. Working bees were organised when church members painted, papered, sewed curtains and laid carpet so that the family could take up residence in June 1988. Further assistance with health and education needs have come from the church. Today the family is happily settled and becoming more confident in their new surroundings. The Sie family has maintained close ties with St Pauls people and wrote their story for us. "My name is Bian Ek Sie. I arrived in Hamilton on 25 September 1969 with my family, Tjoan my wife and my two children Susan and Tony from Jacarta, Indonesia. Susan then aged 4 and Tony was 2½. We thought New Zealand would be a good place to raise our family, as we didn't agree with the political situation in Indonesia. St Pauls Methodist Church kindly sponsored us and thanks to their love

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 93 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne and their support from the very beginning it has put us in good stead to face the future in our new home. "We experienced a major 'cultural shock' on arriving in New Zealand; we faced many problems in the beginning, not only was the food and weather different but the way of life is also different. The worst thing is the loneliness of being away from the rest of our family. "One of the first difficulties was with the English language, but with teachers like Cam Storey, Joan Beaumont and Kamma Grainger learning English was a real joy (but a lot of hard work). The late Rev Petch visited us in our first flat in River Road and bought us the first frozen chicken we ever saw-it was so big and hard frozen-and we honestly didn't know what to do with it. "Thanks to the congregation and the late Mr J Tidd I started work almost immediately as a junior clerk at Jack Tidd Ross Todd Ltd. After one year I was promoted to Cost Accountant. "Because our Indonesian qualifications were not recognised we had to start our careers all over again." Susan and Tony have followed in their mother's footsteps and all three are qualified pharmacists. Bian has taken early retirement from his accountancy job at Dairy Containers Ltd and is now studying philosophy. SSPQ The SSPQ Committee is at present a lively one under the able leadership of chairwoman Mrs Raewyn Bayliss. The committee meets about once monthly at St Pauls Centre. It selects priorities from a wide range of matters referred by Conference as well as local issues. The committee is represented by members on such groups as PARS, Waikato Co- ordinating Committee on Alcoholism, Bi-cultural Working Group, Methodist Social Services, Hospice. This committee has conducted seminars at St Pauls on a range of subjects including 'Alcohol Use and Abuse', 'Christian Morality', 'Baptism', 'Christian Parenting', 'Bi- culturalism', 'Sexuality and Christianity'. Discussions have also taken place on matters such as 'Corporal Punishment', 'How to help the rural community in times of economic depression', 'Christian morality', 'Frigates—are they necessary for New Zealand?', 'People, Money and Power', 'Housing', 'Liquor Legislation', 'Freemasonry', 'Theology of Polities'. Where appropriate people outside St Pauls congregation are invited to facilitate these occasions.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 94 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Recommendations from the SSPQ committee are sent to the Joint Methodist- Presbyterian Public Questions Committee eg on the use by New Zealand Police of soft nosed bullets or letters are sent to Members of Parliament as, for example, to Mr Lange regarding Afghanistan refugees in Pakistan and the Russian presence in Afghanistan or to the Minister of Justice re the Laking report on liquor advertising. The SSPQ committee is a crucial committee of a church which needs an informed and articulate voice on social issues at all times. Hamilton Bi-Cultural Task Group It is now nearly six years since the Methodist Church, Te Hahi Weteriana o Aoteraroa, made its decision to embark on a bi-cultural journey. This decision had its roots in a rising awareness of white racism during the 1960s, the establishment of the World Council of Churches Programme to Combat Racism and the National Council of Churches Programme on Racism set up in 1980. There were workshops conducted on themes such as "Evangelism and Racism" which recognised that if the gospel was going to be good news for people who are powerless because of cultural dominance in our society, the church needed to address the question of "power". The Methodist Conference in Takapuna in 1983 heard a report of a "power sharing seminar" and committed itself at that point to a bi-cultural journey. The Treaty of Waitangi, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, is also a part of our Methodist heritage, as Wesleyan missionaries were deeply involved in decisions about the Treaty, in its preparation and in persuading Maori to sign. Our Church therefore regards the Treaty as a foundational document which we must seek to honour, and in that honouring seek to redress the injustices of the last 150 years. The Treaty is a Covenant, and as people of God we can respond to the signing of the Treaty by Maori and Pakeha warmly and responsibly; we know about Covenant. Nationally, the Methodist Church has looked towards 1990 and the importance of the Treaty, it has also placed into practice a Council of Elders, a Bi-cultural Procedure for Reviewing Connexional Appointments, a Land Commission to do research and education, and has also begun a review of the Connexional Structures and of Ministry models from a bi-cultural perspective. The Hamilton-based Regional Work Group is a part of this national work. Seminars, workshops and a wide range of experiences have been offered to people within the Waikato parishes as a way of helping Methodists discover the meaning of the bi- cultural journey at local and national level.

Caretakers and Office Workers

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 95 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Back in February 1905 the Trust minutes record that the present cleaners (unnamed) were not giving satisfaction so it fell to stalwart member Mr J M Jones to keep the grounds and buildings in order at Collingwood Street. In May 1915 Mr Gardner was appointed cleaner at St Pauls for eight shillings a week. The grounds were kept in order by Messrs J M Jones, Geake, Bateson and Clark during the next two years. In early 1950s Rev H Matthews cleverly thought of a scheme whereby caretaking duties were carried out by a number of young men acting as assistant to the minister. When Rev Francis and his family moved into the Liverpool Street parsonage the old parsonage behind the church was let to Mr and Mrs Weir, Irish Methodists, who took on caretaking responsibilities for the London Street property. Once the new Centre was built which included a two bedroom caretaker's flat there was a succession of couples who looked after the church and the Centre. They were Pat and Stan Holdway, Mr and Mrs Butcher, Bill and Thelma Blade, Mr and Mrs Robbie Robertson, Mrs Marion Taylor and now her husband Gerald Taylor who is the present caretaker. He does not live on the premises as the flat is now occupied by the youth worker. In earlier years the minister dealt with all his own correspondence and if notices, programmes etc were required these were produced by a professional printer. Since the 1960s a number of women have assisted the ministers—Mrs Holland, Mrs J Dawson, Mrs Jean Sims, Mrs Frank Baker, Mrs Alice Smith and Mrs Beryl Bowler. The present secretary is Mrs Beverley Kimber who commenced work at the Centre in 1981. Secretaries are now considered to be indispensable to the smooth working of the Centre and parish as a whole.

Mrs Beverley Kimber, Centre Secretary - Photo Hamilton Methodist Achives

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 96 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne For some years Hilda Taylor assisted Bev by folding the weekly Bulletin or quarterly "News and Views". Faye Ford and Dorothy Fordyce now continue with this task each Friday morning. Once a fortnight Freda Gillstrom comes in to do the filing for Brian Turner and Alan Leadley. Lesley Utting is often found in the office as she carries out her duties as Synod minutes secretary and secretary for Leaders Meeting. The present Stewardship recorder is Jim Elton and his wife Joan Elton is Quarterly Meeting Minutes Secretary. Epworth Bookroom In 1960, during the ministry of Rev Bill Francis, and when Messrs Turners and Fow erected a block of shops in London Street between the church and Victoria Street, arrangements were made for the Home Mission Department to secure the lease of the shop alongside St Pauls and to arrange for a display window to be installed in the wall adjoining the church. The Epworth Bookroom was set up as a branch of the Auckland Epworth Bookroom in March 1962 and operated for quite a number of years in the distribution of Christian literature. Over these years the shop was managed by Vivienne Craig- Parker, Sybil Thomas and Bill Reilly with the assistance of a roster of local Methodists who relieved at lunch times and in emergencies. The service of Vivienne Craig-Parker, now Mrs David Baker, included a year's service under the Order of St Stephen and interestingly enough her first son is called Stephen. Unfortunately the shop ceased to trade profitably. The balance of the stock was returned to Auckland and the venture came to an end in May 1965. Tamahere Eventide Home A development in the Hamilton area of which Methodism may feel proud, was the establishment of the Tamahere Eventide Home situated on the Cambridge road about five miles from the Hamilton Chief Post Office. In the 1930s the social work of the Methodist Church in Auckland developed substantially under the direction and enthusiasm of Rev A Everill Orr. The outreach took him into the Waikato where in the late 1950s a strong demand for a local Old Peoples Home was met by the purchase from Mr J R N Herbert of the present site of over sixteen acres on the Cambridge road. The first home was opened free of debt on 7 May 1966 providing accommodation for 20 women, ten men and four live-in staff. Over the years the demand for accommodation grew, the waiting list at one stage reaching 102. Various extensions have been provided so that the Home now provides single room accommodation for 65 persons. Recreation rooms, a therapy department and extensive grounds make this an attractive place for our senior citizens. The provision of unit housing for those who are able to

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 97 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne live partially independently is under consideration by the Trust Board at present. Five members of the Trust Board originally appointed in 1964 are still serving. The present chairman is Rev Wilf Ford, its present secretary Mr Alan Bettany and its present Matron Mrs Judy McCarthy. A full account of the early years at Tamahere is contained in a booklet available from the Home, written by Mr D H (Doug) Payne who was secretary for 18 years.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 98 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne TRAVELLING TALES – some reminiscences T L Hames 1964, BC Leader, Trustee, Local Preacher. "In 1910 most of the churchgoers who didn't walk came in buggies and gigs, occasionally on horseback. The parson was provided with a horse and light buggy. Local preachers used horse transport, bicycles or walked. Sometimes a horse and buggy was hired for a local preacher from opposite the church In Collingwood Street [Dalgleishes stables? j. I remember when Mr Blamires lent me the parsonage buggy for the Te Kowhai-Ngaruawahia trip ie Te Kowhai in the afternoon and Ngaruawahia in the evening. It was a hard day's work for the horse even though the roads were level. Horse and buggy were used to places like Matangi, Newstead, Rototuna and Te Uku." Vivienne Pascoe nee Blamires 1989 "One night Betty my elder sister and I were waiting in the back bedroom full of excitement because Father was to bring home the first car we ever had. Up till then he had done all his pastoral visiting and preaching on a motorbike and sidecar but having upset Mother and Betty into a ditch it was decided that the Circuit would invest in a motor car. I remember him driving the grey Essex car up the drive and round the back of the house so we could have a view of this wonderful new means of transport. Mr J C Tietjens, 1964. Local Preacher "Mr W Harris was a very active and earnest preacher of the Word and the glory of God seemed to shine through his face. When farming at Te Kowhai he has been known to, after milking his cows, saddle up his horse and ride to conduct a morning service at Cambridge, have lunch then ride to Ohaupo, conduct an afternoon service, then (ride) home. ... I have quite often in the 1920s biked to Ngaruawahia, for a morning service, then on to Huntly for an evening one, then home to Hamilton. I have cycled to Cambridge. T'he roads of course were not too good in those days." Ivy and Norma Fow, 1989 In 1929 the Circuit bought Percy Paris a Whippet car but first he had to learn to drive. Harry Fow offered his services, his father's car and the driveway of the Fow home in George Street. Percy Paris promptly put the car down the bank and into the neighbour's garden - happily without damage to men or machine. J R Fow was not a good driver. He was so proud of Hamilton that his attention was easily diverted. As soon as Ivy Fow was old enough she taught herself to

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 99 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne drive, appointed herself his chauffeuse and drove him safely to preaching places and public engagements. In 1989 Rev Howard Matthews wrote: "The two Pomeroy brothers, James and William (son of founder James Pomeroy) who were in business as motor garage proprietors, and Waikato agents for the Morris and Austin franchise, supplied the circuit with a motor car for the use of the Superintendent Minister. Every two or so years, it was traded in on the latest model. Petrol and servicing was carried out by their garage and the Circuit fund met the costs incurred. This arrangement was certainly a great help to a young minister who was without a suitable motor car. When I was leaving the Circuit to proceed to Napier, where I had been appointed by Conference (after seven years at Hamilton) Mr Pomeroy saw to it that I was able to purchase a new Morris Minor four door model. To ensure that it was to my satisfaction, Mr Pomeroy arranged for me to proceed to Otahuhu (where the assembly plant then was) and to personally take possession of the new car and drive it down to Hamilton where his firm would service it. That year (1954) motor cars were in very short supply and I knew that without -Mr Pomeroy's help I would have been without transport in the Napier Circuit, as Napier did not provide the transport in those days. Both Mr Pomeroys were Trustees and loyal workers for the congregation of St Pauls." In 1939 Pomeroy Motors' price for a four door Morris Saloon was £325. In 1954 it was £500-£600.

Youth Fellowship Outing Photo Mrs Yvonne Gilbert Sunday School Bus Virginia Graham who, with her sister Jenny and brother Greg travelled to Sunday School on the Sunday School bus explains how the service began...

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 100 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The number of children wishing to come to Sunday School in 1950 was so high that the Local Youth Council decided to hire a bus to collect children from various areas of the city each Sunday morning. Buses Ltd secured the contract initially for £2.5-0 per week: later Pavlovich Ltd continued the service at a charge of 2/- per mile; jumble sales and donations met the cost. This service continued for several years until other suburban Sunday Schools were established and the need declined. However for two years a taxi service operated to the Hospital and Lake Cres area, for members and their children who had no other way of travelling to church. Rev H L Blamires-1964, Minister 1900-1903, 1908-1911. Mr Vyle included this story in the centennial publication. Mr Blamires had acquired a new horse which had been trained by Maoris but required breaking-in to the buggy. At this time a new bridge had been built across a creek on the way to Whatawhata but the sides had not been erected when Mr Blamires had to cross it to take a service at Karamu. The sawn timber, lying in the sun, was on the far side of the bridge and when halfway over the horse suddenly saw it and shied and went over the side into the creek with the buggy half on the bridge. The Minister jumped clear and freed the horse from the harness, got it out of the creek, walked it to Silvester's farm along the road, borrowed a saddle and rode on to his service at Karamu. There were no telephones in those days and in the afternoon he went home and was on his way to the evening service when he heard the rumour that he had been drowned. He advised his congregation that evening that the rumour had been "grossly exaggerated" and set out next morning to retrieve the buggy.

Travelling in the 1950s. Sunday School picnic. Matamata Hot Springs 1950 Photo Mrs Yvonne Gilbert Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 101 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne SUNDAY SCHOOL Back in Hamilton's early days, if you were a good Methodist, it can't have been easy to consider Sunday a day of rest. No sooner had the cows been milked, and other necessary chores attended to, than it was time to wash, dress, then ride, cycle or walk to church arriving, one hoped, with suitable decorum by 11 am. Sunday School and Bible Class met in the afternoons and the evening service was always the best attended for many years. So the family's horse and trap would often make three trips to town on a Sunday or people rode, cycled or walked if living nearby. Children accompanied their parents and sat in the family pew, often to a set pattern— mother against the wall holding the latest baby, father on the aisle with the next youngest with any other children seated between their parents as remembered by Grace Clement. The minister's talk to the children was the bright spot in what were often very long and tedious services. Some ministers like Rev H L Blamires had a real knack for teaching their small listeners and are remembered for a lifetime. Some children, looking for diversions would study their surroundings, carefully absorbing all they saw Sunday by Sunday. Thus it is today that our much loved Muriel Morrison (nee Melville) is able to bring such a fund of wonderful stories and word pictures of those times at Collingwood Street and later St Pauls, to share with us so happily.

Trinity Wesleyan Sunday School, Collingwood Street Scholars Photo Chas & Pauline Hailwood Back from left: 1. Bert Cooke (later All Black) 2. Harold Turbott (Radio Doctor) 4. Robert Allen 5. Norris Davey (later Frank Sargeson) 2nd Row: 3rd from right ? Pethybridge 3rd Row from left: 2. Pauline Allen 4. Poppy Cliff 7. Enid Hailwood Front Row from left: 4. Harold Cliff 8. Chas Hailwood

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 102 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne When the children gathered for Sunday School there was singing, a brief introduction to the story for that day, the collection was taken up and prayers were said before the children dispersed to their classes for further instruction. The superintendent reassembled the children briefly before they were dismissed, to check that they all knew the texts or Biblical passages to be memorised for the following Sunday. Over the years the time for Sunday School has altered to meet changing needs. From being held in the afternoons it moved to the mornings — at various times either before or during the church service. Today the children come into church with their parents or Sunday School teacher for 10-15 minutes then leave for approximately 45 minutes of class. The earliest minutes of Trinity Wesleyan Sunday School teachers' meetings dated June 1913, record the annual election of officers with Rev J Wrigley presiding; Superintendent J Treloar; Secretary and Treasurer S A Pethybridge; Assistant Secretary H Cliff; Librarian A Fow; Organist Miss Gaulton. Other members of the staff were Mesdames Wrigley, Home and Cliff; Misses Houghton, Jenkins, Clover, Peace and Clothier; and Messrs S Clothier and Monk. From reports in the Waikato Times and the Circuit Schedule book some of the superintendents and secretaries prior to 1913 have been named (see appendices) and we learn that there were 30 children in the Sunday School in September 1879. Sunday School resources were pooled after Union between the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist churches and classes resumed in the old Collingwood Street church once it was resited on the London Street property. Lack of early records for the Primitive Methodist Church before Union have made it difficult to discover the names of the men and women who ran the Sunday School there except for those who have been mentioned in an earlier chapter. However, admissions registers begun after Union list teachers and pupils and the 1914 register contains some familiar names-Harry, Muriel and Elsie Fow; Chas Hailwood and two of his brothers; Leslie and Elsie Pethybridge; Thornton and Hazel Tidd; Maisie, Vida and Doris Wilson; Thomas, Myrtle and Lorna Ewan and mam others. In 1988 Chas Hailwood wrote: "As a Sunday School scholar at St Pauls, my favourite teacher was a Miss Mae Clothier. Another respected person (I think his name was Monk) occasionally had to send some of us out of the room for minor misbehaviour. I distinctly remember a poignant sense of guilt when we learned he was killed in the 1914- 1918 war. One of our conscience battles at the time was to decide where our Sunday School collection would go - in the box provided or in a slot machine where cakes of chocolate exited-the machine was tantalising close to the church." Miss Mac Clothier (who was an aunt of Margaret Walker) resigned as teacher in 1920. In 1919 the following resolution was passed at the Teachers' Meeting

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 103 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne "that the high time has arrived when something should be done in the form of concerts, organ recitals etc for the purpose of raising funds for a building for the Infant Department which is urgently needed". In the months that followed a garden party was held at the Treloar's house, the Ladies' Bible Class led by Doris Wilson arranged a concert and other fund raising events and collections all culminated in the opening of a new kindergarten schoolroom (a separate building on the Dairy Company boundary) on the 4 December 1921 at 2.45 pm. Miss Win Houghton who had looked after the kindergarten department for many years was invited to 'turn the key'. Miss Doris Child (later Mrs Jebson) then became the leader of the kindergarten department for about three years. In those days Sunday School teachers were interviewed to see if they were 'suitable' then placed 'on trial' for a three month period before being accepted as 'teachers in full' by the Teachers' Meeting. Many of the teachers were recruited from the Young Peoples' Bible Classes. They would meet regularly at the house of the Superintendent to study and prepare the lessons for their classes. Marks system was introduced whereby teachers were to allot to each child in their class two marks for attendance, three for conduct and three for the lesson. Prizes were then awarded at the end of the year. Mr James Treloar Much of the success of the Methodist Sunday School in the Hamilton Circuit in these years can be attributed to the remarkable talents, energy and vision of James Treloar. He was first elected superintendent of the Collingwood Street Sunday School in 1908. Shortly after Union, he resigned to head the Young Men's Bible Class through the critical war years but again in 1920 he was elected to the position of Sunday School Superintendent and continued to serve until ill health forced him to resign in 1942. There seemed to be no end to the abilities and interests of this very gifted inventor and engineer. His weekdays were occupied as an engineering partner in the Treloar Milking Machine Co and for some years as a Borough Councillor but Sundays would find him either in the Sunday School hall or in the pulpit somewhere as a local preacher. In both roles he captured the attention of young and old alike with his magical voice quality, his way with words and by the fascinating working models and drawings he would bring along to illustrate his talks. Hilda Bray remembers the model of a soldier used for the talk entitled "Put on the whole armour of Christ". Muriel Morrison remembers one Sunday when he made an archway of letters reading C-H-A- R-A-C-T-E-R, placed it on the pulpit, then proceeded to talk to the children about the desirable qualities suggested by each of the letters eg C-courage, H-honesty.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 104 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

James Treloar-Sunday School Superintendent 1908-1914, 1920-1942 His niece Cathy Parkinson recalls him telling, not reading "Pilgrims Progress" in serial form for a few minutes at the end of Sunday School so that the children could hardly wait to come back the following week for the next instalment. At tennis parties the children rode on one of his model engines while their parents played their matches. James Treloar once organised a race in the grounds of the between a horse and a steam driven car that he owned. Phrenology (reading the bumps on one's head) and hypnotism were also skills he had acquired and he was an enthusiastic member of the Beautifying Society being particularly fond of trees. Mrs Treloar was formerly Lily Reid of Thames (and aunt of Norman Law) and there was one son Ron Treloar. Annual Sunday School Picnics Early in the Sunday School year usually in February or March the teachers organised a picnic either in the grounds of a country school, to a local farm, at the Crystal Hot Springs, Matamata or on board the SS Manuwai as it steamed downstream to Ngaruawahia or upstream to the Narrows. Initially the teachers provided the sandwiches and drink while the children could bring cakes if they wished. The shopping list for the picnic in 1921 consisted of 12 lbs meat, 8 lbs sugar, 10 lbs butter, 1½ lbs tea, 100 buns and 18 41b loaves of bread. Mr Gilling was to supply enough milk! Later during the depression years children were asked to bring their own food but cordial and tea were still provided by the Sunday School staff. After a day of swimming, games and races it was tired happy children who were brought back to Hamilton in the buses or lorries hired for the occasion. Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 105 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne In 1931 the Sunday School gladly went without its annual picnic and put the proceeds from the Picnic Fund towards the Napier Earthquake Relief Fund with an accompanying message of sympathy to Methodist Sunday School teachers in the stricken area. In 1933 the picnic was again cancelled because of the Depression. When the Maeroa Sunday School opened in 1924, St Pauls handed over all the children from that area to the care of Mr Claude Primmer, the new Superintendent, Mr J D Clark the secretary and to the first teachers, Mrs Primmer, Miss Westney and Miss Findlay. "However it wasn't long before we were up again in numbers and St Pauls, St Johns and Maeroa vied with each other as the biggest Sunday School in the district" recalled Lorna Ewan. In 1930 St Pauls had 16 teachers looking after 69 children (average attendance 50) in the kindergarten department, 73 in the Sunday School and 50 in the Bible Class. At this time Miss W Houghton and Mr Cecil E Finch were leading the youngest children 'the pianiste' was Miss A Watson with Misses Blacklock and Child as orchestra. By 1933 the Sunday School roll had climbed to 133. During this period the Waikato Winter Show Sunday School Section was introduced and the Hamilton Methodist Sunday Schools put in entries with enthusiasm and much success. Lorna Ewan a devoted Sunday School teacher and Bible Class Union Secretary for many years describes how this section of the annual show came into being. "It may not be generally known that the committee for the Show section was the brainchild of the South Auckland Young Women and Men's Bible Class Union. The Waikato Times reported that Mr William Paul (Show Secretary) had seen a display of Sunday School work at a Dunedin exhibition, some of which was coming on loan to Hamilton. We got in touch with Mr Paul and offered any assistance which he gladly accepted. We then rang all the local Sunday School Superintendents in the town inviting them to a meeting at St Pauls and a representative committee was set up. The Church of Christ and the Salvation Army were particularly interested and for many years Mr Underwood, served on that committee." St Pauls won the Waikato Winter Show Sunday School shield for aggregate points in 1933 and 1934. Morning Sunday School The question of changing Sunday School from afternoons to mornings was first mooted in the Teachers' Meetings minutes in 1931 but after discussion the only change was to bring the starting time back to 2.00 pm from 2.30 pm during daylight saving. In 1940 the times for Sunday School and Bible Class were adjusted to 2.15 pm and 2.45 pm respectively to enable the Sunday School teachers to attend Bible Class as well. Finally in 1942 during Rev Old's term of ministry and after a poll of parents, morning Sunday School commenced at 9.45 am on 4 October. Sunday School Anniversaries It is impossible to speak with anyone who attended a Methodist Sunday School in Hamilton before 1970 without them telling you that the Sunday School Anniversaries and the ensuing 'bun fight' were one of the highlights of the year for them. In earlier Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 106 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne years anniversaries seemed to be 'movable feasts' occurring any time between January and May but in the late 1930s November became the established month. A theme would be chosen and then music and readings to suit. The incumbent organist and choir director assisted by others usually trained the children for four to six weeks beforehand and budding prima donnas made sure that they never missed a Sunday and a chance to shine in a solo spot. Mr Sid Ashhurst prepared the choir for several occasions from 1949 and then Mr Howard Underwood took over the job in later years assisted by Mrs Sybil Thomas, Miss Catherine Petch and others. An orchestra was often part of the proceedings. Much discussion would centre around who would be invited to preach at the three services. Mr James Treloar was always in great demand at other circuit churches especially for the afternoon services which always centred on the kindergarten children and younger Sunday School children (the writer made her debut at St Pauls singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" at age 2½ at one such afternoon Anniversary service). Another notable preacher was Tom Garland (Uncle Tom of the Friendly Road Choir and radio fame). As the day drew closer, there were extra practices in the church, everyone was urged to 'learn your words, stop fidgeting, watch the conductor, stand where you are told'. The girls' heads were full of the new summer dresses their mothers were busily sewing and for the boys it was perhaps long trousers for the first time or a new shirt, new shorts and stiff shiny roman sandals. The congregation was asked to raid home gardens for early summer blooms to decorate the church. Platforms were built in the sanctuary area so that up to 130 youngsters could be squeezed into the choir stalls and front of the church. Just as crushed in the pews were the proud parents who came to watch their offspring perform. During the week following the anniversary the teachers provided a 'tea' for the Sunday School. The parsonage loquat tree was raided while savouries and sandwiches were set out on newsprint covered trestle tables; the cakes and ice cream and jelly came last! Entertainment was often movies (the projector frequently broke down) or games. Again in December the scene was repeated for the Sunday School Christmas Party. In later years Harry Fow always supplied trays of strawberries to go with the ice cream. Many children then went to elaborate measures to persuade the teachers that they hadn't yet received their strawberries hoping to score a second helping! Another event which brought children, parents and teachers together was the annual concert held in the hall. Fred Gilbert (later Rev) was always there to provide the lighting or was a certain Sunday School teacher Yvonne Webster the light of his life? Yvonne Gilbert (nee Webster) remembers practising in Biblical Plays for these concerts, arranged by Mrs Cook and Myrtle Ewan and later with her own class making crepe paper costumes for them all.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 107 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne A New Superintendent In August 1942 there was a change of personnel in the Sunday School department. Mr J Allan Smith (d.1955) who had been joint superintendent with Mr James Treloar since 1924, was granted leave of absence until after the war to fulfill his responsibilities to the Home Guard. Mr Treloar resigned through ill health and his place was taken by Mr Harry H Fow (1901-1983). Armed with a pocketful of peppermints, great personal interest in the children and youthful spirit and enthusiasm he soon endeared himself to children and parents alike. Memories of Sunday School outings are invariably memories of Harry Fow. He felt keenly the responsibility of having so many youngsters in his care and at every opportunity would be counting heads to check that no-one had fallen off the back of a truck, drowned in the hot pools or missed the train. His daughter Noeline Duncan recalls how stiff and sore he was after a trip to climb Mt Te Aroha, being determined to keep up with the leaders. The train trip to Te Aroha was another outing—who can forget Harry moving up and down the train giving out apples. When he had problems remembering the names of the girls from Te Rahui Wahine hostel he would draw a sketch of their faces as a memory aid. When they found out he was teased mercilessly. If any of his Sunday School scholars were successful even in a small way there would be a note of congratulations and encouragement from Harry Fow in the post. His favourite hymns became our favourites—'Sing we the King who is coming to reign', 'Dare to be a Daniel', 'Crown him with many crowns', 'Mine eyes have seen the glory', and the Boys' Brigade hymn 'Will you anchor hold?' His service to the church covered a broad spectrum as Trustee, Lay Preacher, Circuit Steward and Conference representative. Mrs Lucy Fow (nee Fear) presented the prizes at the Sunday School prizegiving each December and decorated the church for Anniversary services for some years. Both Harry and Lucy Fow had been national singles and doubles champions at badminton in the 1930s and were keen tennis players. Once morning Sunday School began, Harry Fow could see the need for further changes. These included rearranging the seating plans, (youngest in the front oldest at the back) taking the offering up as in church (envelopes to be dispensed with) and then having it dedicated by a scholar, responsive prayers, opening music and introit, classes to retire and reassemble to music, streamlining distribution of teaching aids, and rolls and the closing period to be used for revision of memory passages. livery Sunday the secretary of the Sunday School would sit at a table on the platform, count the collection, sort and distribute teaching materials according to roll numbers and give out the attendance registers to the teachers. For twenty nine years from 21 May 1918 to 15 October 1947 this task was the responsibility of Mr William Earnest Wood and two generations of children had grown up seeing his familiar face each Sunday along with those of Jim Treloar and Allan Smith. A wonderful tradition of committed

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 108 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne service. 'Wee Willie' Wood was also a devoted member of St Pauls choir for many years.

Photo Mr Mal Lloyd Mock Wedding at St Paul's Youth Week 1955? Harry Fow MC Harold Witten, the Blushing Bride Meanwhile across in (tie primary and kindergarten department the smallest children were sitting on small curved chairs painted green, on a sloping floor. Virginia Graham (nee Pomeroy) remembers: "In the 1950s the morning would start with the singing of Welcome, welcome how do you do Welcome welcome, how do you do? Happy to meet you, happy to greet you Welcome welcome kind friends and true. "Your day was made of it was your birthday for you were allowed to sit in the birthday chair (a slightly more 'upmarket' cane chair) while everyone sang 'Happy Birthday'. Everything was predictable—we always sang 'Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, and 'Jesus loves me' and Tell me the story of Jesus' and therefore we felt comfortable and secure as small children. We placed our pennies and threepenny bits (William Ready called his Sunday School children 'Wesleyan threepenny bits') in the velvet collection bag or wooden box and sang 'Hear the pennies dropping, listen as they fall, everyone for Jesus, he shall have them all'.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 109 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Jesus dipped out occasionally -I remember buying bubble gum or toffee bars for 2d on the way to church!" 'The kindergarten teachers each took a small class of children aside for the Bible story and then drawing or craft work to illustrate the themes. Recreation of the story using models in the sand tray was popular How fortunate for harassed teachers that sand seemed appropriate in so many Biblical stories". Mrs Noeline Duncan (nee Fow), a kindergarten teacher then, named Roger Walker (son of Andy and Margaret Walker) and one of New Zealand's well known architects, as one of her star pupils. 'His pictures and models were always outstandingly creative but seldom' said Noeline resignedly, 'did they relate to the Biblical story of the day' Every child baptised at St Pauls was and still is entered into the Cradle Roll. Their birthdays are acknowledged each year and when old enough they are invited to join the Sunday School. The Cradle Roll was kept for 23 years by Miss P Sansom. In more recent years it has been kept by Mrs Shirley Bennett, Mrs Jean Edgecombe and presently by Mrs Alice Smith. A baptism discovered in the register recently is worth mentioning. On 24 December 1944 four year old Hilary Mignonne Welsh, daughter of George and Mignonne Welsh, was baptised by Rev C H Olds with water sent from Jacob's Well in Samaria. More Staff Changes At the end of 1947 Mr A J (Dick) McNaughton replaced Mr Wood as secretary and continued in this position until 1958 (he married Beryl Clothier, sister of Ngaire Clothier who was a popular and effective Sunday School teacher). Other teachers were Miss Shirley Duff, Miss Gilbert, Mr Watkins, Mr Stubbs, Mr R Fordyce, Mr Ron Lindsey, Mr Howard Underwood, Miss Mary Astley, Miss Olive Beaumont, Mrs D Hight, Miss Y Webster, Miss Z Peace, Miss Ruth Blakely, Mr Ernie Hepplethwaite, Miss Yvonne Clifford, Miss Bev Gerrand, Miss Hilda Duff, Misses Thelma and Joyce Wood, Miss G Richards, Miss Muriel Hicks, Mrs Dearlove, Mr M Lloyd, Miss Baywell, Miss Beverley Pomeroy, Mr C Marton, Mr Maurice Arthur, Miss Marshall, Mr Hugh Dyson and Mr W (Bill) Abbott. Teachers gained an unplanned respite from weekly lesson preparations for some months at the end of 1947 and into 1948 when the infantile paralysis (polio) epidemic closed the Sunday Schools. The Auckland Sunday School Union had prepared a set of weekly lessons and readings for distribution at small cost and the teachers at St Pauls agreed to distribute these to the Sunday School pupils in their homes. Such was the zeal of the Auckland Sunday School Union that it had arranged for the lessons to be published in each Saturday edition of the Auckland Star during the epidemic.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 110 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

Sunday School and Bible Class early 1957. Harry Fow top right of Primary Dept doorway. Moving into the 1960s Trevor Duncan was secretary of the Sunday School as the new decade began, followed by Grant Ewan. Peter Houghton, Trevor Poultney and Peter Taylor in 1967. Harry Fow completed 23 years of memorable service as Superintendent in 1964. Mrs Sybil Thomas became acting superintendent in the following year until Mr Hugh Dyson was able to take up the post in 1966 for two years. Some of the teachers 1965-1967 were Rosemary Williams, Christine Redwood, Miss C Lowe, Brian dark, Mrs Meg dark, Miss Janet Coatsworth, Janette Pratt, Joyce Pinkerton, Mrs Shirley Dunphy, Miss Linda Holdway, Miss Catherine Petch, Rob Rounthwaite, Jim Cathcart, Miss D Tasker, Misses Caroline and Noeline Emo, Miss Sandra Walker, Mrs Margaret Houghton, Mrs Lamb, Heather Sperry, Mrs Crosby, Miss Cheer. The Primary Department was led by Miss Hicks, Mrs Stevens, Mrs Margaret Houghton (nee Brokenshire), Mrs Mavis Pomeroy, Miss Dorothy Fordyce, Miss Sandra Walker, Mrs Bev Williams, Linda Holdway, Miss Judy Graham and others. The Methodist Sunday Schools in Hamilton had long encouraged their scholars to study for the annual scripture exams prepared by the Sunday School Union. In the 1920s Mrs J M Jones and Mr Jamieson coached the children. In the 1950s and 1960s Mr George Hale was the supervisor. If one passed successfully a red seal for your diploma was presented at the end of-year prize giving.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 111 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Miss Joan Beaumont now takes up the story... "In 1967 Harold Witten became Superintendent and held the post for 11 years Warm tributes of appreciation were paid at a presentation morning tea and in due course Harold moved on to become Circuit and Parish Steward. In 1979 Joan Beaumont, who had been coming in to prepare the older pupils for the annual scripture examination for some five years previously, took over the reins. "As has been the case in many churches, especially central city ones, our Sunday School has become quite a small one, so that we now function in just two classes which both meet in Primary Room 1 (subdivided by folding doors). The smaller classrooms used previously have all been converted into various offices eg that of our Church Social Worker. While many changes have taken place in the Sunday School work over the past 25 years eg the old Sunday School Anniversary services no longer happen, yet a steady work goes on seeking to assist the development of Christian faith in children. The Sunday School children take their place in the life of the church participating in services in various ways-notably so in the final (Christmas) family service each year. This is followed by a 'break up' morning tea party or lunch. The bigger productions of earlier years are no longer possible (we remember Mrs Betty Arthur and the wonderful Christmas pageants) but some worthwhile presentations have been made, often calling on some 'extra' participation by adults and youth group members. In 1980, for the 200th anniversary of the founding of Sunday Schools in Britain by Robert Raikes, we produced, with the assistance of some of the adult congregation, a play depicting the first Sunday School. It was presented in the Founders Theatre at a special Rally of the Sunday School Union in conjunction with Scripture Union and then was repeated in our own auditorium after the break up family service in December. Participation in activities organised by the Sunday School Union in Auckland has given stimulus to our work with individual and class effort entries (which have won certificates) in the Handwork competition and exhibition held each year in the May holidays. The senior class (Std 1 up) study the syllabus lessons for the annual scripture examination and most of the pupils and their teachers sit for the exam. "In 1985 our school was awarded a special trophy—a framed illuminated text- to adorn our walls for a year, having been judged 'a small school worthy of encouragement for a worthy level of participation in Sunday School Union activities'. It was the first time this award had been made outside of Auckland. "The following year, 1986, we were delighted to learn that we had won the shield for first place in the scripture exam in Division D (schools with a roll number of less than 25). Prior to this we had managed only second place, and in 1987 we again won this shield. Small groups of children have travelled to Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 112 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Auckland to attend the Sunday School Union's Anniversary concert where these awards are presented.

Some of the Senior S.S. Class of 1986 at work in their room. From left: Catherine Homes, Matthew Walker, Jeffrey Edgecombe, Amelia Jones, Penny Rickman, Kirstie Walker, Sarah Belgrave

Wedding of Beth Sutton to Jim George Easter Saturday 21 April 1984. The Sunday School claims responsibility for the beginning of this romance-hence this photo! From left- Rob Nicholls behind his daughters Jenny & Lisa, Joan Beaumont the bride Beth, Sue Nicholls, the groom Jim. "In more recent years a Caring Kiwis Club has been operating in the Sunday School (under Christian World Service) giving pupils a wider view of people's needs in various parts of the world. Links with children and young people in our sister church in Mendoza, Argentina have contributed to this. We have

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 113 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne been able also to share with other Sunday Schools in some children's celebrations organised by Scripture Union and teachers have benefited from participating in training days also organised by the Scripture Union. The contact with Sunday School teachers from a large area has provided inspirational as well as the actual content of the training seminars. "The Cradle Roll presently organised by Alice Smith and the Church Foyer Creche by Beth George are important parts of our Sunday School life. The present staff-Gayle Adams, Judith Kent, Mele Vaka working with Joan Beaumont and supported by Pat Pinkerton for music and by relievers Raewyn Bayliss, Lynne Jones, Jean Edgecombe and Tom West stand in succession to a large number of previous teachers including the late Mrs May Jones, whose generous bequest has greatly benefited our work. "Among the more recent teachers we recall Lynne dark, Andrea Martin (now Dennison), Keith Page, Alison Darvill, Jim and Beth George. Alice Smith and Hilda Bray."

Sunday School Superintendents Primitive Methodist 1906 Mr S Hartley Trinity Wesley, Collingwood Street Prior to 1879, Mr Sanfield 1879-1900 Mr George French, Mr Noah Roper Cox, Mr R Waite, Miss Thompson, Mr Tom Dillicar 1903-04 Mr J R E Hatrick 1905 Mr W F Mason 1906-07 Mr W Highfield 1908 Mr H Ford 1908 Mr J Treloar 1914-17 Mr F C Matthews 1918-20 Mr S A Pethybridge 1920-42 Mr James Treloar 1928-42 Mr J A Smith (Joint Superintendent) 1942-65 Mr Harry H Fow 1965 Mrs Sybil Thomas (Acting Superintendent) 1966-67 Mr Hugh Dyson 1967-78 Mr Harold Witten 1979- Miss Joan Beaumont

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 114 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne BIBLE CLASS AND YOUTH WORK The Utmost for the Highest—Bible Class motto Before Union in 1913 young people of both the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist churches in Hamilton were organised into various groups which met weekly, fortnightly or monthly. After Union the young peoples activities continued in the Collingwood Street Sunday School hall while St Pauls was being extended and renovated and until the Collingwood Church was relocated in London Street. Even then on some nights it was difficult to find room for gatherings and in the 1920s the Young Men's Bible Class used to meet in the St Pauls church vestibule. If you were aged 14 or over and belonged to a young peoples group its activities tended to occupy a great part of your life. Not only were there regular Bible Classes, Christian Endeavour and Band of Hope, but from within these groups emerged sewing, prayer and study circles, tennis and gymnastic clubs, missionary auxiliaries and numerous ad-hoc committees set up to organise social events, concerts, special services," rallies and camps. This involvement was encouraged by the adults as it was seen as a training ground for the young people's future role in the organisation of the church and as an incentive to understand and live the Christian way of life. Socially these church-based activities were also accepted as a wholesome match- making bureau as witnessed by the large number of marriages between Bible Class members, not necessarily just within St Pauls but between young people in the circuit or district who met at district rallies or national conferences. The problems of denominational prejudices within families could be avoided if the couple belonged to the same Protestant church.

Young Men's Bible Class c 1923 Leader Mr A J Minnear Photo Mr Eric Clothier Eric Clothier—Right hand end of back row. Fred Ladd—2nd from left front row.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 115 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The Bible Classes met formally on a Sunday afternoon starting with opening devotions, followed by a reading of the previous meetings minutes then a talk about any business matters needing attention. The topic for the day (usually taken from the syllabus) was introduced and discussed. There was then a Bible reading, another hymn and the benediction to close. Unfortunately the minutes, while saying the discussion was 'interesting' or 'worthwhile', rarely record personal or consensus opinions. However, the topics themselves reflect the interest and in some cases the sex role expectations of the times. A random selection from the Young Women's Bible Class syllabus 1927-1933 yields 'The Friendship of Books', 'Racial Difficulties' (no further explanations given), 'Decisions that alter Life', 'Our Responsibilities in the Solomons', The Liberation of the Human Heart' and 'Home is Women's Sphere'. The men's syllabus for 1910-1912 listed 'Should State and Church be Allied?', 'Discipline—its use and abuse' and 'Can a Millionaire be a Christian?'. In 1921 Mr Newton King spoke on 'The Maoris' and some other topics that year were 'The Church and the Masses', 'Three Revolutions and the part played by Methodists' and 'Patriotism and the Civic Call'. One topic discussed in 1933 which has a chilling ring about it for June 1989 is 'Chinese Realities—rebuilding the social order'. Prominent in the Young Women's Bible Class in the 1920s-1930s were Essie Burnett, Mrs Gertrude Bradley, Eileen Gowanlock, Jean Purdom, Pauline Allen , Elsie Jebson, Miss Webster, Mrs W A Smith, Floss Gilling, Doris Child, Poppy Cliff, Vida, Doris and Maisie Wilson, Hazel Tidd, Mrs Jessie Earle, Ida Grice, Miss G French, Mrs Jo Williams, Lorna Ewan, Myrtle Ewan, Grace Atkinson, Miss Wood and Miss M Hallard, Rina and Avis Tietjens. Most of the women remained members well into their twenties or until marriage and once married often stayed as leaders of the younger classes until family responsibilities took over. Mr James Treloar led the Young Mens Bible Class during the years of World War I and kept morale high with a variety of activities — tennis, gymnastics and camps being popular. Early office bearers of the Hamilton Young Men's Bible Class were Messrs T H Tidd, Seymour Treloar, H Willey, H S Potter, H Silvester, R B Webber, J Pomeroy, Fred Daniell, J V Bryant, K.H.Leak. Others joined as years went by—W C Leak, W G Densem, W Wood, Len Clover, K Bradley, Gardner, Leity, Harvey and Jack Clothier. Mr T L Hames replaced Mr Treloar as leader in 1920. Much time was devoted to fund raising, in fact 'service' seemed synonymous with anything one did to raise money for the church. Planning for garden parties, moonlight parties, socials, hikes, sewing and cooking for bazaars etc demanded energy, initiative and commitment. The money raised was then allocated to Home Missions, Foreign Missions, the Epsom Orphanage or Circuit funds. Sister Nicholls sent in quarterly reports on the work of the deaconesses in the Waikato and also spoke to the Bible

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 116 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Classes. The Sewing Circle on Monday evenings sewed garments for the orphanage or for Maori families in need. The Young Women's Bible Class minutes of 18 December 1932 state 'Sister Nicholls spoke to us about the Maoris in the Waikato and showed us the need of our co-operation and sympathy that the love of Jesus may be known to these people. Several large parcels of clothing were then wrapped up and we realised our effort was worthwhile.' In that way all felt they were serving Christ and his Church but rarely, it seemed from the records, did they stand alongside those whom they helped. They came closest to it, however, in the Bible Class involvement with the Maori hostels which extended into the 1960s. Te Rahui Tane was in London Street, Te Rahui Wahine in Bryce Street and the Deaconess Home in Selkirk Street. The hostels were set up so that young Maori people could come in from outlying districts to obtain a better education at the city's high schools. Training in domestic skills took place at the hostels supervised by the Hostel staff. The young Maori people attended church and Bible Class and in turn hosted functions for St Pauls young people at the hostels. A number St Pauls young people under the guidance of the Sisters (Deaconesses) particularly Sister Nicholls, became teachers in the Maori Sunday Schools which were held in homes or halls in country areas. A special event in the life of the Young Women's Bible Class Movement was the Majority Year camps held in 1927 throughout New Zealand to celebrate 21 years of Bible Class Camps. There were meetings with the Bible Classes from other Protestant churches—principally Baptist, Presbyterian and Church of Christ and these laid the foundation for ecumenical leadership in later years. Special services for Mothers' Day and 'Father and Son' Banquets were popular. The District Bible Class Union between 1920 and 1940 extended from Ohura to Thames, Rotorua to Huntly and everywhere in between. Lorna Ewan (or Lorna Union as she was affectionately known) was Union Secretary for many years. She wroXe regular newsletters to all the small Bible Classes in the district and encouraged them in all their activities. In 1940 recognition was made by the Sunday School teachers of her many years of service as South Auckland Young Women's Bible Class Union Secretary and as a teacher in the Sunday School in earlier years. Another leader of the Boys' Bible Class for many years was Henry Cook, St Pauls organist and choirmaster. Stan Harris remembers him and some of his Bible Class boys being keen harriers. World War II and later Memories of Bible Class days in the war years and later are provided by Yvonne Gilbert (nee Webster) a former Sunday School teacher, Bible Class leader and Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 117 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Secretary of Youth Fellowship for many years. Yvonne and her husband Rev Fred Gilbert worked very hard for the development of church camps in the district and particularly Camp Epworth. Fred was also a Bible Class leader. "We used to take our Bible Class members to Easter Camps around the Waikato: separate camps for boys and girls. I have photos of some of these camps held at Cambridge, Waitomo, Tahuna etc. I used to hire a bus to take folk from St Pauls. Later Fred and I were involved in camps at Epworth, as Leaders from the first camp and we have watched Epworth develop over the years. Labour Weekend Retreats were held for many years for youth from St Pauls Fellowship members and friends. As well, we leaders attended Winter Schools for more senior young folk. "When we were Bible Class members, there were plenty of activities to interest us. Socials were held at the various Methodist churches in turn of a Saturday night. No dancing was allowed, but we had square dancing, games and stunts. As well there was tennis in summer and badminton in winter. The Badminton Club used to enter competitions and travel to other clubs for games. "St Pauls Youth Fellowship was started about 1947 when George Trebiico was caretaker. Minister's assistant and youth worker at St Pauls. Youth Fellowship was very popular and at that stage about 50 young folk attended each Monday evening in the Church Parlour. On the weekends we sometimes hired a bus and had special outings to Mt Maunganui, Matamata Hot Springs, Waitomo Caves etc often taking Mr and Mrs Jebson as chaperones! Because of travelling restrictions during the war years, young folk hadn't been able to travel far. Few had cars, we mostly travelled by bicycle. "Youth Fellowship continued after George Trebiico went to Trinity College, and other young men followed to help in the church as Minister's Assistant. We also gathered young people who came to Hamilton for work or training at Tech or Waikato Hospital. Folk came from Morrinsville, Te Awamutu, Te Kowhai etc, often returning home at weekends. This group was a source of fellowship and training that led to full time work in the church for many. Besides those mentioned were Mary Astley (later Rev Astley), Lorraine Flowers (deaconess), Winnie Bennett (deaconess) and Barbara Hartstone (married Rev Trevor Bennett). Others are active leaders in Church circles today - Joyce (nee Millar) and Harold Witten, Dorothy and Hugh Dyson, Edna Webster (nee Grayson)." Many of these people found their calling to Christ's service in the fellowship and faith sharing of Bible Class camps. Epworth Camp at Karapiro has been a focus for young Methodists in the district since the first camp in 1952. Its development has been made possible by the interest, enthusiasm and sheer hard work of many. The contribution of one person in particular was acknowledged on Easter Saturday 1962 when the John Jebson Memorial Gate was dedicated by Rev S J Werren. Mrs D

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 118 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Jebson and Miss Elsie Jebson presented the gate for dedication as a tribute to the late John Jebson for his caring leadership of youth over many years and his work for Camp Epworth. It is to be hoped that a detailed history of Camp Epworth will be written soon so that the efforts of so many others can be rightfully acknowledged and recorded.

Easter Camp at Epworth 1959 Photo Mr Mal Lloyd Youth Work in the 1950s Mal Lloyd recalls "Within St Pauls was a large number of families who were loyal and supportive of the youth programme. They included Lynette and Dorothy Baker, Alan, David and Elaine Baker, Edna, Margaret and Arthur Grayson, Alf, Winston, Colin and Joyce Pinkerton, Brian Underwood, Fred, Joy, Graeme, Rae and Robin Thomas, Helen, Peter, Margaret and Mary Tidd, Rex and David Davies, Caroline, Florence and Noeline Emo, Dennis and Harvey Gadd, Ron and Pat Clothier, Waters family, Enid and Alison Francis, Virginia, Jennifer and Gregory Pomeroy, Bev, Pat, Robert, Allen and Graeme Rounthwaite, Rob and Kaye Nicholls, Gwynneth, Jacqueline and Phyllis Laing, John Arthur, Roger, Sandra and Gavin Walker, David, Peter, Dennis, Matthew, Mark and Anne Hale Judy and Peggy de Luen, Ann Rhind, M Sargisson to name a few. "We had up to six Bible Classes meeting on a Sunday morning before church in make-shift accommodation. This was before the Church Centre was built. Membership grew to the 80 mark and was led by Zena Peace (later to become the wife of the Rev L A Brooks), Yvonne Gilbert (nee Webster), Joyce Witten, Harold Witten, Mal Lloyd, Eddie Webster and Jim Marsters. Encouraged by their leaders the St Pauls youth gave good support to the District Easter Camps. "South Auckland was behind many of the other Districts in moving into mixed sex camps. The first for senior youth was held in 1955 at the Te Aroha School and Church Hall. In the following year the District Education Council

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 119 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne introduced what was called a 'semi mixed' camp for all ages—the girls being at Camp Epworth and the boys at Leamington School with a joint programme arranged for the Saturday. The experiment was not very satisfactory because unauthorised inter-camp visits (it was a time when young people were starting to bring motor cars to camps) disrupted the programmes of each. Large numbers attended —150 girls and 100 boys. This was a learning experience and in the next few years, three regional mixed camps were held. St Pauls had a large contingent of 50 Bible Class members at the Te Kuiti School in 1957 and another large group at Waihi in 1958. In 1959 St Pauls supported the central Easter Camp at Epworth. An attendance of 200 made it the largest Methodist camp held on the site to date. "The CYMM was formed after the phasing out of the old separate Boys' and Girls' Bible Class Unions which had been strong in the 1930s and 1940s, though it took some years to get organised as an effective movement. In 1956 a very energetic committee, representative of all the Hamilton Methodist Circuits, was formed with the aim of 'bringing together the young people of the Hamilton Methodist Churches in order that they may get to know one another, and to serve the South Auckland District in building up the wider fellowship of the CYMM by means of social, recreational, spiritual and cultural activities, service projects and visitation work'. The early leaders were Rev lan Ramage, Mal Lloyd, Harold Witten, David Marris, Robert Rosemergy, Graham Johnson, Ron Clothier, Gladys Thomas, Janice and Graham Hinkly, Fred Thomas and Edna Grayson. The Hamilton CYMM Fellowship, as it was known, planned monthly events such as rallies, dances, Sunday night teas, pre and after camp rallies and visits to country Circuits. In 1954 the District Youth Council recommended that when planning for future rallies 'the Committee should try and plan activities to enable farmers to get back in time for milking!' “The following items gleaned from the annual reports illustrate the interest and enthusiam that were around at that time: 4 March 1956—Hamilton party visited Te Kuiti. Met the local Bible Classes at a tea. Publicised Easter Camps. Shared the evening service at which the local and visiting folk formed a choir. Roll call—64. 20 May 1956—Huntly invaded. Eighty nine answered the roll call at tea time. Features of the evening were talks by Grace Verity on the 'Order of St Stephen', a talk by Vie Jack on Camp Epworth and an inspiring service conducted by Rev Ron Wood. 9 June 1956—Celebrated Mooloo's victory over the Springboks with a successful semi-formal dance at Claudelands.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 120 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne 24 March 1957 - at a Fellowship tea, 80 Hamilton Bible Class members were privileged to meet and hear Solomon and Simon, two Solomon Islanders on a visit to New Zealand.

Youth Leader Bob Short and Camp Cook at Epworth Photo Hamilton Methodist Archives with left-right Alison Leadley, Catherine Petch & Keith Masters 15 September 1957—Four car loads from Hamilton and a group from Tauranga shared a Bible Class tea with the Matamata folk on their Youth Sunday, the youth conducting the evening service. 28 September 1957-First banquet held in St Pauls hall. Because of limited accommodation in the (old) hall, invitations were limited to the 15s and over— 150 packed the hall. There were representatives present from Putaruru, Tokoroa and Te Kuiti." In the 1960s regular Bible Classes were held before church after which the young people attended church together. Some leaders then were Alan Sperry, Jim Marsters, May Jones, Harold Witten. A 'drop in' coffee club was started by the Youth Fellowship but this had to cease while the old Sunday School hall was demolished and the new Centre completed in 1962. Once the Centre was opened problems arose over its use by the youth of the church. The Trust wanted 'the more boisterous elements in youth work ... controlled and restricted in such a way as to make it possible for them to use the new Centre'. 23 An over-zealous Centre Committee placed so many restrictions on the young people that

23 Letter to Rev A K Petch, March 1972 Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 121 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne eventually the Youth Fellowship chose to use other premises for its dances. When this happened a call for more flexibility and tolerance helped ease the situation. From 1965 to 1971 Bob Short (leader of CYMM) ran a very successful Youth Club named 'Piccadillisturg' at St Pauls on a Friday evening. In 1968 he presented a report to the Leaders' Meeting in which he called for more involvement by the congregation as a whole in the youth activities, more interest in selection and training of youth for leadership within the church and for serious consideration to be given to a full time worker in youth ministry. At the same time Bob and his wife Catherine (nee Petch) were also heavily committed as Bible Class teachers and Easter Camp leaders. Margaret Petch was CYMM Secretary and Elizabeth Ewan a Bible Class leader. (Elizabeth, now Mrs Cornelius and living in Auckland, has recently been accepted as a local preacher). Delays in implementing the suggestions made by Bob Short and a general lack of committed leadership meant that the Friday night Youth Club was forced to disband in 1972. The Youth Fellowship which catered for an older age group continued to meet on Monday evenings and a small Bible Class led by Ralph and Moira Jones met on Sundays at 5.45 pm. A group of youth—many without church affiliation, continued to meet informally on Sunday evenings at the Centre and participated in mainly social activities. Other youth leaders during this period were John Law, Barbara Leadley, Allen Watson, David Kitto, Doreen Struthers, Murray Borland, Stuart Dean, John and Mary Bray, Graham Borland, Gwynne MacCaffrey, Len Daniels, Andrea Belfield, Bruce Laws, Robin Coatsworth, Howard Clark and Jan Whark.

John Grant - Hamilton Methodist Youth Worker 1978-1982 "Oh the wisdom that is assigned to humble newsprint!" PhotoHamilton Methodist Archives - Sept 1980 The youth groups waxed and waned until the Quarterly Meeting realised that a full time youth worker was necessary and appointed John Grant of Taupo to the position

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 122 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne in April 1978. He and his wife Lesley, also an active youth worker, were based at St Pauls but lived in the Maeroa Parsonage in Matai Street. Within a year John was able to report that Hamilton Youth Movement Methodist HYMM was gaining in strength, there was a monthly newsletter edited by Clive Robinson, Wayne and Sue Bennett had attended a leadership course at Wallis House and that refugee resettlement was the target project for 1979. A group of Melville young adults, known as MYAD was also meeting regularly. Members of all youth groups were encouraged to attend district camps, Easter camps and region and national conferences. An unnamed report of one such camp in 1978 perhaps sums up what the various youth groups were aiming to achieve: "We were, I believe, coming to grips with the struggles, joys and searchings of the human heart rather than looking for tidy final definitions of faith. The faith, hope and love of the church came to us from the Scriptures, other written records of people's searches and from a fellowship with each other". John and Lesley Grant left Hamilton at the end of 1982 so that John could begin training for the full-time ministry in the following year. St Pauls Youth Group continued to meet on a Sunday evening under the leadership of Malcolm Neill, Rob Nicholls, Neil Raynor and Clive Robinson until Nik Cree was appointed as a volunteer youth worker in 1986. Within a few months up to 40 senior and 12 junior members were meeting on a Sunday evening for study and fellowship. In 1987 Nik worked under the Order of St Stephen, with sponsorship from YAK (Youth Activities Komiti) and financial support from the Hamilton Methodist Trust. Further support from the Trust in 1988-89 enabled him to continue as a paid youth worker, dealing especially with at-risk youth who come to the Centre. Nik is a member of the National Methodist Youth Task Force, and in April 1989 was selected as the New Zealand delegate to the Asian Youth Conference in India. Unfortunately last minute visa problems prevented his attendance.

Nik Cree-Parish Youth Worker Photo Doreen Bennett

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 123 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne In May Nik reported to the Quarterly Meeting 'This year's Youth Group at St Pauls is quite a diverse group of young people ranging from those from relatively secure supportive households to those with backgrounds of poor family life—violence, rape, incest, unemployment, suicide tendencies etc. Thus we have had to provide a wide range of appropriate group topics, activities and leadership approaches ... I therefore would be open to us as a parish exploring the various [leadership] modes so that we can channel the right people and resources into the youth activities so that we may more effectively operate alongside each other'. The challenge is still there. Dancing Dancing was frowned upon from the early days of Methodism. A New Zealand Conference resolution in the 1920s declared that 'dancing which involves a holding of the hands is no offence to the Lord but dancing which involves an embrace is to be abhorred'. That ruled out just about everything except possibly the Grand Old Duke of York and Oranges and Lemons! (without the tug-o-war). Percy Paris while Minister at Hamilton had gone to a cabaret to watch his own young Bible Class people because the Trustees were unable to allow dancing in the Church Hall. He shared those observations at Conference. 1 He was impressed by the serious way in which most of the dancers approached the task of treading the right measure and adhering to the rhythm of the dance. 2 He saw no girls with their frocks torn, or piled up on the floor as so often resulted from approved social games in church halls. 3 And dealing with the words of the resolution, "I confess to brother X ... that in it all I saw nothing that would satisfy me as an embrace." 24 After World War II the young people in Hamilton asked the church leaders to allow square dancing in the old hall. Some older folk felt this was the 'thin edge of the wedge' and left the church on principle. St James Church in Frankton was the first to hold dances followed gradually by the other churches in the Circuit. In 1956 the St Pauls Leaders Meeting approved the holding of dances provided that there was (a) adequate supervision, (b) proper dress, and (c) a committee representative responsible for invitations. The Trust granted permission with the suggestion that a Trust member (Mr K W Steven) be appointed to the committee. St Pauls Youth Fellowship leaders, among them Allen Rounthwaite, Harvey Gadd, Rob Nicholls and Bob Short organised many dances in the old Sunday School hall

24 Burton, Ormond. Percy Paris. Pub Wesley Church, Wellington, 1963. Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 124 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne then later in the Centre Auditorium in the 1960s. Norman Weir, Arthur Grayson, Murray Crabb and Rex Davies often provided the music with piano, guitars and drums. But there was dancing and dancing and soon the Centre Committee was very concerned at the damage to the auditorium floor— 'Stomping must be stopped!' A year later Mr M Arthur, Secretary of the Centre Committee said 'It is most difficult to enforce the No Stomping ban because the modern dance band was now a 'beat' unit and appeared unable to cope with the older style of rhythms!' 25 Brigades Mal Lloyd recalls ... "There was a strong Girls' Brigade Company (5th Hamilton) at St Pauls when our family arrived in Hamilton at the end of 1954. Leaders at the time were Elaine Baker, Margaret Brokenshire, Elaine Davys and Edna Grayson. Our three daughters Dianne, Marilyn and Christine passed through the Company." Other leaders in St Pauls Girls' Brigade were Noeline Hansen from 1960 onwards, Mrs Enid Underwood (nee Francis), Hilda Roke and Mrs Beverley Watkins (nee Clarke) who took the cadets for a couple of years from 1963. Mrs H Kopu was captain in 1965 followed by Mrs Brittain. The Girls' Brigade disbanded in November 1966 as television and other entertainment competed for the young girls time and commitment. Mrs Hilda Bray presently of St Pauls was captain of the 4th Hamilton Company of St James but later became Battalion Leader.

St Pauls Boys' Brigade (Third Hamilton Company) in old hall c 1961 Photo Mr Mal Lloyd

25 Centre Committee Minutes, 29 March 1965 Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 125 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne "As I had had previous Boy's Brigade experience I had discussions with Rev Bill Francis about the possibility of starting a Boys' Brigade Company as there appeared to be great scope for it to be introduced. The idea was warmly received by both Mr Francis and the LEC. Both the Company and Life Boys Sections were formed early in 1955 and the total membership grew to over 30 in the first year. The original leaders were: Mal Lloyd (Captain), David Marris and Eddie Webster (Lieutenants in the Company section) and Vie Taylor (Lieutenant-in-Charge of the Life Boy Section) with Peter Houghton as his Assistant. In the following year Dennis Bai and Jim and Mac Marsters became leaders. Dennis with his gymnastic training in the YMCA was a tremendous asset. In 1955 Jim and Mac Marsters arrived from the Cook Islands where they had had service in the Boys' Brigade. Jim brought to the Company a wide range of skills including First Aid, camping and outdoor activities. Jim succeeded me as Captain of the Company when I was transferred to Dunedin in 1959. Other officers were Harding Blair and Keith Galloway. "Several Maori boys from Te Rahui Hostel in London Street joined the Company and one, Wiwi Ranganui, became an Officer in 1957. One boy, George King, travelled in from Whatawhata every week to attend the Company parades. Attempts were made to form a platoon of the Company at Whatawhata but difficulties were faced finding a suitable meeting place. "Brian Underwood was one of the senior boys and became the first Sergeant in the Company. He acquitted himself well as a drill instructor." Both boys and girls worked towards obtaining badges to show proficiency in areas such as bushcraft skills, Bible knowledge, cooking, drill. First Aid, swimming etc. For some this culminated in the highest award the Queens Badge. Recipients in the St Pauls Boys Brigade Company included Colin Pinkerton, Graeme Rounthwaite, Leslie Webster, Grant Ewan and John. "The Company participated in Battalion activities and was prominent in drill, PT and sports competitions. Camps at Whale Bay in 1958 and a 'Week on Wheels' at Rotorua in 1959 were enjoyable experiences. Members took their bicycles to Rotorua and spent the week cycling around the scenic spots of the district. "These were the days before the Church Centre was built. The Company met in the old solid kauri hall situated at the rear of the church. With its high ceiling and solid construction it was an ideal meeting place. It had a basketball court marked out and had rings suspended from the ceiling. A suggestion was made that this hall be retained for Brigade work but it was not to be. "From the outset relationships were established with the neighbouring First Presbyterian Church and some members were recruited from that Parish. During the period when the Church Centre was being built the Company met in

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 126 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne the hall at the First Church. In 1971 the company moved permanently to the First Church and was led by Mr Bruce Clarke and his wife Marion (nee Silk) until 1986."

Brigade Officers 1957 Photo Mr al Lloyd Back Row: Wiwi Ranginui, Jim Marsters, David Marris. Front Row: Mac Marsters, Mal Lloyd, Dennis Bai. In 1987 Rev Harry Shaw assumed leadership of the Melville Brigade Companies which now meet weekly at the Melville Methodist Church.

Combined Brigades Church Parade 1955. Inspecting Officers Harry Fow, Rev W Francis, Elaine Davys Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 127 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Hamilton Methodist Tennis and Badminton Hamilton Methodist Tennis By Harold Witten Since early this century tennis groups associated with the Methodist Church have flourished and waned and flourished again. Strong memories have remained of happy occasions, healthy sport and good fellowship. The earliest mention of Methodist Tennis is in the Trust Minutes of 13 May 1907 when a deputation of Messrs Webber, Wearne and Pethybridge from Trinity Wesleyan Church waited on the Trustees to ask for their co-operation and sympathy in establishing a tennis club in connection with the church. They wished to lay out courts on the Milton Street frontage of the parsonage grounds. This land had recently been purchased by the Trust from Mr J E Tidd the secretary of the Trust. The Trustees were all in favour and Messrs Worsley, Meachem and Tidd were appointed to the Tennis Club management committee. This Club continued until after Union in 1913 when the Milton Street parsonage was vacated and the property later sold. The most notable tennis group, calling itself St Pauls Methodist Tennis Club, was formed during the ministry of Rev E O Blamires (1918-1923). Three sand courts (originally two) were established in 1918 on the property facing Victoria Street and east of the present Methodist Centre, despite no formal permission having being given! Originally this was a grass paddock, but George Gilling with Mr Cobb and others laid down three courts facing north/south. The court nearest to Victoria Street was not maintained in the same good order as the other two. Adjoining the Sunday School hall (present car park) there was a hedge alongside which, on the east side was a long seat for onlookers. Mr McDonagh was Secretary of the Club in 1919 and became responsible for keeping the grounds tidy all year round. On Victoria Street, to the north, was a little Dairy from which soft drinks were obtained. Nearer to the courts, the walls of Harry Jones' saddlery shop formed the northern boundary of the courts. Miss Helena Jones wrote to the Trust in 1923 complaining about tennis players damaging the fence and invading her ground in search of tennis balls. One feels that the Trust's sympathies were with the Club for it replied that it had no control over the tennis players, but hoped that the extra four feet of netting presently being added to the fence would help the situation. It then donated £5.5.0 to the Tennis Club and reminded it to keep the grounds tidy. On joining the Club a new member was placed on the bottom of the Club ladder and had to challenge to climb higher. Bill Gilling recalls playing on his home courts at 212 Grey Street and then, when "old enough" being "permitted" to join the St Paul's Club. Enthusiasm ran high and DOS Jebson (nee Child) and Lorna and Myrtle Ewan recall playing before and after work.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 128 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

1926-27 "A" Tennis Team Photo Mrs Yvonne Gilbert Standing: H. Blackwood, Miss M. Cliff, O. Webster, Miss E. Ritchie, C. Downes, Seated: M. Clark. Miss C. Jones, H. Gilling, Miss L. Fear, H.Fow. Absent.—Mrs. Mander, Miss I.Grice. Inter-club competitions were popular. In 1926-1927 St Pauls Methodist Tennis Club 'A' team played against St Peters Cathedral and Frankton Club (which had courts near Frankton School) and won the Trophy. Teams also travelled around the district as far away as Te Aroha for friendly visits between clubs. The Seymour Treloar family had their own courts and held tennis parties, while Seymour's brother Jim was always ready to help beginners and coach players. Oliver Webster was a fine player in his time and worthily headed the Club as President. Some of the leading lights of the Club of that time are included in the 1926/27 'A' Team photograph. Cecil Finch and his wife Inez nee Hopkinson were also members. Dissatisfaction with the court surface motivated the club to move to two sealed courts in Rostrevor Street, but not long after World War II began and the Club went into recess. During the ministry of Rev Howard Matthews (1947-1954) he and his wife Flora revived tennis activities at St Pauls. Various venues were used, including a private court on Dillicar's property on the Victoria Street-Rostrevor Street corner. The group then moved to the C A C Courts in Peachgrove Road, opposite Hamilton Boys' High School and then to Grey Street, in the gully near Hamilton East School (near where Mr and Mrs Maurice Arthur used to live). This was a social club and many happy, care-free days were enjoyed in this relaxed atmosphere.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 129 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

St Pauls Tennis Club Opening Day 1949-50 Season. Photo Mrs Yvonne Gilbert Based upon an Opening Day photograph for the 1949-1950 season, supplied by Yvonne Gilbert, membership in those days included - Joan Chapman, Helen Clothier (Fitness), Margaret Clothier (Walker), Ngaire Clothier, Shirley Duff (Clark), Nora Fulton, Dawn Hight, Alice McNaughton, Flora Matthews (wife of Rev Howard), Margaret Matthews (small daughter), Gwynneth Richards (Marquand), Yvonne Webster (Gilbert), Robin Wild. Neil Hight, Alec Lindsay (Captain), Ron Lindsay, Howard Matthews (Rev), Percy Rickard, Doug Werren. In the 1954-1955 tennis season, during the ministry of Rev W R Francis, Harold Witten as a part of St Pauls youth work, helped to organise a club playing on the three concrete-asphalt courts at School. The club was called the Hamilton Methodist Tennis Club and affiliated with the Hamilton Lawn Tennis Sub-Association. Inter-club teams were entered in the 'C' Grade competition with six men and six women players. Fair success was achieved with keen competition against other inter-club teams throughout Hamilton City and environs such as Whatawhata, Gordonton, Horsham Downs and Ngahinapouri. Members took part keenly in the annual club championship events, winners of which were presented with trophies on closing day. Some stern games were also played for ladder placings. While the club was based at Whitiora -School, afternoon teas on club days of a Saturday were held in the School Staff-room, quite an occasion, for old pupils! By the 1965/66 season the club had moved to the Technical College tennis courts in Collingwood Street where there were some twelve courts.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 130 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne When Harold Witten moved to Auckland for two years c in 1966 and 1967, Mr Eric MacFarlane, principal of Maeroa Intermediate School, took over responsibility. The Club eventually closed down at the end of 1968/69 season.

Hamilton Methodist Tennis Club c 1960 Photo Mr Harold Witten Men L-R Wayne Curtin? Fred Thomas, Brian Underwood, Jim Marsters, Harold Witten, Norman Weir, Ron Clothier? Women: Judy de Luen, Lynne Baker, Margaret Grayson, Mary Tidd, Florence Youngman, Joy Thomas, Enid Francis, Pat Clothier, ?? Tennis Club Captains Fred Gilbert - 1948-54 Harold Witten - 1955-59 David Baker - 1960-65 Tennis Club Membership between the wars: Men: Sid Ashworth, Phil Borham, H Blackwood, M Clark, Henry Cook, Jack Dalgety, Charlie Downs, Dave Crabb, Tom Ewan, Harry Fow, H (Mick) Gilling, Norman Gilling, Trevor Gilling, Bill Gilling, Dick McNaughton, W E Mason, Bernard Pomeroy, Jim Treloar (Coach), Seymour Treloar, Andy Walker, Ben Webster, Cliff Webster, Oliver Webster (Club President), Dr Ward, Jim Yendell, Maurice Yendell. Women: Jenny Blackwood (nee Gowanlock), Mona Bradley (nee Poultney), M (Poppy) Cliff (later Richards), Mrs Cobb, Eileen Cook (nee Gowanlock), Gladys Crabb (nee Clark), Helen Clothier (later Fitness), Val Everest, Lorna Ewan, Myrtle Ewan, Lucy Fow (nee Fear), Ida Grice (Campbell), Edith Grice, Ivy (Buster) Gilling, Flossie Gilling, Katie Hider (later Webster), Betty Johnstone, C Jones, Mrs Maunder, E Ritchie, Waveney Tinsley, Cath Treloar (Parkinson), Minnie Treloar (Gilling), Poppy Webster, Alice Webster, Vida Wilson, Doris Wilson (Smith). Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 131 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Membership in the 1960s Women: Dorothy Baker, Lyn Baker, Norah Barlow, Pat Clothier, Maewyn Cosslett, Noelene Curtin, Judy De Luen, Shirley Derecourt, Elizabeth Ewan, Judith Ford, Margaret Francis (last game ever!), Enid Francis, Edna Grayson, Margaret Grayson, Hene Nenare, Noeline Hanson, Helen Johnston, Gwyneth Laing, Muriel Lloyd, Dorothy McCracken (Marsters), Florence Youngman (Marris), Hilda Rakena, Carolyn Reilly, Glenys Searancke, Phillipa Stevens, Elaine McLachlan, Joy Thomas (Clark), Rae Thomas (Keightley), Robyn Thomas (Maisey), Margaret Tidd, Bev Johnson, Yvonne Webster (Gilbert), Sandra Walker (Flint), Carol White, May Williams, Polly Wilson, Susan Wilson. Men: Digby Ambury, George Bryant, Graham Chell, Dennis Clark, Ron Clothier, Rodney Cooke, Wayne Curtin, David Davies, Frank Derecourt, Mervyn Dine (Rev), Keith Dow, Ivan Dowden, Alan Fife, Graham Finch, Gordon Findlay, Graham Flint, John Flint, Ray Flint, Richard Flint, Miles Gaffy, Harvey Gadd, Dennis Gadd, Arthur Grayson, Allan Hay, Bob Hogan, Bob Goff, Owen Keightley, Norman Keyte, Bruce Laing, Robin McIntosh, Eddie McAvoy, Jim Marsters, P McLachlan, Robert Meurant, Rob Nicholls, Alan Nicholson, Tony Perrett, Keith Stevens, Trevor Poultney, Alf Pinkerton, Robin Reid, Rob Rounthwaite, Peter Sims, Graham Sealey, Ewan Strang, Fred Thomas, Graeme Thomas, Brian Underwood, Gavin Walker, Frank White, Peter Wisnoski, Harold Witten. Badminton Another sporting social activity associated with the h Hamilton Methodist Church was Badminton. (Andy Walker and Fred Gilbert reminisce) ... "Games were played in the old Sunday School Hall. The hall was always several feet short of the proper length. Every week the hall stage, which was six big sections, had to be dismantled and stowed in adjoining Sunday School rooms. At the end of the evening the stage had to be restored. Later, permission was granted to stow the stage underneath the church for the whole of the winter, replacing it when badminton was finished. "A table tennis table was in use in a middle room to keep members amused when not on court. "A pre-World War II group moved to the old Winter Show Building - Bledisloe Hall - where two courts were rented from the West End Club. There were some twelve courts side by side in this building which was renowned for its excellence. Inter-club games took place there and matches were far more competitive there than back in the old church hall. "After a time the keen players joined other clubs and this added to increasing costs, caused the club to disband."

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 132 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Andy Walker went on to win the 'B' Grade New Zealand Badminton Singles title. "After World War II the club started up again at the Winter Show Building, with keen players like Don White, Ron Lindsay and Fred Gilbert. Fred as a young electrician installed fluorescent lights fitted with wire guards on the high beams, a considerable improvement. The club became very involved with Inter-club competition at 'C' Grade level. There were many enjoyable trips around the district and many teams paid return visits. Competition was keen with the St Johns, Hamilton East Badminton Club which fielded a strong team at this time. Later, there were friendly visits to Dominion Road Methodist Church, Auckland to compete with their team, and the country clubs Horsham Downs, Morrinsville, and Te Awamutu were visited, not forgetting' a hall in the vicinity of "Ten Foot Road"! "When the Methodist Centre opened in 1962 the Badminton Club took advantage of the two courts in the auditorium. The club closed down in 1965 (in recent years badminton has been organised on a youth activity basis, leaders at various times being Merv Raynor, Jim Marsters and Rob Nicholls)." Badminton Club membership, listed in some historical order, included — Women: Joyce Bradley, Mona Bradley (Poultney), Val Everest, Jennie Gowanlock (Blackwood), Iris Henkley, Betty Johnstone, Bernice Mole, Joyce Mole, Eileen Gowanlock (Cook) Men: Geoff Beebe, Ken Bradley, Mr Gowanlock, Eric McCoskrie, Dick McNaughton, Bernard Pomeroy, Andy Walker, Bill Walker, Len Walker, Neil Thomas. 1948-1965 Women: Olive Beaumont, Joan Chapman, Beryl Clothier (McNaughton), Ngaire Clothier, Dorothy Eastwood, Lyn Fulton, Nora Fulton, Dulcie Lindsay, Joan Maunder, Yvonne Webster (Gilbert), Mollie Williamson, Elaine Baker (Hopkins) Mary Broad (Rose), Dorothy McCracken (Marsters), Joyce Millar (Witten), Elizabeth Will, Florence Youngman (Marris). Men: Fred Gilbert, Ron Lindsay, Dick McNaughton, Andy Walker, Don White, David Baker, Brian Baker, Dennis Gadd, Harvey Gadd, John Hopkins, Bruce Laing, Jim Marsters, Peter Walsh, Eddy Webster, Harold Witten.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 133 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne CHURCH MUSIC A notable feature of Methodist history in Hamilton has been the development of a strong musical tradition. In early Collingwood Street days a harmonium provided the church music and Mr J C Culpan is believed to have been the first organist. Later organists were Mr D R Salmon, Miss Salmon and Miss Thomas. The earliest Trust Minutes for 2 May 1900 record a decision to send letters of thanks to Misses Crosby and Meachem for officiating as organists. Miss Meachem resigned in April 1903 and was followed by Mrs Kate Tatton (nee Salmon). Miss L Loveday succeeded Mrs Tatton in February 1905 and occupied the position until October 1906. One of Miss Loveday's first tasks would have been to accompany the choir when it sang the cantata 'Esther' at a public concert in February so that money could be raised to buy new hymnals. Miss Harvey followed, then Miss Turner was appointed at a remuneration of £6 per annum. When Miss Turner relinquished the position Miss Thorne (later Mrs Fulton) served in a voluntary capacity for a year. During the closing years of the eighties and the first decade of this century the choirmaster was Mr Samuel Meachem, a Cornish Singing Methodist who lived for music. Failing health necessitated his retirement in April 1909 and appreciative references were made to his long and faithful service in the Trust minutes. Mr Meachem was succeeded by Mr Samuel Riley, an accomplished musician, who was appointed organist and choirmaster at an honorarium of £26 per annum. Within the year, however, ill health compelled his retirement, but not before the choir under his able baton, had won the choral competitions in which leading Auckland choirs were competitors. The choir competitions ran successfully for many years and did much to raise the standard of church music throughout the district. Mr Cyril Towsey, a noted musician, was appointed to replace Mr Riley but he resigned within six months. On 17 July 1911 Mr Thomas Samuel Webster (1884-1956) took up the appointment as organist and choir master. Born in Cibblesworth, Co Durham, England he emigrated to New Zealand in 1909 and settled in Hamilton where he established the firm of Websters' Music Stores. His organ recitals are well remembered. The panels and curtains in front of the organ could be removed so that the audience could watch and admire his skill on the pedals. The Huntly Mining Disaster Fund of 1914 benefited from one of Mr Webster's recitals as did the Circuit funds on many occasions. It was at this time that plans were initiated for the purchase of a pipe organ but it was not until 1914, following the union of the two congregations and the enlarging of St Pauls Church, London Street, that a splendid two-manual pipe organ was installed. The two choirs amalgamated after Union but apparently all was not in accord. The Trust was called to resolve "That Mr Booth [former Primitive Methodist choir master] be granted full control over the choir, also that Messrs Fow and Mason be constituted a Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 134 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne committee to wait upon choir members to point out the necessity of maintenance of unity, harmony and control."26 Three months later Miss Frear is thanked for deputising for Mr Webster while he was ill. There is no further mention of Mr Booth's role. The choir grew to a record 52 members during this period and inspired and led by Mr Webster became the city's leading choir; he was a much sought-after music teacher. In 1915 the organist and choir-master's honorarium was increased to £52 and in 1922 to £62. In 1914 the Trust was concerned at the cost of the water used by Mr Webster's pupils and it was very pleased when the Borough Council reduced the charge from 1/3 per 1000 gallons to 1/-. Sixty thousand gallons had been used in seven months to run the motor which pumped air to the bellows. Fifty years later Dr E H Densem wrote "I have not seen St Pauls since I left as a youth. It would be too much I suppose, to expect that a certain chestnut tree still grows next door. That was the tree from which the organist (Mr Webster) retrieved me (the organ blower) while the congregation waited for wind in the organ to play the last hymn".

St Pauls Choir c 1916. Photo Mrs Shirley Dreaneen Back Row: (men) 1. - 2. - 3. George Lawry 4. - 5. - 6. Seymour Treloar 7. Jim Clark 8. Darius Bradley 9. Albert Partington 10. Ted Keys 11. Billy Smith 12. ? Tom Davies 13. Harry Gardiner Middle Row: 1. - 2. - 3. - 4. Olive Reece (Treloar) 5. - 6. Margaret Clothier 7. Lil Lawry 8. - 9. - 10. - 11. Winnie Layburn 12. - Layburn 13. Elsie McCullough Front Row: 1. Hazel Gaulton (Mrs Ted Wills) 2.-3.-4.-5.- 6. Mr Sam Webster 7. Win Wallis (Mrs Herd) 8. Olive Gaulton (Mrs Ron Bell) 9. Mrs J Jones. Child Mavis Jones 10. Bessie Waite 11. - 12. Rev T J Wallis Dr Densem would have been relieved when the Hora Hora Power Station opened in April 1921 and improved services meant that the organ became electrically driven. Lights were also placed at the choir vestry door and in front of the church. Mrs La Petit and Mr L Thomas stood in as organist while Mr Webster was on sick leave for five weeks in September 1923.

26 Trust Minutes 21 April 1914

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 135 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Mrs Inez Finch (nee Hopkinson) now 85, who joined the choir at this time, has written of her long association with St Pauls as a Sunday School teacher and choir member. She particularly remembers her wedding day on 18 December 1928 when the choir sang and the bridal couple stood beneath a beautiful wedding bell made by a choir member Percy Paris was the officiating minister. Mr Webster resigned in 1924 to take up an appointment as organist and choir master at Pitt Street Church, Auckland. For more than two years Mr Prime acted as organist (without honorarium) assisted by Mrs Howden while Mr W B L Williams co-operated as choir master. When in December 1926 Mr Prime resigned, the position was advertised at £75 honorarium. In February 1927 Mr T S Webster was re-appointed. It was obviously a popular decision because in the following July the Trustees gave a complimentary social to Mr Webster on the 13th anniversary of his initial appointment as organist and choir master. Mr J R Fow, Chairman for the evening, referred to the long and effective service given by their guest. He then described in verse the dilemma that the Trust had faced 13 years before, in choosing the best applicant for the position. We were seated one night in the school room Doleful and ill at ease. We had no-one to play the organ No-one to charm the keys. We were seated There was Worsley and Tidd and Mason Meachem and Fow and Jack, And each had a very long face on And wished Mr Riley was back. When Mr Tidd had a brilliant idea And moved that we advertise And offer up to forty pounds a year In those days a princely rise. The motion was duly carried And applicants came to view I don't know what attracted them It could not have been the screw. And among the rest was a Webster With Samuel for his Christian name, The Trustees thought that a good omen . As it augured musical fame. '. We had Samuel Meachem many years And Samuel Riley too, And we said if he's as other Sams He will do Trustees, he'll do! And when he started on Sunday The people opened their eyes

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 136 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne And we sat up and shook hands with ourselves For we knew we had received a prize. It was not the money that drew him You can take that fact as read 'Twas because of the music in his soul And that he was a Methodist born and bred. He has had ups and downs and sufferings But he's had a little joy , And now I hear he walks on air For he has a baby boy. Through thirteen years he has helped And we've never been left in the lurch Until now he appears part of the structure A substantial part of the church. I've just intercepted a wireless Advising its time I sat down Its extremely hard to stop speaking When we have the best choir in town. A choir that inspires the people Gives the preacher a mighty uplift As they render the songs of Zion With their consecrated gift! And we pray that both leader and choir May continue their songs divine With the same devotion and spirit Portrayed in hymn 59! J R Fow When Mr Webster resigned in 1933 he was followed by Mr Arthur Owen Jensen who served until May 1935. During his term Mr Jensen married Irene Amy Millicent Scherer at St Pauls. Mr Henry Cook Mr Henry George Cook (1903-1987) took up his appointment as organist and choir master on 1 July 1935 He found board with Mrs Arthur and her son Maurice and his first wedding appointment at St Pauls was to play at the marriage of Maurice Arthur and Betty Lewis the following year. Under his direction the choir continued with a busy schedule. Concerts were frequently given at St Pauls, at other churches and other towns (many were for fundraising purposes—the war effort or new organ fund). The choir sang five to six times a year at hospital services organised by Beryl Gilbert, Miss F Treloar and Betty Arthur and successfully participated in the church choir section of the Hamilton Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 137 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Competitions. There were combined occasions with other choirs eg a joint production of the 'Messiah' in 1944 with the Hamilton Baptist Choir. Recitals featuring one composer ie vocal and instrumental music by Mendelssohn or Haydn or Mozart were particularly popular according to Cathy Parkinson (nee Treloar) and she remembers Cecilia McLachlan (now Mrs H Worth) and her two sisters as talented soloists on violins and cello, at these evenings. The choir did not forget its members serving overseas and in 1943 sent Christmas parcels to I Crabb, R Lindsay and Basil Kirker. Even practices were affected by the war. For years Thursday evening had been 'choir night' but in 1941 it was changed to Wednesday 'to meet circumstances re Home Guard' 27 but reverted back to a Thursday in August 1943. In 1970 practices were held on Sundays following the morning service and on one week night a month. For the last two years they have been held for an hour before the service each Sunday morning. The old saying about 'never pleasing all the people all the time' applies to most issues including church music. In 1943 the Young Women's Fellowship asked "that the choir use more hymns with variations and descants". In 1958 the choir minutes record that its choice of music had been questioned. Mr Cook's response was that the music chosen was determined by the music available and on how regularly members attended practice! Mr Cook could not have had complaints with Mrs F Baker, Mrs E Cook and Mr W B L Williams for they were constantly topping the attendance polls with 90-100 attendance year after year. Further acceptance of changes in styles of music and worship were called for when Rev A K Petch began his ministry at St Pauls in 1962. For some time the services had begun with the introit: Jesus stand among us In thy risen power Let this time of worship Be a hallowed hour When this was discontinued some felt the service hadn't a proper introduction; others were glad 'that old dirge' had finally died! Some choir members found it distracting to have the offering taken up while they were singing the anthem and eventually negotiated with Mr Petch to have the undivided attention of the congregation. Later on in 1972 the chanting of psalms, sung responses and more frequent processional singing called for further acceptance by choir and congregation alike. Junior Choir A junior choir began in the early 1950s and practised at various times: Sunday afternoons and on Thursday evenings at 6.30 pm in the church parlour. Audrey

27 Choir Minutes 9 February 1941 Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 138 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Paterson, Mrs Hayward, Mr Ashhurst and Allan Lawn were early conductors. This choir also sang at church services, at the hospital and at various competitions including the Waikato Winter Show. It lapsed for a while in 1960 when no conductor was available but was revived again in 1962 by Howard Underwood in time to sing at the opening of the Methodist Centre. Two years later it sang at the Hamilton Methodist Centennial celebrations. About this time Mr Eric McFarlane formed a choir from the older members of the Junior Choir and members of the Youth Fellowship and it flourished for a few years. Catherine Petch was accompanist for this choir while Beverley Clarke (later Watkins) and Margaret Knight accompanied the earlier Junior Choir.

Junior Choir conducted by Mr Howard Underwood, singing at the opening of Centre 28 April 1962 Photo Mr A L Rounthwaite

Junior Choristers with Mr Howard Underwood, Photo Mr A L Rounthwaite Michelle Page, Sheryl England, Patricia Graham, Hana Turner, Fiona Booth.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 139 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne In 1969 Mr Cook resigned after 34 years of loyal service. His musical abilities were not only recognised by the Methodist Trust and St Pauls congregation but by the community as well. He had been pianist for the Hamilton Rotary Club for many years; was a Past President and committee member of the Waikato Branch of Registered Music Teachers and a much sought-after teacher of piano, organ and theory. Mr Albert Bryant Mr Albert Bryant, already well known throughout New Zealand as a talented church musician, choir conductor and adjudicator, took up his appointment in 1970. Joan Bryant joined the soprano section at the same time and was a frequent soloist. The humourous exchanges between husband and wife enlivened many choir practices and together they gave much to the life of St Pauls and to the city community; acknowledgement came with the OBE awarded to Mr Bryant in 1978 and the Waikato Woman of the Year award to Joan Bryant in 1976. During 'Skip' Bryant's term the lunchtime carol concerts became a feature of the inner city's preparation for Christmas. A programme of familiar and less familiar carols, soloists (Malvina Major one year), an opportunity for audience and choir to sing the beloved choruses from the 'Messiah' and the pleasure of 'taking tea' on the lawn afterwards ensured their popularity. Broadcast services were another way for the choir to bring the beauty and challenge of our Methodist faith as expressed in church music to an even wider audience. Deputy organists during Mr Bryant's term were Catherine Short (nee Petch), Miss Margaret Steer, Mr Warren Salisbury and Mrs Beverley Page. Earlier deputy organists had been Mr E Chrisp, Mrs F Baker, Mrs Hussey and Miss Joan Chapman. In 1971 the choir was glad to sing on two very special but different occasions to honour longtime loyal members. Firstly in September at the wedding of Miss Priscilla Sansom to Sir Alfred Hayward (Mrs Mona Poultney was the soloist) and then a few months later at the funeral of Mr W B L (Bryan) Williams. For almost fifty years Bryan Williams had sung bass in St Pauls choir and foot tapped the time through countless services and recitals. He was never very happy about the decision to gown the choir in 1964 and would often remove his gown with a flourish immediately after the benediction and leave the choir stalls with it over his arm. On Palm Sunday 1972 the newly rebuilt organ was rededicated. Its renovation was partly funded by a donation of $8,000 from the estates of Mr and Mrs Gardner following the sale of their home. A small plaque was placed on the organ in recognition of this gift. Services that day featured music especially chosen to demonstrate the improvements. At the morning service Mr Bryant played special organ voluntaries and the choir sang 'Magnificat' and 'Nunc Dimitus'. Charles Woods' 'Passion According to St Mark' was sung during the evening service. An important first in the choir's history was its appearance in the 'live' telecast on Sunday 2 November 1975 at the service of ordination at the annual Methodist Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 140 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Conference. For the first time the President was a Maori-Rev Rua Rakena and the conference was being held by invitation at Turangawaewae Marae, Ngaruawahia. There was no anthem but the choir sang 'Oh Bread of Life for all Men Broken' immediately before the Ordinands took communion. Unfortunately Mr Bryant was ill in hospital at the time and his place as organist was taken by Rev Jock Hosking. Continuing ill health hastened Albert Bryant's retirement in 1979 but not before he and Joan were farewelled at a special service on 29 July, during which Mrs Bryant was a soloist. At the conclusion of the service Mr Bryant kept the congregation pewbound until the last note when he played the voluntary 'Toccata' from Bellman's "Suite Gothique". Assistant choir directors during these years were Miss Dulcie Lindsay, Mr E (Ted) Page, Mr Ivan Pratt and Mrs Beverley Watkins. Mrs Beverley Page When the Bryants retired to Tauranga, St Pauls was pleased to welcome Mrs Beverley Page as organist and choir mistress (two tasks which are now combined under the title of Musical Director). Bev had taken organ lessons from Mr Henry Cook in the 1950s and was organist and choir director at other churches before returning to Hamilton in 1972 when, as family responsibilities would allow, she became a choir member and then deputy organist.

Director of Music Mrs Beverley Page. Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 141 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne During Bev's appointment the choir has become affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music, thus enabling members to attend weekend workshops, January Summer Schools and to exchange visits and share worship with other church choirs to the great benefit of all. The RSCM awards a red ribbon and medallion to junior choristers who have studied for the highest junior award in church musicianship. Five of St Pauls junior choristers have gained this award—the first from St Pauls to do so. They are Sheryl England, Hana Turner, Michelle Page, Patricia Graham and Fiona Booth. They have all been able to attend summer schools through the 'Training Fund for Junior Choristers' which was set up by the Hamilton Methodist Trust at the suggestion of Mr Howard Underwood. Each Advent season finds choir members and others venturing forth to sing carols at the homes of 'shut-ins' and the elderly among the congregation. Anyone responsible for church music is constantly trying to find a balance between the comfort of the familiar and the challenge of the new. The delightful reflective qualities of Taize music have been introduced recently and Bev and now her daughter Michelle are writing new settings or descants for 'old favourites'. Violin, flute and piano often accompany hymns or anthems, and some old favourites have been happily 'recycled' and become 'new' again for younger members. Our orchestra of about 25 members met regularly until recently. Throughout the years each organist and choir director has had the support of loyal choristers who not only present a prepared introit and anthem each Sunday but also rehearse for the many festivals of the Christian calendar. Some members have served for many years. Mrs Betty Arthur from 1923-80, Mr Trevor Bai for 33 years, Mr Howard Underwood for 34 years, Seymour Treloar and Bryan Williams for almost 50 years each. Mona Poultney nee Bradley joined the choir in 1936 as a teenager and 53 years later is the longest serving member with Mrs Mavis Gibens who joined in 1938 a close second. Second generation choir members are not uncommon. Some that quickly come to mind are J R Fow, son Harry and daughter Elsa in the 1920s, Darius Bradley and daughter Mona Poultney, Mr and Mrs Brokenshire and daughter Margaret Houghton, Howard Underwood and son Brian, Mr and Mrs F Baker and sons Alan and David, Mrs Pat Raynor and son Neil, Virginia Graham and daughter Patricia. Queenie and Charlie Robinson joined the choir in 1913 and their daughter Sybil Thomas in 1957 (Charlie Robinson trained the Sunday School children for anniversary services at both St Pauls and St James for many years). Cathy Parkinson followed her parents Seymour and Mary Treloar. She was the soloist at the weddings of both Mona Bradley and Florence Olds (daughter of Rev C H Olds). Through the efforts of the local RSCM there has been renewed interest in choral music and this was shown very recently when choirs from Waikato and Auckland gathered in June 1989 for a choir festival—the first for some years. A shield made and donated by Mr Gordon Ford of St Pauls choir was awarded by the judge Mr Ron Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 142 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Dellow to St Peters Cathedral choir for the most pleasing performance with Tauranga Methodist choir in second place. The fellowship and fine music of that festival augurs well for the future of church music at St Pauls and wider afield.

St Pauls Choir August 1988. Photo Hamilton Methodist Archives Women left to right: Dorothy Marsters, Alice Knight, Mavis Gibens, Elsie Slade, Lynne Jones, Shelia Luckin, Mona Poultney, Fairlie Galbraith, Fiona Booth, Patricia Graham, Sybil Thomas, Shirley de Lacey, Pat Raynor. Men left to right: Dennis Corcoran, Ted Page, Ken Luckin, Gordon Ford, Eric de Lacey, Rev Brian Turner.

CHOIR OFFICERS Incumbent Minister presides 1920 Secretary, Miss Reese 1938-46 Sec/Treasurer, Eileen Gowanlock (later Mrs E Cook) 1947-53 Sec/Treasurer, Waveney Tinsley 1954 Secretary, Mrs S Harris Treasurer, Miss Waveney Tinsley 1955-58 Secretary, Miss Joan Chapman Treasurer, Miss Waveney Tinsley 1957-59 Treasurer, Mrs F Baker 1959-65 Secretary, Mrs Mona Poultney 1960-65 Treasurer, Miss Joan Chapman 1966 Sec/Treasurer, Miss Joan Chapman 1967-70 Sec/Treasurer, Miss Pris Sansom 1971-81 Sec/Treasurer, Miss Joan Spragg Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 143 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne 1982-85 Sec/Treasurer, Miss Dorothy Fordyce 1986-87 Sec/Treasurer, Mrs Mona Poultney 1988-89 Secretary, Mrs Iris Woodhouse Treasurer, Mr Gordon Ford Librarians and Assistant Librarians since 1938 Mona Bradley, Sid Ashworth, Pris Sansom, Mrs G Arthur, Miss L Fulton, Miss Joy Udy, Mr Ron Lindsay, Mr I Howard Underwood, Mr Brian Clark, Mr Alan Baker, Mr David Baker, Mr W Hall, Mr E (Ted) Page, Miss Bev Rounthwaite, Mrs Huchinson, Mrs Eileen Cook, Mrs Betty Arthur, Miss Margaret Steer, Miss Joan Spragg, Mrs Joan Bryant, Miss Ruth Henderson, Mr Lancaster, Mr Neil Raynor, Mrs Shirley de Lacey, Mr Eric de Lacey, Miss R Gibbison.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 144 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne THE MEN'S FELLOWSHIP On 7 October 1930 a group of men from Hamilton and Hamilton East circuits met in St Pauls Church Parlour to form a branch of the Methodist Men's Fellowship. They were Rev P Paris (in the chair), Messrs E J Davey, N A Hall, J Jebson, R P Kilham, D Bradley, J L Moss, V T Harris, J C Tietjens, W B L Williams, H A Woodward and T White. The aims of the group seemed to be fellowship and 'doing good works'. The importance of supporting foreign missions was stressed, they discussed helping Sister Nicholls with her car allowance and generally sought to extend the work of God in the world. From then until 1936 membership and the number of meetings held fluctuated. In 1933 attempts were made to revive interest and the elected officers were: President—J T Bryant of Matangi; Vice President—J E Tidd Secretary—W A Smith; Treasurer—T White; Committee members—C Paterson, J B Pomeroy, S P Treloar, H Beebe. Once more in 1936 a revival was called for but it seemed that a combined group was not to be successful. Eventually separate fellowships were established in each circuit. At St Pauls in July 1938 a committee of Messrs Paterson, Webster, Gardiner, Bradley and Carter from the circuit was asked to act on a resolution that the men of the circuit meet together in social fellowship at least twice during the winter. A year later this group too had lapsed through lack of support. However on 7 May 1947 a meeting was called to form a fellowship at St Pauls. Thirty five men attended and it was unanimously decided to form the St Pauls Methodist Men's Fellowship to meet monthly on the first Wednesday from May to October. The first officers elected were: President—Rev H C Matthews; Chairman—Mr G C (Snowy) Riddell; Deputy Chairman—Mr Eric Brokenshire and Committee members—John Jebson, Ken Bradley, Bill Treloar and Bryan dark. At this first meeting Mr G C Riddell addressed the men on his experiences at a prisoner of war camp in Germany. "Strength through fellowship" became the motto and the aim of the group was 'to advance the social, mental and spiritual life of the men of our church'. It was decided to have a signature tune as introit at each meeting. The first one chosen 'Lo, here is fellowship' wasn't a great success and it was soon replaced with 'Rise Up 0 Men of God'. However by May 1949 the gentler 'You Can Smile' opened the meetings. Music was a feature—items from members were popular. Mr W B L (Bryan) Williams and Mr Partington often sang; Howard Smith, son of Alf Smith, gave violin solos. Chris Hayward and Elvin Lower were early pianists and Ken Bradley then Bryan Williams led the singing of both hymns and secular songs aided by the anonymous gift of 20 songbooks and music in August 1949. The President who was always the Minister took devotions. On 23 July 1949 the first District Rally drew fellowship members from Auckland, Thames and Rotorua. Visits were made to the State Hydro Centre and NZ Co-op Dairy Company factories at Frankton on the Saturday afternoon and that evening Captain Forbes of Auckland provided what was described as 'the year's highlight' when he spoke of his experiences salvaging gold from the sunken RMS 'Niagara'. It

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 145 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne was at this rally that a decision was made to reform the South Auckland District Men's Fellowship Executive and officers were elected the following October. Each year the Fellowship would conduct an evening service with members sitting in the choir stalls to lead the singing. Mr Bryan Smith MA later to become first principal of Melville High School, is remembered for his addresses at these services. Speakers covered a wide range of topics and slides and films were often shown. The Annual Ladies' nights (usually the last meeting of the year) were always well attended and took place in the SS hall not the parlour. Seventy people came to the 1950 Ladies' Night to enjoy films and entertainment. The men provided supper and the leftovers were sold for the benefit of the church organ restoration fund. In 1956 the St Johns Men's Fellowship invited the St Pauls men to their Ladies' Night. Part of the invitation read 'we urge each member to bring his wife (or someone's sweetheart) to this evening!' In the Fellowship's first eleven years only one woman is recorded as having addressed a monthly meeting. In 1957 Miss Iris Lee-Martin spoke on her experiences in Brazil and Turkey where she represented nurses of New Zealand at meetings of the International Council of Nurses. The Rt Hon Walter Nash was a popular speaker on the topic of South East Asia in 1965. Forums and debates were popular. In October 1950 Trevor Bai, Bryan Williams and C Malcolm took the affirmative in a debate with St Johns Men's Fellowship. The topic— "That there should be Church Union." The St Pauls Fellowship minutes record "the matter was not put to a vote but we all know which team put up the better case and won hands down!" Men from other denominations were also often invited to attend meetings. Howard Underwood recalls many weekend fishing trips made with members of the Men's Fellowship to Whangamata, Aotea Harbour, Taupo and Mount Maunganui during the 1960s. The Fow and Tidd family cottages were used for accommodation. The evenings were spent in fellowship with a close of day devotions being taken by the minister. Fellow fishermen were Wilf Grayson, Rob Galbreath, Walter Pinkerton, Peter Taylor, Rob Nicholls, Herbert Longbottom, Bryan dark, Frank Baker, Keith Coatsworth, Alan Ambury, Trevor Bai and others. In 1957 John Jebson was made a life member. Also that year indoor bowls became a regular weekly fixture. Sufficient funds were raised on the first night to pay for two sets of bowls and four mats. From the beginning it was felt important for the group to have incentives apart from their meetings. As no annual subscription was set initially, projects and running costs were financed by voluntary donations at meetings. In May 1951 a 5/- annual subscription was introduced. An organisation called Heritage which assisted children of New Zealand servicemen who gave their lives in World War II was supported for many years and each year six books were bought from the SCM Religious Book Club

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 146 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne for the two ministers. A long term project was to purchase tools firstly for the mission workers in the Solomon Islands and then later for Gordon Dey in the New Guinea Highlands. In 1955 £31.15.10d was raised for the Tools for Gordon' fund. 'Operation Epworth' benefited greatly from the time, talents and donations of cash and building materials from many Fellowship members. In 1961 the Men's Fellowship organised the demolition of the old parsonage ready for the building of the new Church Centre and in 1964 they built the winning float in the City's centennial procession. This was constructed in the men's spare time and supervised by Howard Underwood in the workshop of T S Henry. Jack Davies supplied the model of the Tamahere Eventide Home and Fows Ltd supplied the truck.

Men's Fellowship weekend at Tidd's residence Mount Maunganui 1974 Photo Mr H Underwood L-R Brian Clark, Athol Jackson, Bill Young, Geoff Perk ins, - Thornton (Jack) Tidd, Howard Underwood, Peter Taylor, WilfGrayson, Rob Galbreath, Neville King, Herbert Longbottom, Bian Sie, Keith Coatsworth. Ladies: L-R Eileen Grayson, Mae Tidd, Emily Underwood, Elsie Pinkerton. (Walter Pinkerton took the photo).______Membership tended to fluctuate and concerted efforts to recruit new members were often called for. Up to 60 men had attended in the early years when men sought to maintain the comradeship developed in war time. Mr Trevor Bai, Chairman in 1952, reported that 'the Fellowship is worthy of support and is practically the only means of affording the men to meet and get to know each other better'. The 1950s saw a growth in men's service clubs—Rotary, Jaycees, Lions—which provided similar programmes and these competed with Church Fellowships for the men's time and energies.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 147 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Evening meetings had gone into recess when the Rev Peter Stead introduced a weekly Men's Lunchtime Meeting on Tuesdays with the idea of including all men from the inner city area not just church members. These continue today with an attendance of 12 to 15. Topical issues are discussed and there is an occasional speaker. Encouraged by Howard Underwood the men have decided to once again plan and conduct regular services of worship, the first being held on Sunday morning 25 June 1989.

Winning float in Hamilton’s Centennial Parade – built by St Pauls Men’s Fellowship Photo Mr Harold Underwood

MENS FELLOWSHIP OFFICE BEARERS Chairman 1947-1948 G C Riddell 1949 Russell Waite 1950 F J R Gibens 1951-1952 Trevor E Bai 1953-1954 Chas E Paterson 1955-1957 C J Davys

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 148 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Deputy Chairman 1947 H C R Blackwood 1948 Ken Bradley 1949 Frank Gibens 1950 F Gardner Brown 1951-1952 Rev H A Darvill 1953-1954 A C Burgess 1955-1956 Vacant 1957 A L Burgess and W B L Williams Secretary 1947-1948 Evan W S Jones 1949 H Davey 1950 C W Malcolm 1951-1953 A C Burgess 1954-1957 Eric L Brokenshire Treasurer 1947 Eric L Brokenshire 1948-1950 Geoff Beebe 1951-1952 John Jebson 1953-1957 Trevor Bai Committee members 1947-1957 not already mentioned included: W Treloar, B Clark, B Davey, H George, G Trebilco, R P Lawry, D Mead, G Woodward, H Underwood, W K Abbott, D D Ritchie, L J Walters, Alf Smith, E Carter, J A Davys, W Grayson, W Pinkerton and F Baker.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 149 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne WOMEN'S ORGANISATIONS WITHIN THE CHURCH Again some gaps in the records available make it difficult to describe the formal activities of Methodist women in Hamilton prior to 1921 when the minutes of the Women's Missionary Auxiliary at St Pauls begin. From later records it is apparent that Mrs Nina Blamires started the Methodist Women's Missionary Auxiliary (or Women's Auxiliary for Home and Foreign Missions) at St Pauls about 1918. However women had been giving of their time and talents since the very beginning of the church in Hamilton as can be seen from newspaper excerpts in earlier chapters. It was on the initiative of the Ladies' Guild that in 1902 a water tank was bought and erected at the corner of the London Street church. The women, being people-oriented and interested in details, made sure that events like birth, marriage, illness, death, and departures and arrivals etc were all suitably recorded and then acknowledged in kindly deeds or 'well chosen words'—(a popular phrase in the 1920s). Involvement in church groups was to be an acceptable outlet from home and family responsibilities for many years. The care and support they gave each other eased the minister's pastoral responsibilities and the whole church must be thankful that, for the women, fund raising became almost an art form! Missionary Auxiliary The MWMU met monthly at the parsonage or in the schoolroom if numbers were large, and then in the church parlour once it was opened in 1923. The Ministers' wives were always involved either as President or Vice President. After opening devotions and general business, letters and reports from missionaries at home and abroad were read. Speakers were usually missionaries (many from the Solomon Islands) or Methodist deaconesses working for the Home and Maori Missions. Not only did they speak on their work but they also canvassed for clothing and cash contributions. The work of Mr and Mrs Goldie, Mr and Mrs Metcalfe and others in the Solomons was of interest for many years. In 1931 Nurse Coralie Murray, also serving in the Solomons, spoke to the Guild and suggested items most useful for the gift boxes regularly sent over—writing pads, soap, cottons, picture books and printed dress materials (not red!) One non-missionary speaker in 1934 was Rev Peat 'who gave a short but interesting address on 'prayer' describing the meaning of the words 'use not vain repetitions!' In 1926 Rev A J Seamer (later known as Father Seamer) and his Maori party came to an MWMU meeting. He spoke about the need for more workers as a large number of Maori people were receiving no education or religious instruction whatsoever. He urged the Guild to support Sister Nicholls in every possible way.28 This support was

28 MWMU minutes 25 November 1926 Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 150 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne usually in the form of sewing parcels and cash donations. Sister Nicholls spoke regularly to the groups and sent in quarterly reports. In 1938 both Guilds supported the establishment of Te Rahui Wahine in Bryce Street and eventually held meetings at the hostel once or twice a year. The school for Maori girls in Auckland, 'Kurahuna' also became a focus for fund-raising and while interest and financial support were always forthcoming, actual personal involvement was rare. The MWMU was concerned during the latter stages of World War II that ground would be lost in the missionary work in the Solomons while staff were evacuated. A further reminder of war-time tension is noted in the MWMU minutes of 23 April 1942. 'There was a rather small attendance and of necessity [the meeting] had to be hurried through, owing to expected air raid warning'. In March 1944 when a district MWMU convention was held at St Pauls to inaugurate a district council, Mrs J Williams became the first district president of the South Auckland MWMU. In October 1947 St Pauls MWMU hosted the Dominion Conference. Methodist Women's Missionary Union also known as Women's Auxiliary of Home and Foreign Missions. President 1921-1922 Mrs Nina Blamires 1923-1924 Mrs Fanny Ready 1925-1926 Mrs Josephine Williams 1927 Mrs J M Jones 1928-1934 Mrs J Williams 1935-1941 Mrs J Tinsley (Mrs Williams pro-term) 1942-1944 Miss Win Thomas 1944-1948 Mrs E C Maunder 1949-1950 Mrs F G Brown 1950-1955 Mrs I E Trebiico 1956 Vacant 1957 Mrs E C Maunder 1957-1960 Mrs M Francis 1961-1962 Mrs Eileen Grayson Secretary 1921-1923 Mrs Marriott 1924-1929 Mrs D Jebson 1930-1935 Mrs H Ibbotson (assisted by Mrs Cavell in 1933 and Mrs Baty in 1935) 1936-1940 Mrs E Baty 1941-1946 Mrs Eastwood (assisted by Mrs Baty in 1945) 1947-1951 Mrs E Doris (Doss) Jebson (assisted by Mrs H Darvill 1949-1951) 1951-1952 Mrs H Darvill 1953-1960 Mrs Eileen Grayson Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 151 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne 1961-1962 Mrs H E Baker

Treasurer 1921 Mrs Webster 1922-1924 Mrs J Williams 1925-1934 Mrs Seccombe 1935-1939 Mrs Burgess 1940 Mrs J Petch 1940-1946 Mrs D Jebson 1947 Mrs J I Trebilco 1948-1949 Mrs Eastwood 1950-1962 Mrs Olive Treloar Other office bearers were Mesdames Collier, E J Davey (life member), Cliff, W Boneham, Gilling, Pettie, Partington, Baulf, Hames, White, G Bradley (life member), Quinton, Fulton, Tidd, Hayman, Cague, Smith, Gordon, Tietjens, Peace, Clements, Bai, E Hutt, Roke, Udy, Brayshaw, Luxton. Miss Grace Atkinson (Gleanings secretary for many years). Ladies Social Guild (later called the Ladies’ Guild) A Ladies' Social Guild was formed on 11 August 1926 so that through various committees the ladies could make an even greater contribution to church life. Officers elected were President Mrs J R Fow, Vice Presidents Mesdames White and Laybourn, Secretary Mrs R J Bell, Treasurer Mrs W A Smith. Committees were set up — Syllabus — Mrs Fow, Convenor Mrs Pomeroy; Social-Mrs Watson; Visiting— Mrs Jones; Recruiting Mrs Seccombe. Many women attended both Ladies' Guild and MWMU. Entertainment was popular. At the AGM on 8 September 1932 (record attendance 72!) the programme was supplied by four gentlemen -Mr Jensen gave piano-forte solos; Rev H T Peat elocutionary items; Mr Duff songs; and Rev Haslam violin solos and songs. Two years later Mrs McLachlan and her three talented children, Cecilia, Yvonne and Jean, provided a programme of instrumental music on piano, violin and cello. Mrs Davys and Mrs Bradley hosted garden parties; Mrs Gray opened her home and garden for meetings and a large garden party was held in Parana Park in November 1940. Through the years the Ladies' Social Guilds have assisted with street appeals for Corso, orphanages. Crippled Children, Red Cross, St Johns Ambulance, Poppy Day, the Blind Institute, Plunket, Community Chest and YWCA. They have helped to support the Methodist Orphanage at Auckland, Home Missions, the Sunshine Orphanage, China Inland Mission and Deaconess House. Furnishing needs at the parsonage were attended to as each minister and his family arrived.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 152 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Regularly in December a group would go to the Old Men's Ward at Waikato Hospital and to the old women in the Hockin Wing to sing and provide afternoon tea. These visits were always appreciated. As the need arose, financial assistance was given to Overseas Missions, church flowers, the Organ Fund, Maori hostels, Epworth campsite. Girls and Boys Brigade, and to suburban churches at Maeroa, Frankton and Claudelands. During the war parcels were sent to servicemen overseas and the Methodist Church in Bolton Lancashire. It appears that several Methodist families left that damp, depressed cotton spinning town and emigrated to New Zealand at various times, settled in Hamilton and became leaders at St Pauls. They were Darius Bradley, the Treloars, Gowanlocks, Crooks (Hilda Bray's mother), Partingtons (neighbours of the Bradleys at Te Rapa), Sofields and possibly Willie Kirkman and Tommy Bennett who came out with Seymour Treloar. Jumble sales and a host of other activities mentioned elsewhere plus regular giving by members provided the bulk of these funds. Sewing Guilds met regularly to make garments for distribution to the needy. Memories from the Guild Minute Book 1 May 1941—Farewell to Eddie Morrison—one of our BC boys who is joining the Fleet Air Arm. Miss Gowanlock and Mr Cook presented with pre-wedding gift of fruit salad spoons, forks and server. 14 August 1941—letters sent to members with sons 'posted as missing'. 21 May 1946—Mrs Melville honoured as pioneer worker for Methodism in Hamilton. 9 September 1948-1 Mrs Bradley made life member of Guild. 10 September 1953-Mrs Melville 93 on 12 September. Guild sent flowers (Mrs Muriel Morrison's mother). 8 July 1954-Guild sent letters of appeal to Mrs H Ross MP and National Council of Women to reduce flow of films and literature of low morality coming into the country. 10 May 1956—Mothers' Day meeting. Mrs M Poultney sang song composed by Mr T S Webster with words composed by his daughter in her youth. By the late 1950s there were three women's groups at St Pauls, an evening fireside group having been formed to cater for working women. Each catered for different needs and acted independently of one another. In 1960 the historic Marton Conference of Women's Groups decided to amalgamate the existing women's organisations of the church. It was decided by the women of St Pauls to amalgamate in 1962 rather than wait until 1963 when it would become uniform throughout the country. With a new ministry commencing (Rev A K Petch) and a new Church Centre on the London

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 153 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Street site, it seemed the right time for a new organisation. Thus the inaugural meeting of St Pauls Methodist Women's Fellowship was held on 7 August 1962 in the auditorium of the new Centre. Two main groups were set up to meet monthly—an afternoon group and an evening group. Within a year a group of young mothers formed a morning coffee group. The inaugural committee was Mesdames A K Petch, T W Grayson, A Smith, B E Woodhams, P Taylor, H Underwood, J Jebson, A Baker, W B Pomeroy, B T dark, C M Arthur, S C Maunder, S P Treloar, W B L Williams, E L Brokenshire and Miss P C Sansom (note all used husband's initials). The women gathered together to learn, to worship and to serve and the Fellowship programme was planned to satisfy those aims by a variety of activities. LADIES SOCIAL GUILD 1926 TO 1961 President 1926 Mrs J R Fow 1927 Mrs Baulf 1928-1933 Mrs Gertrude Bradley 1934-1935 Mrs M Everiss 1936-1948 Mrs Gertrude Bradley 1948-1962 Mrs Doris (Doss) Jebson Secretary 1926-1928 Mrs R J Bell 1928 Mrs Cobb 1929 Mrs Brailsford 1930 Mrs A Gordon 1931-1934 Mrs O Fulton 1935-1939 Mrs E Pascoe 1940 Mrs M Young 1941-1949 Mrs J Williams 1950-1953 Mrs F Baker 1954-1957 Mrs A Partington 1958-1962 Mrs Elsie Pinkerton Treasurer 1926-1933 Mrs W A Smith with assistance from Mrs Gordon, Mrs J B Pomeroy 1934 Mrs A (Hazel) Gordon 1935-1938 Mrs E Taylor 1939-1956 Mrs S (Olive) Treloar 1957-1962 Mrs Emily Underwood

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 154 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Other office bearers 1926-1962 were Mesdames Watson, J M Jones, Seccombe, Ibbotson, Hames, Tidd, White, Sofield, T S Webster, Forbes, Davey, Gowanlock, Tietjens, Victor Clarke, E Patterson, Earle, J Treloar, Prentice, Burgess, D Gadd, Walker, McLachlan, Turner, F C G Huse, E P Baty, Cague, Radford, Robson, Pheasant, Nichols, Betty Arthur, E Miller, G Wheeler, Ziester, Shepherd, Sapsford, Eileen Cook, J Petch, J E Peace, Oats, J James, E C Maunder, Seed, Eastwood, P C Trebiico, Myerscough, Beebe, Walters, Mavis de Luen, Green, Sutherland, Grainger, Weir, Brayshaw, Stevens, C Thomas, T E Hutt. Misses Warren, Watson, Yates, Grace Atkinson, Gwynneth Richards (later Marquand). The Young Wives Group 1964-1978 Marlene Lamb was the first convenor of this group which met fortnightly. Mrs Maisie Pomeroy organised a roster of helpers to run a creche on these mornings. Some of the younger women later joined the other groups eg Mrs Muriel Hunt, Joan Eiton and Joyce Witten. Nancy Rounthwaite and Robyn Stevenson formed groups in other areas. Visiting Committee Mrs May Jones, Margaret Walker then Rita Sargisson and Mrs Eileen Sutherland have shown the church's caring face to many in homes and at the hospital. Prayer Group In the 1960s this group met informally mid-week to provide a period of helpful devotion and intercessory prayers. Members were Kamma Grainger, May Jones, Margaret Walker, Edie Gray, Betty Ambury, Win Vyle, Kate Webster and Daisy Lee- Martin.

Mrs Margaret Francis and Mrs Jane Partington 1964. Photo Hamilton Methodist Archives

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 155 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Transport Convenor in the 1960s Mrs Elsie Pinkerton carried out this duty quietly, graciously and efficiently ensuring that those without cars could get to Fellowship, church or hospital. Mrs Mae Tidd also assisted with this work. Community and Social Service Books were sent to Tokanui Psychiatric hospitals. Prisoners Aid Society and Borstal institution were also helped. The elderly and 'shut ins' are still cared for and members help out on 'Poppy Day'. Tamahere Eventide Home, the Maori hostels and Save the Children Fund all benefitted from used stamp sales, jumble sales and catering contracts. Enthusiasm for fairs and jumble sales waned as the profitability of the Opportunity Shop was realised. Ladies Choir 1980-1983 Mrs Edith Brown started a Ladies' Choir which grew to include singers and instrumentalists from other Methodist Churches. It entertained at special events and at hospitals etc but was also a valuable way for women to simply enjoy a good sing. Sacramental Stewards, Church Flower Convenors and Hostesses Two special ministries which are highly valued by the minister and the congregation are the preparations made by the Sacramental Stewards prior to each Communion service and the floral decorations which adorn the Sanctuary Sunday by Sunday. Mrs G Bradley was senior sacramental steward for many years with assistance from Jean Purdom, Mrs J Williams, Grace Atkinson, May Jones, Alice Smith, Daisy Lee- Martin, Rita Sargisson, Kamma Grainger, Betty Ambury and others. More recently Joan Beaumont, Jean King, Dorothy Fordyce, Hilda Bray (present senior steward), Evelyn dark, Helen Gregan, Katie Neill, Shirley de Lacey, Annette Woodley, Mrs Hawke and Iris Woodhouse have or still do provide this special service. Grace Atkinson also served as senior sacramental steward and convenor of the church flowers team for many years with great efficiency and devotion. Some of her helpers were Mae Tidd, Elsie Jebson, Doris Keightley, Mavis de Luen, Myrtle Brokenshire. Her love for flowers and their place in the church has continued through a bequest from her estate whereby flowers can be purchased for special occasions. Today Mrs Cath Thomas continues this quiet, unheralded but always appreciated task with her usual charm and flair. Each Sunday morning, people coming to worship are welcomed on arrival by one of the women hostesses. In this way visitors can be greeted and later acknowledged during the service and pastoral contact made with regular attenders. The Society

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 156 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Stewards (presently all men) continue this care as they distribute hymn books and the weekly bulletin. Very recently (July 1989) the serving of hot apple juice has successfully encouraged early arrivals to mingle and chat in the foyer before the service. Choir members are especially appreciative of a warm drink between choir practice and the start of the worship service. All feel it is a mid-winter custom worth continuing. Minister's Steward Before each worship service the minister's steward offers prayers with the minister so that a helpful atmosphere is created. Mr Darius Bradley faithfully undertook this position for many years. Eric Bokenshire and Trevor Bai followed on and the present day minister's stewards are Neville King and Dorothy Fordyce. "The past is history" The following extract is taken from the 25 year history of the Methodist Women's Fellowship compiled by Joyce Witten and Gwen Petch—A Fellowship in Change: "From the early 70s women no longer wore hats to meetings or to church. Television began to have an impact on the way evenings were spent. Women wanted to join in activities which included husbands. Young women returned to the workforce while children were quite small, no longer staying home from the time of marriage. Then there was International Women's Year, and the world around seemed to change in undreamed of ways. "There was an ever-widening range of interest for women-arts-crafts -night classes—women looking to strengthen all aspects of their lives. The local churches too began to look for women to fill roles historically taken by men eg Conference asked that a woman be appointed to each local finance committee. "Did you know that in the 60s MWF had to write to the minister to ask that a woman be added to the Centre Committee? Now in 1988 a woman, Mrs Ona Coatsworth, is the Convenor of the equivalent and expanded Property Committee, and the only woman member of the Hamilton Methodist Church Trust. "The Jumble Sales have gone. We have an Opportunity Shop under the Parish umbrella. Note: the "Circuit" has gone too. Programmes for the whole church encourage responsible stewardship. Home and hospital visiting is officially a Care Committee concern. There is no evening group but special short studies are done as appropriate. "Women find meaningful involvement in the work of the Social Services and Public Questions Committee which helps everyone wrestle with major issues of the day. Remember the abortion debate? Fellowships were asked to think this through and a special District Committee produced some findings which were passed on to the National Council of Women.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 157 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne "Instead of a Fellowship News Sheet (published for a few years) there is a Parish "News and Views" — edited so far by women, Emily Underwood followed by Pat Irving. "Mission challenges in new ways—to understand more of other cultures and how we can work together. A small devoted prayer group of long ago has gone—but there is now Crossroads, meeting the needs of men and women. Men, especially husbands (bless them) are now invited to take part in lunches and picnics. "Throughout the past 25 years the officers have faithfully dealt with the concerns of the Fellowship keeping in mind the Aims and Objects: "To promote by worship, study and service the spiritual and social life of its members so that they may make a Christian witness in home. Church and community." "To support the work of the Church at home and abroad". "The substance of the Fellowship has always been the regular meetings. By 1984 the membership had dropped to about 40 members. The one meeting per month has continued with its interest in the wider mission of the church, its concern for women, opportunity to share and caring for one another. "Fellowship secretaries must be praised for the records kept, contacts maintained, letters written over the years while still carrying out other duties eg Hilda Bray, secretary for ten years also arranged flowers, became Chief Communion Steward, and represented the MWF at meetings on numerous occasions. This story does not account for the contribution the women made through and to the church congregation. Many have taken up considerable responsibilities. "The past is herstory."

No, it's not Ascot, but Hamilton and the members of St Pauls MWMU 26. February 1948. Kneeling in front with white collar. Deaconess Sister Heeni Wharemaru. Mrs G Bradley standing 6th from right. At left seated Mrs E Fow. Photo Hamilton Methodist Archives

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 158 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne PART TWO ST JOHNS, HAMILTON EAST The first Methodist congregation to be established as an offshoot of Trinity Methodist Church was at Hamilton East where in 1910 a church to seat 90 people was erected at a cost of £293. The foundation stone was laid by Mr Samuel Meachem on the 13th July 1910 and the gavel he used is still at St Johns. The quarter acre site, on the corner of Grey and Wellington Streets, had been purchased in 1908 from Mr George Jack for £130. On 26 April 1909 sanction was given for the formation of a separate Trust for Hamilton East and the section, including the cottage on it, was transferred from the Hamilton Trust. A donation of £100 was also made. The new church soon began to grow and in 1916 the Sunday School hall in Collingwood Street was given to Hamilton East for a Sunday School. In 1919 a parsonage in Firth Street previously leased from 1915, was purchased for £975. By 1922, during the ministry of the Rev E T Olds, the congregation had grown to such proportions that it became necessary to enlarge the church to seat 250. This was completed at a cost of £430. Hamilton East became a separate circuit in 1924. The Golden Jubilee of St Johns church was celebrated in 1960 during the ministry of the Rev C B Oldfield (1952-1961) who wrote a booklet at the time describing the first five decades of Methodism in Hamilton East. A further booklet was written in 1985. Details in the bibliography. Ministers since Rev Oldfield have been: Rev Alan O Jones (1961-1967); Rev Trevor Shepherd (1967-1978); Rev Stanley Barnes (1978-1985); Rev Robyn Goudge (1986- 1988) and Rev Robert Andrews who took up his appointment in 1989.

St Johns Church and Centre Hamilton East 1968

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 159 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Despite a constantly changing membership, St Johns has remained vigorous and maintains a vital Christian influence in the community. The new church centre opened on Saturday 16 September 1967 has enhanced the work of the church and enabled church and community to meet together. St John has a strong missionary tradition through the service of Gordon and Joyce Dey, Bill and John Young, Des and Neville Jack, Darcy Baker and Neville Metcalfe. Many leaders in church administration have been part of St Johns and today the long serving Trust secretary Herbert Longbottom and his recent successor Alan Bettany both worship there. There is also a strong musical tradition; singers from St Johns are always part of the combined choir for any special city-wide Methodist service as well as contributing to regular worship services in their own church. Over the years other preaching places associated with St Johns have been Horsham Downs, Puketaha, Rototuna, Matangi, Hillcrest and St Albans Chartwell. Today the congregations of Wesley, Claudlands and St Johns form the Hamilton East parish.

ST DAVIDS, DINSDALE In 1975 the Anglicans, Presbyterians and Methodists had joint use of buildings with services being conducted by ministers from First Presbyterian, St Georges Anglican and Melville Methodist Churches. In 1983 the Anglicans decided not to continue with the hoped-for formation of a co-operating parish so the Presbyterians and Methodists carried on as a uniting congregation under the ministry of Rev Rus Burton who was appointed in February 1984. A retired Presbyterian minister. Rev Bill Earle, stepped into the breach in February 1985 when Russ Burton became ill and the present minister Rev Gill Telford took up her appointment at St Davids in 1986 and ministers to both Presbyterians and | Methodists who have shared use of the building. The Anglicans have bought the St Davids Centre and it will be known as St Davids Anglican Church while a new church centre for Methodists and Presbyterians is currently planned for a site in Tukikaramea Road. This centre will be known as the Co-operating Parish of St Clare. Ministerial appointments will alternate between Methodists and Presbyterians.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 160 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne ST JAMES FRANKTON During the year following the opening of St Johns Church, Hamilton East, services were commenced in Frankton Public School which had opened that year. These were supported by a group of keen Methodist families most of whom lived in the railway houses behind the engine sheds. Most of these families had been worshipping at either the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Collingwood Street or at the Primitive Methodist Church in London Street but now they were prepared to work towards a church in their own district. Mrs G Bradley walked many miles around Frankton asking for donations and she often said "St James was built on Frankton half crowns"- an extremely generous donation when the average weekly wage then was £2.10.0. In 1912 a site, consisting of two allotments, on the corner of Massey and Lyon Streets, was purchased by the Hamilton Trust and later that year the tender of Messrs W H Wood for a new church at £325 was accepted. The foundation stones were laid on 6 November 1912 by Messrs A C Caughey of Auckland and J E Tidd, on behalf of the Hamilton Trust. The church was opened on 5 January 1913 by the Rev W Ready, President of the Conference. Towards the close of 1922, a Sunday School Hall was erected almost in one day by a working bee under the joint direction of Messrs James Clark of Maeroa and Estcourt. The building was planned and the construction supervised by Mr Clark. In 1930 the Rev F J Parker, the first ordained minister to be appointed to Frankton, commenced his ministry and a house in Lake Road was used as a residence. The house, though inadequate for its purpose, served until a parsonage was built in Matai Street. In February 1963 St James Church, Frankton, observed its Golden Jubilee. The story of those years is an inspiring record of the faith, loyalty and sacrifice of a small but distinctive Christian community in a predominantly railway settlement. St James survived and even thrived despite a pot-pourri of ministerial care. From theological students to Home Missioners to ordained clergy of varying experience and often divided commitments, and sometimes with no minister at all, meant that the people of St James were often thrown back on their own reserves relying on their lay leaders for the continuing life of their little 'church on the swamp'. In times of uncertainty the people of St James drew strength from one another. Some of the families associated with St James over the years were Hailwood, Allen , Silvester, Wait, Brooks, McDonagh, Curtin, Goff, White, Missen, Town, Kilham, Prescott, Higgins, Cook, Harris, Major, Maunder, Bradley, Hipper, McLennan, Oates, Laybourn, Blackmore, Laing and Carter. In 1961 a new and more central site of three quarters of an acre in Dinsdale Road was purchased for £2,250. However this property was sold when subsequent negotiations began a few years later with the Anglican and Presbyterian churches to form a co- operating parish on a nearby site in Rifle Range Road. These discussions culminated in the building of the St Davids Church Centre and an arrangement by which the three Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 161 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne churches had joint use of the buildings which would eventually result in the formation of a co-operating parish. The inaugural service was held on 18 February 1973. Youth activities continued at St James until further buildings were completed at the St Davids site then the St James property was eventually sold to the Anglican Maori Mission.

St James Church Frankton 1963

WESLEY - CLAUDELANDS The March Quarterly Meeting, 1917, of the Hamilton Circuit sent a remit to the Trust urging that a site be obtained in Claudelands for a church and Sunday School, but no action was taken at the time. It was not until 1925, during the ministry of the Rev William Ready, that a church building on a quarter acre section was bought from the Claudelands Evangelical Church for the sum of £750, being the amount of the mortgage on the property. The original cost of the building was £1,300 and the amount already raised of £550 was regarded as a donation from those who had been worshipping there. A separate Trust was then formed comprising Messrs J R Fow, P T Field, T White, S Hobson, W Darlington, F Blacklock, C A French, F A S Carlisle, J Dent and F J Marfell. The opening services were held on the 25 October 1925. In 1950 the church was moved so it sat at an angle to the corner thus leaving more room for the brick veneer youth hall built three years later. A new brick parsonage at 4 Claude Street was opened in September 1960 by Rev W R Laws BA BD, Chairman of the District. The Sunday School room presently in use was originally the Primary Department room at St Pauls and was moved to Wesley in 1961 when preparations were being made for the new Centre at London Street. Wesley Church was transferred from the Hamilton Circuit to the Hamilton East Circuit in 1960 which became known as the Hamilton East Parish in 1984, comprising Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 162 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne St Johns and Wesley. Today the two congregations enjoy two challenging but different styles of ministry from Rev R S (Bob) Andrews at St Johns and Rev Lesley Skekleton half time at Wesley. The past achievements of this small church in a large city have been sustained by the faithfulness and devotion of its members and this service was acknowledged at reunions in 1975 and 1985. Booklets were written for both occasions which record the history of Wesley Church more fully. Details can be found in the bibliography.

Wesley Church and Hall, Claudelands 1989

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 163 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne MOON MEMORIAL MEMORIAL CHURCH – TE UKU For over forty years Te Uku was an important preaching place within the Hamilton Circuit and services were conducted consistently on the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month by ministers and local preachers. For many years services were held in the Public Hall but about the year 1949 a piece of land, two roods 35.2 perches, was given by Mr and Mrs Moon and in 1958 Mr W J Lusty gifted to the church a further 9.13 perches. The Moon Memorial Church of brick construction was erected on this site in 1950 at a cost of £2,430 and in 1963 a church parlour, also in brick veneer, was built for £2,200 of which over £1,300 was donated by church families, in particular Mr and Mrs Arthur Moon., in memory of their son Keith, a member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force who gave his life during the 1939-1945 World War. The remainder was met by grants from the Circuit and the Hamilton Trust. It was largely because of the devotion and loyalty of the Peart, Lusty and Wallis families throughout the years that the work at Te Uku was maintained. The late Mrs Fred Peart was Sunday School superintendent and organist for over thirty years, Mr F W Peart was secretary of the Trust and Mr D H Wallis the Trust treasurer. The Sunday School superintendent was Mr Maxwell Peart. In 1964 a quarterly exchange of ministers with Raglan Union Church was approved by the Quarterly Meeting. Gradually the number of services taken by Methodist clergy and local preachers declined from fortnightly visits to quarterly visits. Eventually in 1975 the Te Uku Church became part of the Raglan Union parish. Later that year it was suggested by Rev Peter Stead that some tangible recognition be given to the fact that Te Uku Church had left the Hamilton Circuit. He suggested a boundary fence between the cemetery and adjoining property and so a brick fence was subsequently designed and built at a cost of $1,374 with the Hamilton Trust contributing $700. At the same time it was decided to place a leather bound book in the church to contain a record of cremations in the district. The 1972 Roll of Members for Te Uku contains the following names: James and Joan Bardsley, Valerie Bryant, Colin Eagger, Mrs Eagger, Giles (2), Dorothy, William and Herbert Lusty, Dorothy Parrott, Fred Peart, Roland and Rel Sumner, Grace Wallis.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 164 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne ST LUKES - MAEROA On 21 July 1924, it was proposed to erect a Church Hall at Maeroa, where for some time a Sunday School had been held in the home of Mr and Mrs J D dark. In August that year, a section on the corner of Matai and Miro Streets was purchased for £135 and in October a church hall was erected by voluntary labour in one day for a cost of £426, which with painting and legal expenses brought the total cost to £650. Extensions costing £500 were made to the building in 1945 and a Scout Hall, gifted from St Pauls, was placed on the section. In 1952 a new youth hall and centre was erected by contract for £2,065 and later a primary department was added. During the ministry of the Rev I C E Ramage, and largely because of his enthusiasm and carpentry skill, the interior of the church hall was radically altered and refurnished, making St Lukes, Maeroa, one of the most attractive and worshipful churches in the district. This ambitious task took nearly two years to complete and was carried through with the assistance of voluntary labour on the part of the men of the church. The Church was re-dedicated in 1960 by the Rev W R Laws MA BD, Chairman of the District. The parsonage was built in Matai Street in 1939 during the ministry of the Rev J W Parker. The original Trustees who were registered in 1924 were Messrs J D dark, C F Primmer, J E Tidd, John Jebson, J Treloar. The oldest surviving Trustee is Mr David Crabb (Senior) who served St Lukes Trust for some 33 years. The following ministers have shared the ministerial oversight of Maeroa with Frankton: L A Brooks, H L Fiebig BA, G R Harris, F J Parker, J H Haslam, F H Hayman, H W Burley, J W Parker, R H Allen ; with Wesley Church, Claudelands: J W Parker, W A Mills, S J Werren and I C E Ramage; and with Frankton, the Rev A W McKay, who served from 1961-1966. He was followed by Rev Alan Newton, 1967-1971 and Rev Ron Major in 1972. In 1973 the Sunday School, morning service and Women's Fellowship merged with St Davids Dinsdale while an evening service continued for a further year at St Lukes. Despite the sadness felt by many of the long time members at the decision, the Hamilton Methodist Trust sold St Lukes Church and Hall to the Hamilton Cabin Cruiser Club in March 1975. The proceeds were divided equally between St Davids Trust and the Hamilton Methodist Trust, these latter funds to be held for future Circuit development. The parsonage was finally sold. Maeroa people transferred their membership to St Davids or St Pauls. Many families in the Maeroa area made St Lukes the focus of their church life. Mr A J Minnear had been Sunday School Superintendent for 26 years when he retired in 1963. Cathy Parkinson played the organ and was a member of the 'de Buisson singers' for many years along with Pauline de Buisson, Gladys Crabb, Merle Jesson, Germaine Kattern, Sylvia Jamieson, Colleen Bowers and others.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 165 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Youth leaders included Mrs Mayhew, Mrs Buchanan, Mrs Downs, Mr Bob Old, Mrs Shepherd. Sunday School teachers in the 1960s included Mesdames Osborne, Yelash, Downs, Henneker, Curran, Misses Hider, McLennan, McKay, Caley and Messrs Shepherd, Mayhew and Duncan. Mrs P Stratton, now a member of St Pauls, represented St Lukes on the Quarterly Meetings for a number of years. The full story of St Lukes, Maeroa needs to be written so that the long devoted service of its members throughout the years can be recorded and acknowledged more extensively for the future. At a special Quarterly Meeting held in December 1972 at which it was decided to gradually close down St Lukes, Mrs A Parkinson said "We recall the many happy events and fellowship at St Lukes and hope that these experiences will not come to an end but merely be enjoyed elsewhere".

Interior of St Lukes Church Maeroa 1957

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 166 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne ST ALBANS, CHARTWELL As that part of rural Hamilton which is now Chartwell began to develop, the Anglican Church sought to offer its services by purchasing in December 1960, a section at the corner of Comries and Herbert Roads on which was erected in 1963 a church hall dedicated to St Albans. The total responsibility for this enterprise had been undertaken by the St Aidans Parish, Claudelands. Shortly afterwards the Methodist Church was giving consideration to development in this area as an extension of the work of the Wesley Church, Fairfield. Part of the development of Chartwell resulted from the subdivision of the farm of Mr T W Chapman a local Methodist layman and the father of Miss Joan Chapman, one time organist at St Pauls Church. To establish the cause Mr Chapman donated a section from his subdivision while several other sections were purchased. The balance of the site was acquired from funds raised by the Ladies' Sales Committee who raised this money by catering for stock sales held in the district. In view of the substantial potential of the area and the fact that Wesley Church did not have the resources to undertake a major extension in the area, discussions began with the Anglican Church in 1965 to establish a working arrangement for the joint use of the Anglican facilities. In May 1966 the inaugural meeting of a Chartwell Church Committee was held, involving Anglicans from St Albans and St Chads, Methodists from Wesley and Rototuna and Presbyterians from Insoll Avenue and Horsham Downs. Following this joint worship commenced in St Albans Hall in August 1967. In 1970 a vicarage was built opposite the hall at 50 Comries Road being occupied by the first vicar. Rev John Williams who was replaced by Rev Geoff Crawshaw in 1971. Geoff was to serve until April 1978, in the meantime playing a major role in the life of St Albans and the subsequent formation of a Co-operating Parish. The outcome of this development was to operate a joint work on the Methodist property at the corner of Comries Road and Bellmont Street strategically located in close vicinity to Chartwell Shopping Centre. In 1973 the Anglican Church Hall was moved to the Methodist site and now stands as a prominent part of the total building erected with substantial financial help from the Hamilton Methodist Trust. In June 1975 the first meeting of the newly elected Parish Council was held, Rev Geoff Crawshaw being elected Chairman, Mr I Green Secretary and Mr J Bell Treasurer. The Council comprising eight Anglicans, four Presbyterians and three Methodist representatives. At that time the congregation was approximately 70 Anglican, 20 Presbyterian and 10 Methodist. In July 1975 St Marys Anglican Church at Gordonton and in April 1977 the Rototuna Methodist Church were incorporated in the Co-operating Parish. In these early years of co-operation Geoff Crawshaw had part time assistance from Rev Wilf Cable Wesley Methodist and Rev G Hall Insoll Avenue Presbyterian.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 167 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Rev David Ansell, replacing Rev W Cable, was inducted on 7 February 1978 and while serving at Wesley soon became very much involved in the Chartwell services and activities. He was later appointed half time at Chartwell until the untimely death of the Presbyterian minister Rev Tom Somerville, when he assumed the full time ministry at Chartwell. At this point the decision was made to have two resident ministers, one of whom would be an Anglican, the Presbyterians and Methodists alternating for the other appointment. In 1981 Rev V Vidal was placed in the Anglican appointment and on his appointment to North Auckland in December 1983 he was succeeded by Revs D Miller-Keeley and Bruce Keeley as a joint ministry. When Rev D Ansell was appointed to Tauranga in December 1986 he was replaced by a Presbyterian appointment, the Rev David Evans. It is interesting to record that Rev Diane Millar-Keeley was recently appointed as an Anglican Archdeacon in the Waikato-Taranaki Synod, the first such appointment of a woman in New Zealand. This church is enterprising and forward looking. Recently a new organ was funded by parishioners' subscriptions and additions to the church hall have been approved. Judged by most standards the Chartwell Co-operating Parish can be regarded as a success story, particularly among the Co-operating ventures. It serves the district well and has earned the loyal support of many in the Chartwell area.

St Albans Co-operating Parish, Chartwell, Hamilton 1989

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 168 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne MELVILLE Mrs Muriel Morrison (92), who grew up at Colonel De Quincey's old home, Weston Lea, is the oldest number in our congregation. Her father, Mr James Dougal Melville who came to New Zealand in 1862, was a Trustee when Trinity Methodist church, Collingwood Street was built in 1882. He was also a local preacher and had his photograph included in Morley's History of Methodism published in 1900. He rented Western Lea from the Peacocke family and in 1904 purchased a block of land and built a home where Melville High School now stands. In spite of difficult muddy roads, the Melvilles attended Trinity Methodist Church regularly. Mr William Morrison worked for the Melvilles, and before he went overseas as a soldier in the Great War (1914-1918) he married Muriel Melville. Originally theirs was the first house after the hospital hill. Their children were among the first to attend Melville Primary School— and one, Rev W J Morrison MA (Bill) had an eventful and effective ministry including an exchange ministry in Great Britain. He ; was Chairman of the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Synod for nine years, convenor of the Church Union Committee and a founding minister of the Hillcrest Co-operating Parish in 1976. In 1925 the community built St Stephens Presbyterian Church and all children in the district attended the Sunday School. Bill was a contemporary and close friend of the late Rev Eric Clement and became a candidate for the ministry through the Hamilton Quarterly meeting. Prior to 1959 the Methodists held some services at St Stephens. But when the Jones farm was broken up and state houses began to be built the Hamilton Methodists in 1953 applied for title for three sections. They originally planned to build a hall, followed by a church and a parsonage on this land. One of them, Mr W B Young, drew plans and offered to erect the hall at half the cost. The work proceeded and at the Christchurch Conference in 1958 arrangements were made to re\ease Rev Ian Ramage from his work at Fairfield so that he could pioneer the new work at Melville. The building was designed as 'all purpose', and Mr Ramage, together with Mr Don Hunt and the St Pauls Youth Group undertook to design a worship centre which could be removed if required. Mr Ramage accepted this task as a challenge and produced a building which looked much more like a church than a hall.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 169 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The focus of attention was a white cross on the back wall—above a maroon communion table of a very distinctive design depicting symbols of the Gospel—the fisherman's net, the five barley loaves and two fishes, the shepherd's crook, the carpenter's wood and the nail, the wheat and the tares, the chalice and the cross of thorns. Time was running short. Ian Ramage and Don Hunt spent the whole Friday night completing the work, so that it would be ready for the dedication at 2 pm Saturday the 14th February 1959. Rev Charlie Oldfield officiated at the opening and dedication and years later presented us with the notes of his address of dedication. He told us that the first Christian church in New Zealand was built and opened by an ex-naval officer-Rev Henry Williams—at Paihia in 1823 and this was the latest church to be opened.

Christmas Day 1903 at 'Weston Lea'—home of Mr and Mrs J D Melville. Seated from left: Mrs J M Jones, Sister Jessie Alexander (deaconess) Rev H L Blamires, Mr & Mrs J D Melville, Annie Melville. Standing from left: Alf Melville, Alf Pate, Wilf Melville, Mr J M Jones, Marion Stanton (sister of Mrs Home) Mr Jabez T Home, Rene Tidd, Muriel Melville, Tommy Bennett, Will Kirkman, Seymour Treloar, Ben Melville—Unknown boy. Horse—Bronco! Photo Mrs Murial Morrison At first, the only time available for services was 8 pm on Sunday evening but under the leadership of Mr Les Missen and Mrs Joyce Price a Sunday School was opened and within months had a roll of 90 children. Although the superintendent of the Circuit preached occasionally, Melville was always the responsibility of the second minister and the Melville congregation came to accept that Conference would decide who would provide these services. We have had a wide variety of ministers:

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 170 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne 1959-1960 -Rev Ian Ramage, a man of scholarship-an excellent preacher and a highly skilled pastor, shared with Maeroa. Then two veteran supernumaries 1961-1962 - Rev Les Brooks who had begun work as a home missionary in 1915. His main contribution was opening morning services and the building of the Primary block. 1963 Rev John Bailey from Hillcrest gave us a very thought provoking ministry. 1964-1969 - Straight from doctoral study in Cambridge, England, Rev Dr Phyllis Guthardt MA PhD a fine scholar and one of the earliest ordained women ministers of the New Zealand Methodist Church. Her ministry also included the position of Methodist hospital chaplain. She soon won the affections of her congregation. New people came—new programmes were tried. The congregation were encouraged to become involved in the community. Our minister was elected to Melville High School Board of Governors. We were challenged to think. Ecumenical activities at Christmas and Easter became regular features. Phyllis acknowledged a debt to former ministers under whom she had worked in Nelson, Rev C O Hailwood and Rev Ashleigh Petch. At the end of 1969 Phyllis was appointed Ecumenical Chaplain to the University of Waikato. 1970-1973 - Rev Roy Alexander, son of a veteran home missionary, a man who challenged many accepted practices. We learnt much about how young people felt about outmoded ideas. After four years at Melville Roy, who had always been a hospital chaplain, took on that work full time. 1974-1979 - Rev Stan West - an able administrator who was also struggling to begin the work of the co-operating parish at Dinsdale. During Stan's time Sunday School became ' Wednesday School. Especially in his last year when his colleague Rev Peter Stead was president, Stan found himself coping with the total ministry of the Circuit. During this period there had been great hopes that the Presbyterian, Anglican and Methodist churches would unite to form a Co-operating Parish in Melville. But following the failure of a minority of the Anglican church to endorse the plan of union and a change in the Presbyterian appointment, the Methodists were thrown back upon their own resources. 1980-1982 — Rev Lindsay Cumberpatch - straight from St Johns College. Lindsay will be remembered as a troubadour who taught us to sing! Lindsay arrived just before the troubled days of the Springbok Tour when the community was divided and there were many tensions.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 171 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne During this period. Rev Vasa Etuati of the Methodist Church of Samoa requested the joint use of our buildings by the Samoan congregation and we began to get a Polynesian understanding of the Gospel.

Rev Harry Shaw Minister at Melville 1986-1989 Photo Hamilton Methodist Archives Lindsay was ordained while he was our minister. Great was the consternation when he learned that the church wanted to move him to Invercargill. 1983-1985 - Again the Conference surprised us by appointing a Tongan minister straight from St Johns College. A young man who had to come to grips with Palagi culture and language, the Rev Sifa Hingano had a deep love for his congregation. While he was with us two significant occasions arose. In 1984 we held our 25th Anniversary celebrations and invited many of our members back. The Tongan people rallied around Sifa and prepared an umu- and roasted two pigs on our property. Under the dedicated leadership of the Samoan minister—Rev Ieremia Tuolemutu—quarterly services were held with the Samoan people and Melville Church became known as Polynesian Corner. Rev Mary Ford led a party of people from the parish on a trip to Tonga and Fiji especially Vavau-Sifa's home island. Sifa was selected to attend a World Council of Churches occasion in Korea and returned to forcibly remind us that Christian people in Korea were under persecution from an unfriendly government. During Sifa's time the lay people assumed a greater responsibility for the work of the church.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 172 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne 1986-1989 - With the coming of Rev Harry Shaw - a minister who commuted in from Cambridge every day-the pattern has changed again. The Tongan congregation moved back to St Pauls, while the members of the Samoan community continue to use Melville facilities each Sunday afternoon. Harry has a strong sense of building a congregation which actively engages in pastoral work. Our congregation was invited to take part in an exercise called Mission 86 led by the Open Air Campaigners. A few leaders had attended a camp at Karakariki led by a Mr Bob McNaughton-but this did not fully capture the imagination of our congregation. Harry, after some constructive brainstorming with Rev Norman Brookes, examined certain basic understandings of whether our buildings were located in the right area. Then through an inter-church house to house survey we were able to locate many people who claimed Methodist affiliation. We also located many Presbyterians, Anglicans and others. The congregation was invited to become lay pastors to people who claimed to be Methodists and a trickle of new people began to attend our services. The question of whether our buildings are adequate is presently being assessed and we are having discussions with the other churches in the area to see what forms of co-operation or union work are possible before further building developments are planned. Meanwhile through following the suggestion of the Council of Churches in Aotearoa- New Zealand (CCANZ, formerly NCC) the local inter-church committee initiated evening services in which we educated one another about our own forms of worship. Between Easter and Pentecost six inter-church groups have considered a study on the Road to Emmaus story. This has challenged people to think together about their basic beliefs. Two significant matters have not been covered. Mrs Edna Webster—a member of our congregation, felt led to offer as a self-supporting deacon and after the required study was ordained. Mr Keith and Mrs Val Masters were accepted and gave a year's service under the Order of St Stephen, working in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. Keith and Val are now active in Waihi Methodist Church. Many people have given dedicated service including Mr Missen, who after a long period of service in Frankton Sunday School, led the Melville Sunday School which captured the Junior Shield for models and artwork in the Sunday School section of Waikato Winter Show, has added to this 17 years service as secretary of the Trust, as well as ten as Circuit Steward. May Smith balanced the Trust books for 19 years. The late Zena Brooks was senior organist for many years and was never happier than when she was conducting a choir. Margery Williams is active amongst the women and serving with the Prisoners Aid. Her great delight came when her son lan and his wife Elaine were selected to serve at Manila in the Phillipines with Servants Mission. Dorrie Hosking was always involved—more latterly as the first woman Circuit Steward. Jock Sneddon — formerly an RAF officer—in recent years has been always Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 173 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne ready to lend a hand, not only as caretaker of the church but also as convenor of the Worship and Education Committee and promoter of money raising efforts. Let us not forget Judy Pope (nee de Luen) who grew up at St Pauls and was a foundation member of Melville, Nancy and Rob Rounthwaite and sons Warren and Philip, Edna and Bert Buchanan, Ralph and Nola Vickers or Ruby Osborne and Mae Johnston. Miss Edith Vickers, a foundation member, was a lady with a warm love of her church who left a bequest which significantly transformed the church interior, and the Rev Doug Burt kindly gave us a picture of John Wesley preaching from the Market Cross. While we have had our problems, associated with growth, direction and development, Melville has been a very happy church family, actively witnessing to the faith in Jesus Christ as Leader, Saviour and Lord.

Founding members of Melville Congregation pose with Roger Nuttall, Melville Church historian. 19 Feb 1989 Back L-R: Peter Williams, May Smith, Neil Marquand, Roger Nuttall. Front L-R: Gwynneth Marquand, Marge Williams, Judith Pope, Muriel Morrison, Dorrie Hosking, Berth and Less Missen. Photo Mr Robert Rounthwaite

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 174 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne ALL SAINTS – BRYANT PARK Plans for joint church work between the Anglicans and Methodists in the Hamilton North area were initiated as early as 1964. Monthly joint services of worship shared by ministers representing the co-operating churches began in the Bryant Village Social Hall in 1961, by courtesy of the D V Bryant Trust and local residents. Attendances at these services revealed a growing interest in a co-operative venture so a steering committee was set up in September 1968 with Rev Cobham as interim chairman. Others present were Rev A K Petch, Messrs G R Galbreath, W L Frickleton, E R Vowles, R Homewood, P F Mirams, E Griffen, J B Oxenham, F G Dean, E L Brokenshire, W B Pinkerton, A Smith, J I Field (interim secretary). A joint committee was established and priority given to provision of a place for worship. A site comprising six sections was purchased from the D V Bryant Trust by the Vestry of Holy Trinity Parish for $6,000 and aided by a grant of $10,000 from the Bryant Trust and contributions from Methodist and Anglican churches, a relocatable multi- purpose building was opened debt-free. The service of dedication took place on Saturday 4 December 1971 and was conducted by the Right Reverend A H Johnson, Bishop of Waikato, and Rev A K Petch, Chairman of Waikato-Bay of Plenty District of the Methodist Church. At this time the Joint Committee comprised Rev lan Graham, Vicar of Holy Trinity, Rev A K Petch, J B Oxenham (chairman), C D Bailey (secretary), J I Field, W L Frickleton, B W Nicholson, A Smith, H Underwood, W B Pinkerton, E L Brokenshire, R Galbreath, N B Thomas and G Dixon. At first, services were taken by ministers of the Anglican and Methodist churches. Revs Ron Major, Peter Stead and Roy Alexander. In July 1973 Mr Gordon Dixon was appointed Sunday School Superintendent; under his leadership the number of children increased rapidly. Assistant teachers were Miss Nola Fagg, Mr Dick, Grant and Sharon Dixon, and some of the children's mothers. A former manager of Bryant Village, Gordon Dixon brought much enthusiasm and energy to the task. He died in 1987. In 1974 Canon L W Anderson was working one day a week in the Pukete area and conducting two services a month. By 1979 Rev Graham of Holy Trinity could see the growing need for more leadership and approached the Anglican Church Army for a lay worker. Two years later Captain John Dewdney and his wife Margaret were appointed and lived in a house bought by the church on the corner of Cullimore Street and Pukete Road during their two year term. Later John Dewdney also became Chaplain of Te Rapa Airforce Base. When their term ended in March 1984, some months went by until an Anglican minister Rev David Newbold was appointed to look after the whole congregation. He is assisted by Youth Co-ordinator Tina Jones and by several dedicated lay people, Roy Wales, Paul Jensen, Michael Hewitt and Dennis McLeod.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 175 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne In 1987 the Hamilton Methodist Trust gave $100,000 towards the cost of a new church centre and following the formal institution of the Parish as an Anglican- Methodist Co-operative Venture on 20 December 1987 the centre was opened on 9 October 1988.

All Saints Co-operating Parish, Pukete – Opening of Centre 9 October 1988

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 176 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne HILLCREST Arising out of the commencement of fringe suburban development in Hillcrest, St Johns church in Hamilton East became involved in this area in 1945. The property on which the Hillcrest Church Hall was built was acquired in December for £205. The section had a frontage to both Cambridge Road, immediately opposite the Hillcrest School and to a road linking Cambridge Road to Mansel Avenue. This road, however, was later deemed to be impractical and was subsequently closed being replaced by a pedestrian right of way leading from the subway under the Cambridge Road. A further section was purchased after at the rear of this property having access to Mansel Avenue, with a view to catering for future development. A church hall was built and opened on 2 May 1953 by the President of the Methodist Conference Rev J H. Allen. In the latter part of 1959 substantial excavations took place under , this hall to provide several classrooms, a toilet block and a storage room. To cope with the increasing demands for further accommodation the erection of the two storied building was authorised and completed in 1962 after proposals for a single storied building had been discarded. This new building was opened on 17 November 1962 by Rev W R Laws, Chairman of the South Auckland District. The original hall was converted into a church and dedicated for this purpose and the top floor of the new building served adequately for youth work and social requirements. The ground floor was used for Sunday School and as a public kindergarten during the week. All the Hillcrest Church buildings were built by Mr W B Young of Hamilton East with his usual unostentatious generosity as far as costs were concerned. When the original sections were purchased there was no other church in Hillcrest and once the buildings were erected they became in demand for community purposes. At one time it was the headquarters of 18 church groups, kindergarten and community organisations. To provide accommodation for a minister resident in Hillcrest, a section was purchased for £1250 on which a parsonage was built at 249 Cambridge Road by Mr C R Nicholls in 1967. This building was opened on 16 April 1967. Ministers involved in the Hillcrest enterprise have been initially from St Johns Hamilton East-Rev Jack Bailey 1947-1951, Rev Charlie Oldfield 1952-1960, Rev Alan Jones 1961-1966 followed by resident clergy Pastor David Alley 1965, Rev H. Trost 1966-a colourful American preacher recently retired, Rev George Goodman 1967-1968 and Rev Bill Morrison 1969-1982. In 1965 during the ministry of Rev A O Jones discussions commenced between the Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian churches with a view to establishing joint activity in this area. The ultimate outcome was the formation of the St Francis Co-

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 177 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne operating Parish in April 1973 towards which the Rev Bill Morrison made a major contribution.

Rev W Morrison, Minister at Hillcrest 1969-1982 After the establishment of the Co-operating Parish the Methodist Church buildings continued as St Francis Community Centre, the church services being held in the Anglican Church. To enable the maximum use for this purpose, internal alterations to the Methodist Church took place creating a conference lounge and a minister's office. However, this centre later became redundant when new buildings were erected on the present St Francis site incorporating quite a number of the Presbyterian church buildings. The Methodist Church property was eventually sold in July 1982 and now serves as a private residence and an antique dealer's headquarters. The section having frontage to Mansel Avenue was sold for private residential purposes when it was no longer required to meet the needs of the Co-operating Parish. Hillcrest has contributed substantially to the ordained ministry of the Methodist church. A prominent member of the Bible Class in earlier years Raewyn Barker (now Cubin) spent many years in church work in Wellington based at Taranaki Street church and was later ordained to serve as a deacon. Gill Telford was accepted for a non-stipendary ministry in 1979. She subsequently completed studies to enable her to be ordained in 1982 and to enter the full ministry. She served at Hillcrest from 1980 to 1985, and in 1986 commenced a ministry with a combined Methodist/Presbyterian congregation at Dinsdale where she still serves. It is also appropriate to record the part played by Anne Hunt. In 1980 she applied for the Diaconate in a self supporting ministry, was trained in a home setting situation and ordained in 1984. Besides active participation in the life of the Co-operating parish of St Francis she has served as a Chaplain at Waikato Hospital, as an Industrial Chaplain at the Te Rapa Dairy Co and is currently Director of the Waikato Inter Church Trade and Industry Mission. In 1984 Greg Hughson, a member of the Hillcrest congregation (a scientist at the

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 178 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Agricultural Research Station) was accepted for the ministry and after training at St Johns College was ordained and is the Methodist minister at Feilding. And in 1979 Charlie Fenwick served the Methodist church of New Zealand as Vice President. About 200 families including 140 members moved over from Hillcrest Methodist to the St Francis Co-operating Parish in May 1977 thus ending a specific Methodist witness covering a period of 29 years. While it is impossible to record the names of the many who have contributed to the life of the Hillcrest Methodist Church, the following families are particularly remembered for their dedication and service: Burley, Southon, Johnson, Kemsley, Grant, Payne, Brown, Hawkeswood, Storey (Snr), Storry (Jnr), Masters, Jamieson, Bull, Roke, Underwood, Bowden, Copping, Bradburn, Knight, Aburn, Hall, Barker, Jenkins, Clarke, Flower, Odger, Fenwick.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 179 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne PART THREE HAMILTON METHODIST CHURCH TRUST 1 Origins 2 Churches 3 Parsonages 4 Additional Land 5 Early Commercial Buildings 6 Wesley Chambers 7 Church Centre 8 Thornton Court 9 Centenary Functions 10 Trust Board Origins Trusts are the groups of people within the Methodist Church of New Zealand who administer property. Whenever new causes are established, and property acquired or developed, a Trust is set up as part of the organisation of the local church. The Hamilton Methodist Trust was established in 1868 to administer land gifted to local Methodists by Army Doctor, Asst Surgeon William Rayner. The son of an English Methodist Minister, he was appointed to this position with the 4th Regiment of the Waikato Militia on 22 July 1863, and landed in Hamilton in 1864. He died in the Auckland Hospital on 9 February 1874 aged 51. Part of his military grant was an acre of land described as Allot 87, Town of Hamilton West. This grant registered as 1566W dated 27 December 1867 and recorded on Title Page 2W.113 was granted as from 1 May 1867. By conveyance 1577 dated 16 April 1868 Record W1.460 and also recorded on Title Page 2W.113. two roods being the SW half of Allot 87 was gifted 'for the use of the people called Methodists and for no other use or purpose whatsoever'. This section had a frontage to Victoria Street only. The balance of this acre with an extensive frontage to Collingwood Street, was purchased from Dr Rayner when he moved from Hamilton in 1872, at a time when the town and district were feeling the effects of a severe depression. The property was offered to the Church on condition that the Trustees paid him the sum of £20 which was owing by him on the security of the property. The Church however was unable to raise this money and it seemed that the opportunity would be lost of obtaining this further valuable property. However the minister of the day, the Rev J H Simmonds, later to become principal of Three Kings College in Auckland, and the promoter of its successor Wesley College in Paerata, came to the rescue and from his own small savings loaned £20 to the Trust to enable the purchase to be completed. By conveyance 3516 dated 23 October 1872, Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 180 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Record W2.544 and also recorded on Title Page 2W.113 the balance of two roods being the NW half of Allot 87 was transferred. It is understood that while the Trust repaid this loan to Rev Simmonds when a missionary in Fiji, it was only possible to do so by several small instalments. This acre is the property facing Victoria Street, Collingwood Street and Alexandra Street on which is situated Wesley Chambers and the adjoining buildings recently occupied by the Farmers Trading Company. This property has remained in Methodist ownership ever since and is managed by the Hamilton Methodist Church Trust Board, a group fairly representative of greater Hamilton Methodism. Unfortunately detailed records of the activities of the early Hamilton Methodist Church are not available, the minute books and other records of the first 35 years having been lost in a fire in 1899 which destroyed the parsonage then situated at the corner of Milton Street and Thackeray Street. However, information has been gleaned from various other sources which has enabled some detail of the Hamilton Methodist Church Trust and its activities to be recorded as follows.

Drawn by Doug Payne and Rob Galbreath Churches The first Methodist Church in Hamilton, seating 80 people, faced Collingwood Street but with access from Victoria Street, was opened on 1 November 1868. A 14 foot high

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 181 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne belfry complete with bell was added to the church in 1870. This first church served its purpose for 11 years until it was removed in 1879 to a site well down Collingwood Street to enable the first commercial buildings to be erected on the Victoria Street frontage. This first church served its purpose for 14 years in all, until it was replaced by a new Trinity Methodist Church opened alongside it on 10 January 1882. The architect for this church was Mr E Bartley of Auckland. The builder was Mr Lavers whose tender of £570 had been accepted. The original church then served as a Sunday School hall for the next 22 years before being sold for removal in 1904 to become a private residence in Hamilton East. A plaque on the Collingwood Street wall of the Farmers Trading Company building recording the site of these churches has recently been removed pending the proposed demolition of the building. Arrangements have been made, however, to restore this historic plaque when a new building is erected. This was obviously a time of growth, as at the same time as Trinity Church was built the Circuit was split into three, with Cambridge and Te Awamutu separating to become individual circuits. On the disposal of the first church in 1904, then serving as a schoolroom, it was necessary to replace it and a new schoolroom was erected late in 1904 for £512. This building, known as Wesley Hall, served its purpose until the amalgamation of Wesleyan Methodist Church and the Primitive Methodist Church in 1913 and the subsequent establishment of combined work on the Primitive Methodist site at 62 London Street. A request in 1915 for the Hall to be removed to Horotiu was declined, the building eventually being removed to St Johns Hamilton East in 1916 when on 16 June 300 people assembled for a Re-opening Tea and Concert. This building served a very valuable purpose in the life of St Johns until its demolition in 1967 to make way for the present church centre. To complete the clearance of the Collingwood Street Church buildings, action was taken to dispose of Trinity Church now that the Primitive St Pauls Church in London Street had been altered and enlarged to become the centre of combined operations. In May 1914 discussions took place with the Te Kuiti Methodist Church who were offered the building for £300. This proposal failed to materialise and the church was eventually relocated at London Street in January 1915 by Mr George Jack for £60. This building then served as a schoolroom for the next 47 years before being purchased for demolition in March 1962 by Mr Paul Scown for £50, to make way for the present Church Centre. Earlier in the life of Trinity Church a wrought iron cross made and donated by Mr J R Fow had been placed on the church. Following the removal of the church to London Street this cross and the pulpit and railing found their way to the Te Kuiti church, the cross subsequently being erected in May 1959 on a cairn on the site of

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 182 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Whakatumutumu Mission Station where Rev Frederick Miller served from 1840 until his death in 1848. This site is clearly visible near the skyline at the junction of the New Plymouth and Taumarunui highways known as the Eight Mile. In the days when the church operated from Collingwood Street, use was made of the Volunteer Hall for soirees and other social functions. This hall, which became the town's main hall, was financed from a Church fete, government subsidy and public subscription and was ready for use towards the end of 1881. The hall was situated in Knox Street and located on the site of the Departmental Building recently demolished. This Volunteer Hall was burned down in the 1890s. The Primitive Methodist Church commenced its activity in Hamilton in 1904 with services in the Council Chambers which were then situated in Victoria Street alongside the present Chief Post Office. It was reported in 1906 'that this accommodation could not seat more than 50 persons and was in all respects most unsuitable. The ceiling was very low and on summer evenings the heat of the room became almost unbearable. Services have never been known to be carried out under such unfavourable circumstances'. No wonder that these people looked forward with great anticipation to the opening of the present church in London Street which they had named St Pauls. The architect was Mr Burgess, the builders Messrs Scott Bros, and the church, seating 200 persons, cost about £800. The opening ceremony was conducted on Friday 28 September 1906. Messrs Herbert Bros of Auckland donated a beautiful leadlight window. Parsonages There is little record of early ministerial accommodation being provided so it is assumed that this must have been provided on a hospitality or rental basis, particularly as the ministers' services were spread over Hamilton, Te Awamutu, Cambridge and related districts. There is however an interesting story regarding the minister. Rev Joseph Berry who arrived in 1867 before accommodation had been arranged. In the circumstances the Irish Catholic police sergeant befriended him and allowed him to stay his first night in Hamilton in a police cell! In 1884 it was reported that Rev J Dukes and family had been living in a rented house on the corner of Thackeray and Anglesea Streets on the site now occupied by Waikato Electricity Limited. Later this family rented a house at the corner of Milton and Thackeray Streets, which accommodation was subsequently purchased by the church for £402. This parsonage was situated on a sizeable section of 1 acre 1 rood and 13 perches. It was this building which was destroyed by fire in 1899, while Rev Dr Hosking was in residence. This produced an urgent need for a new parsonage. The building erected on the same site was a seven roomed house built of heart kauri at a cost of £250! The first occupant was Rev H L Blamires. This continued to be the Hamilton Methodist parsonage until 1915 when the Rev Wallis, a descendant of the Rev James Wallis who Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 183 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne opened a mission station at Te Horea, Raglan in 1835, took up residence at London Street in the existing Primitive Methodist parsonage. This had been shifted from the east side of the church to a site at the rear, newly acquired from Messrs Turners and Fow, for £450. The Milton Street parsonage was disposed of in parcels, part in 1913 to Isabella Josephine Paul, part in 1917 to John Robert Fow and the balance after having rented for several years was transferred to Joseph Adams of Hamilton, caterer, in 1920 for £950. The London Street house remained the central parsonage until October 1955 when the two storied residence of the late Mr Carrick Nisbett, situated at 24 Liverpool Street, was purchased for £7,500. Alterations were made to provide a study and the Ladies' Guild accepted responsibility for providing the furnishings. Rev and Mrs W R Francis were the first occupants.

Methodist Parsonage, 24 Liverpool Street, Hamilton Photo Hamilton Methodist Archives The old parsonage continued to be used as a caretaker's residence until it was sold by auction on 30 November 1960 for £121 18 shillings to make way for the present church centre opened in April 1962. Prior to the sale and demolition, this was occupied for several years by the caretaker Leslie Weir. In February 1958 a house at 27 Rostrevor Street was purchased at a cost of £4,000 for caretaker accommodation but this was subsequently provided in the new Church Centre building. The house in Rostrevor Street was no longer needed and was sold shortly afterwards. The parsonage in Liverpool Street continued in use until 1982 when as a result of the encroachment of commercial interests in the neighbourhood, it was sold for $90,000 in August 1982 to Mr and Mrs I B Metcalfe who have since developed the building into a high class restaurant known as Harwoods.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 184 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Further ministerial accommodation was purchased in December 1981 when a house was acquired at 104 Beerescourt Road at a cost of $67,611. Recent additions have included the provision of a study and an additional bedroom. This parsonage was first occupied by Rev Wilf and Mary Ford and is currently occupied by Rev Brian and Te Rua Turner. Additional Land Sketchy records show that several other pieces of land have been held over the years, acquired by wills, gift or purchase in anticipation of church needs. Records show that an area of land described as Sec 365, Town of Hamilton West, on the west side of Pembroke Street beyond the YMCA, was once described as 'old church property' but no details are available and the area was sold in 1899. Title reference 89/127. Similarly a half acre property in Finlaysons Road, Tuhikaramea, described as part lot 160 Parish of Tuhikaramea acquired in June 1885 was sold in 1969 to the adjoining owners as surplus to requirements. Title reference 527/292. Minute book references indicate that at various times property was owned at Te Rapa and at Beerescourt for church purposes but as the need in these areas did not develop, the land was sold. Early Commercial Buildings In 1880 a few small shops were erected at the Victoria Street end of Collingwood Street but this must have been a hazardous venture for it took until October 1904 for the offerings of the people and the income from these shops to meet a loan of £400 raised in connection with the development of the Trinity Church built in 1882. In faith, the people called Methodists embarked on further development soon afterwards, this time erecting a block of six shops on the Victoria Street frontage and around into Collingwood Street, a building called Wesley Buildings but becoming much better known as ‘The Cosey Corner'. This corner shop housed a clothing, drapery and millinery business originally established by Mr L Griffiths and later taken over by the Hetheringtons of Thames on a lease for 21 years. Other tenants of these shops were E A Bryant Butcher. H S Forsythe Chemist, D Cann Tobacconist and Hairdresser, B Tolman, Bootmaker, R Webster Accountant and J Low Laundry. This was a one storey building created in brick and capable of carrying an extra storey, the accepted tender being £3,799. This structure was designed by Frederick Ernest Smith the first architect to have a full-time practice in Hamilton. On 22 November 1904 the Trust Board tendered the contractors and workmen a complimentary dinner. It is interesting to record that a coloured leadlight window incorporating the name Cosey Corner has been retrieved and may well find itself in a new building to replace Wesley Chambers.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 185 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne

Wesley Buildings built 1904 as ‘Cosey Corner’ located corner Victoria and Collingwood Streets Photo Waikato Museum of Art and History In 1909 an original shop still standing in Collingwood Street was sold for removal for £8 and was replaced by a new shop, the first wholly reinforced concrete building to be erected in Hamilton. This cost £926. In 1915 a further block of shops, also wholly ferro concrete, was erected in Collingwood Street where the church had stood. The cost was £3,246 financed by a loan of £3,500 from the Auckland Savings Bank. The balance of the Collingwood Street frontage was leased to the Treloar Milking Machine Coy as from 1 January 1917 for 21 years with a perpetual right of renewal - the rent was £29 10 shillings per foot! Wesley Chambers Wesley Chambers has no foundation stones, neither could details be secured of a contract nor apparently was an official opening ever held. However, thanks to information from the Alexander Turnbull Library and the recent discovery of a comprehensive seven page report dated January 1924, much more information is now available. In 1919 when it was becoming apparent that the Wesley Buildings were becoming inadequate for the worth and location of the site and the time had come for further commercial development, the Trust at a meeting on 13 May 1919, affirmed their intention of proceeding with the development of a second storey over the Victoria Street frontage. At a meeting of the Trustees held on 18 June 1920 they considered plans prepared by Mr F C Daniell for additions to buildings and remodelling Victoria Street shop fronts and verandah additions to provide for Messrs Forsythe, Cann, Totman and Griffiths, removal of premises occupied by Messrs Nelson and Low, to be replaced with new structures and basement, and the erection of two additional floors over the whole area Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 186 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne of Victoria Street and one or two floors above the concrete buildings in Collingwood Street. There exists a receipted account from Mr Daniell for £300 for this service. At a meeting on 18 June 1920 however it was decided that the scheme be left in abeyance pending rearrangement of Trust finances. Indebtedness of £5,000 to the AMP Society, £3,500 to the Auckland Savings Bank and £3,000 elsewhere was rearranged by securing a loan of £38,500 from the Public Trust Office. Mortgages were repaid and funds were in hand for the addition of two storeys to the existing single storey Wesley Buildings which when completed became known as the present Wesley Chambers. On 5 November 1923 the Trust set up a sub committee to formulate definite building and financial proposals for this major venture. At a further Trust meeting in January 1924 it was agreed to proceed with the building operations on the basis of plans and specifications previously presented by Mr Daniell. Mr F Blacklock, a local builder, who was also a Methodist local preacher, was employed to take charge of building operations. He was required to work in with Mr Daniell and Mr J E Tidd, the Trust secretary. In a letter dated 10 January 1924 his duties required him "to take out the necessary quantities and place orders for material after consultation with the architect, to engage and discharge all workmen and to control all the building operations on the site as though he was a contractor in the usual way'. For the foregoing services, the Trustees agreed 'to pay him the sum of £8 per week, this to be the total remuneration for the work". The decision to erect Wesley Chambers by day labour was mainly determined by the ability to secure material, particularly steel, at costs less than the estimates. It was however agreed that sub contracts be entered into for plastering, steel sashes, shop fronts, electrical installation, the supply of the lift, plumbing and sewerage. Work was carried out with fairly basic equipment although a concrete mixer was purchased to augment the Blacklock's own plant. Wages were paid from a No 1 Trust account having a weekly maximum of £100. Likewise materials were paid from a No 2 account also with a weekly maximum of £100. The work of building continued but not without setbacks and problems, eg difficulty was encountered with shingle supplies due partly to a flooded river and to summer demand. There had also been a delay in the arrival of steel and one or two annoying breakdowns with the mixer and hoist necessitating the replacement of the mixer. There was also a report of some serious flooding as a result of building operations, causing damage to silk goods in the shop of Messrs Hooker and Kingston. The construction of Wesley Chambers over the top of Wesley Buildings continued while the tenants continued in occupation on the ground floor. Tenants were required to remove packing cases etc as "every inch was required by the builder". As a

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 187 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne consequence of space being so short it was agreed to establish a workshop on the roof of the existing Collingwood Street premises while the second floor was being built on the Victoria Street frontage.

Wesley Chambers under construction 1925 ‘Business as usual’ for the shops underneath Photo Waikato Museum of Art and History Eventually the building was completed in August 1925, construction having taken well over a year and a half. Tenants moved in steadily and the ground floor shops were remodelled as planned. The iron caged elevator is the oldest of its kind in Hamilton and still operates in its original condition. Wesley Chambers was the first ferro concrete building in Hamilton to consist of more than two storeys. The Trust minutes of 18 October 1925 record that W D and H O Wills, tobacco importers, asked on what terms they might be granted to advertise their goods on the tower showing above Wesley Chambers. It was resolved to reply stating that "at present the Trust have no intention of using the tower for advertising purposes". Interestingly enough it was reported in June 1937 that a flagpole had been erected on Wesley Chambers and a flag purchased for display on appropriate occasions. Some years later it was reported that the New Zealand Temperance Alliance had been given permission to use the flagpole for publicity purposes at election time. And so there are many, many other things that could be recorded. The air raid precautions; a very troublesome dog and the butcher shop. These must remain in the minute books and the memories of our senior citizens. Many well known city businesses and tenants have occupied the shops and offices available in Wesley Chambers over the last 60 years. The Historic Places Trust in a recent report states that Wesley Chambers today retains the grandeur incorporated in the original building over 60 years ago. At the time of construction it was one of the

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 188 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne most imposing buildings in the province outside the city of Auckland. For these reasons both the City of Hamilton and the Methodist Church in particular have developed a strong sentimental attachment to this historic landmark. Due mainly to the methods used in its basic construction, the building has proved costly to maintain and with a life of over 60 years to its credit it was to be expected that it could not forever serve the city.

Wesley Chambers 1964 During 1986 the Chase Corporation made public their proposed acquisitions of a large area of land between Victoria Street and Alexandra Street and between Collingwood Street and Hood Street for the purpose of a major redevelopment scheme. This proposal had a marked influence on the Methodist property containing Wesley Chambers and the Farmers Trading Company building. Following extensive negotiations the Trust, at a meeting on 22 October 1986, resolved to sell to the Chase Corporation the Wesley Chambers and to lease to the Corporation all the Trust owned land—Dr Rayner's original acre. Leasing was decided upon in deference to the condition attached to Rayner's original gift—that the land be for the use of the people called Methodists and for no other use or purpose whatsoever. Negotiations were concluded with Petron Properties Ltd, a subsidiary of the Chase Corporation. The basis of the disposal was that Petron Properties Ltd were to lease the property from 1 April 1987 for 25 year terms with rights of renewal until 2137, providing for a 150 year term in all, the annual rental to be reviewed at seven-yearly intervals. Wesley Chambers and the lessee's interest in the property have been sold to Petron Properties Ltd. The building now stands forlornly empty, awaiting the major redevelopment of the area which has been somewhat delayed by the intervention of the economic downturn. Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 189 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Inevitably Wesley Chambers will be demolished and one can only hope that there will arise on the site, a structure that will do justice to the site, be worthy of the tradition of the past and provide a useful service of which the city will be proud. The Methodist Church Centre On 16 December 1954 the Trust minutes record that as a result of the purchase of the new parsonage off the St Pauls premises and the need for improved facilities for Sunday School, Bible Class and other youth work, the time was opportune to consider the future policy of the Trust. A sub committee was appointed to investigate all the needs and facilities of the St Pauls site. This committee seems never to have reported for the next reference in the Trust minutes is of the Trust meeting of 5 December 1955 when a further committee was appointed to consider the need for a new hall and its desirable location as a Centennial Project. On 19 April 1956 the chairman Rev W R Francis reported that preliminary arrangements had been made with an architect to provide sketch plans. By April 1957 the appointed committee had again apparently failed to function and was disbanded. A new committee was appointed to report by July 1957 but this expectation too was doomed to failure. By September 1959 it was agreed that urgent priority was to secure alternative accommodation for the caretaker thus making way for a new building. At this time Mr A Smith, Hospital Board architect, was co-opted to the committee. It was at a Trust meeting on 3 December 1957 that real action took place. Mr Smith presented detailed plans of the proposed new building together with a very fine scale model made by son Rodney covering 12,300 sq ft. These plans were approved in principal and placed on display in the church for comment. A meeting on 20 February 1958 heard that the estimated cost was £30,000 and proposals were considered for the issue of debentures to meet the cost. It was subsequently learned that this would be an inadequate method of financing and it was decided to defer building until September 1960 and to develop Trust resources in the meantime. As the result of an opinion expressed at a Trust meeting on 19 February 1959, that some of the youth leaders were not happy with the siting of the centre it was resolved to invite the Youth Council to submit alternative proposals. Mr Mal Lloyd appeared before the Trust on 26 May 1959 and spoke to a comprehensive three page report prepared by the Youth Council. After a full discussion Mr Alf Smith and Mr Rodney Smith were asked to comment. These must have been busy days - and nights - for the Trust because apart from the discussion not much other business was transacted. The meeting concluding at 11.25 pm which surely must be a record. Alf and Rodney reported fully in December 1959 and after lengthy discussion the original proposals were largely adhered to. At a meeting held on 7 March 1960 it was resolved that the official name of the building was to be ‘The Methodist Centre' and Mr Rodney Smith was appointed as architect for the project.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 190 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The meeting on 2 June 1960 heard that the architect's estimate of total cost was £37,500. It was also reported that a loan of £5,000 was available from the Bank of New Zealand. The building of the new centre, amongst other things, involved the demolition of the old parsonage, latterly the caretaker's residence. The Trust approved the fumigation of this area against the existence of borer and termite infestation. On 1 December 1960 the Trust learned that three tenders had been received for the erection of the Methodist Centre: from F T Hawkins Ltd, D C Street Construction Ltd and W B Young Ltd. The best price was submitted by W B Young and his tender was accepted by the Trust 'with pleasure' as well it might, as Bill Young was one of Hamilton's leading builders known for his integrity and workmanship and himself a serving Trustee. At a meeting on 25 July 1961 some concern was expressed at the shortfall in funds from public appeals and the Trust and the architect reviewed plan details with a view to effecting some economies. It was at this meeting that the chairman, Rev W R Francis, was requested to provide the wording for a plaque paying tribute to the pioneers of Hamilton Methodism. This plaque now appears on the wall outside the main entrance to the auditorium. Although the building contract provided for the completion of the building of the Centre by 12 October 1961 there were some frustrating delays and the opening ceremony could not be held until 28 April 1962. The Governor General had been invited to open the Centre but the change of dates made this impossible and the President of the Conference Rev E C Leadley was given the honour. Rev Alan Walker, Superintendent of the Sydney Central Mission in Australia and a world renowned Methodist figure was the Guest Speaker. Rev W R Francis now of Whangarei unveiled the plaque honouring pioneers of Hamilton Methodism and Rev Ashleigh K Petch presided over the proceedings. More than 900 people "crowded the great auditorium and overflowed into the foyer and the Sunday School assembly hall, Mr Herbert Longbottom, Secretary of the Trust, warmed our hearts with the news that the Centre had been opened free of debt". The total cost of the Centre with furnishings was £54,316. Afternoon tea which provided a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and the renewal of friendships, was dispensed in Messrs Turners and Fows new building adjoining the property, thanks to the generosity of the Managing Director Mr Harry Fow. The builder presented the President of Conference with a gavel of beautifully turned wood while the architect presented the Centre with a lectern and worship centre all of which had been constructed from a kauri beam salvaged during the recent demolition of the Sunday School hail-none other than the Collingwood Street Trinity Church built in January 1882. These furnishings have their resting place in the Fellowship Room in the Centre.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 191 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne The Hamilton Methodist paper of May 1962 describes the Centre as follows "an auditorium to seat 500 with a full size repertory stage with dressing rooms beneath, a SS and BC assembly hall to seat 150, a church lounge to seat 60, a large modern and well equipped electric kitchen, two wings each with four classrooms and a third wing for the Beginners and Primary departments, a church office and a Minister's office, commodious cloakrooms and toilets, two large entrance foyers joined by a long roomy corridor in which are sited large cupboards for equipment and a two bedroomed caretaker's flat above the auditorium." As the Centre became more widely used the Trust, in August 1962, established a set of eight basic rules governing its use. The Trust Steward Mr Maurice Arthur was zealous in seeing that those requirements were met—until resignation in 1976. The Trust recorded "his meticulous attention to detail and devotion to the Welfare of the Trust for 14 years." And so for 27 years this Centre has served as a major centre not only for Methodist activity but for the wider community. In 1963 a list of users showed that a dozen major city organisations had used the facilities and over the years this list has so extended that it would take pages to record. Suffice to say that the pioneers of Hamilton Methodism were rightly honoured in the memorial plaque when one realises it was their contribution in good years and bad, that provided the resources which made possible the erection of the Methodist Centre. This was a rich heritage. May the continued use of the Centre by both the religious and the secular communities provide an amenity which will enrich both Hamilton and beyond. Centenary Functions

Centenary Dinner held in Centre Auditorium and hosted by the Trust 17 August 1964 Photo Lindberg On 11 February 1964 the Trust resolved to arrange a suitable function during the Centenary celebrations in August and it was resolved on 9 July that a function to take Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 192 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne the form of a dinner would take place on Monday 17 August, the Trust providing the cost estimated to be £100. It was also decided that a Centennial donation be made to the Waikato University Halls of Residence with the expectation that it would be used towards the provision of a Quiet Room. Eight hundred pounds was so donated. The Trust also provided funds to meet the cost of a float in the City's centennial procession. At the Trust meeting on 5 October 1964 thanks and congratulations were extended to Mr H Underwood and his team for their efforts in winning the Centennial Parade competition. Thornton Court At a Trust board meeting on 15 May 1973 Mr E T Tidd, a Trust Board member, advised that the Tidd Foundation had secured the opportunity for the Trust to invest in a property as an alternative investment to Wesley Chambers, then nearly 50 years old. It was proposed that the Foundation purchase three vacant sections at the corner of Anglesea Street and London Street from the NZ Co-op Dairy Coy - an area of two roods and 12.5 perches for $120,000 and subsequently transfer the sections to the Trust for $95,000. This 'magnificent' offer was accepted with gratitude and Mr Tidd was commended for his foresight and generosity. It was also agreed to purchase an adjoining section containing 32.8 perches from Messrs Wrightson NMA for $40,000. At the following meeting it was recorded that $55,000 had been borrowed from the Bank of New Zealand so that with its other resources the Trust could acquire these two properties. Originally the total area was used as a car park after grading, metalling and marking out for car spaces had been undertaken by Mr Bert Johnson. In 1978 the Methodist Trust Association indicated an interest in a commercial development on this site, but this was not proceeded with. On 27 June 1984, the Trust approved the erection of a double unit two storied building by Mayfair Developments Ltd to occupy the greater part of the property. This building was duly built by Angus Construction with Geoff Dean exercising supervision on behalf of the Trust. The original contract price was $767,000 but various extras and other administrative costs brought the total expenditure to $826,651. This, with the value of the land now reaching $343,121, had established an investment with a capital value of $1,169,632. These building costs were financed by the Tidd Foundation, the Bank of New Zealand and the Trust's own resources. On completion of the building the ground floor of one unit and the first floor of both were leased to the Inland Revenue Department from 10 June 1985 for nine years. The ground floor of the other unit was leased to U-Bix (NZ) from 1 November 1985 for nine years with a right of renewal for a further nine years. The balance of the property has continued to be used by Dallas Motors as a car sales property. At its meeting on 28 February 1985 the Trust Board decided to name the complex Thornton Court, Thornton being the second name of Mr E T Tidd, in recognition of

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 193 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne his services to the Trust. It was also a recognition of the generosity which had made possible the acquisition of the property. Trust Board It is highly impracticable and in fact impossible to name all the Trustees who have served on the Hamilton Methodist Church Trust over the period of nearly 125 years. The Chairmen of the Trust Board have always been the Superintendent Minister of the central Methodist Church ie First Church Trinity Church and St Pauls Church, with very occasional deputies. There is no record of secretaries prior to 1900 but those who have served since have provided a remarkable record of dedicated service, details of which are as follows: J E Tidd 1900-1930: 30 years E J Davey 1930-1948: 18 years W A Smith 1948-1955: 7 years H Longbottom 1955-1987: 32 years A Bettany 1987- still serving

Alan Bettany Herbert Longbottom When Mr E J Davey retired he was tendered a complimentary social and musical evening in April 1948 at the church and presented with the equivalent of three months salary. When Mr W A Smith retired he was tendered a complimentary dinner at the Cardrona Reception Rooms, Victoria Street North, on 14 July 1955. When Herbert Longbottom retired, after a record-breaking term, he too was tendered a complimentary dinner, this time at the Riverina Hotel, Hamilton East on 22 September 1987. Interestingly enough, when Hamilton, Cambridge and Te Awamutu were one circuit in 1873, a Mr Longbottom was recorded as being the Hamilton Chapel Steward. Herbert has been unable to establish any connection. The transfer of Dr Rayner's original gift of half an acre was not completed until 16 April 1868 whereupon the first church was erected later that year. The Hamilton Methodist Church Trust was formed at this time, the original Trustees being John

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 194 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Williamson, James Stone, Thomas Russell, James Heron and William Chisholm Wilson.

Hamilton Methodist Church Trust 1989 Standing: Harold Witten, Douglas Payne, Jim Elton, Norman Law, Walter Pinkerton, Mark Jones. Seated: Alan Bettany, Rev Brian Turner, Herbert Longbottom, Ona Coatsworth, Howard Underwood. The next record of Trustees is that of October 1899, when fresh records were established following the parsonage fire of 1899. Those names were Samuel Meachem, Thomas Qualtrough, Thomas Campbell, John Andrew, James E Tidd, Albert Watts, Stephen Tucker, James Bennett and Frederick William Thomas. The last six of these names replace those of Thomas Maunder, J B Thomas, J C Hobbs, T A Tidd, Joseph Mullens and Thomas Vincent. With the amalgamation of the Trinity Wesleyan Church and St Pauls Primitive Church a joint Board of Trustees was formed in July 1913 comprising nine members from Trinity Church and three from St Pauls Church-the balance of the Trinity Trust were to retire. The representatives from London Street were Messrs W P Scott, T B Booth and W C Franks who shortly afterwards resigned on leaving the district. The representatives from Collingwood Street were Messrs Meachem, Jones, Dillicar, Fow, Daniell, Worsley, Mason, Tidd and Jack. There is no record of any of those who retired! The first combined Trust meeting was held on 4 September 1913. The present Trustees with the dates of their appointment are as follows: Howard Underwood (1/8/50), Herbert Longbottom (16/8/56), Douglas Payne (20/8/63), Harold Witten (20/8/63), Norman Law (20/8/63), Walter Pinkerton (20/8/63), Jim Eiton (20/3/72). Robert Nicholls (20/3/72), Trevor Grant (20/3/72), Desmond Jack (21/4/75), Russell Clark (7/8/79), Charles Fenwick (7/8/79), Ona

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 195 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Coatsworth (7/8/79), Mark Jones (18/8/82), Mervyn Raynor (26/9/83), Geoff Dean (26/2/86), Alan Bettany (26/2/86). So far as records are available, Ona Coatsworth has the distinction of being the only woman to date who has been a member of the Hamilton Methodist Church Trust. In these more enlightened years this imbalance should change. Names of those others who have served within living memory are Eric Brokenshire, Alf Smith, Ken Dey, Geoff Perkms, Alton England. Harry Fow, Maurice Arthur, Bunny Woodhams, Bill Young, Vie Jack, John Jebson, Ron Jamieson, Thornton Tidd, W B Pomeroy, D Bradley W Y Kirkman, H C R Blackwood, J T Bryant, K W Steve'n and A J McNaughton. Mr W B L Williams was a Circuit Steward for 39 years and although never a Trust Board member, was the Trust solicitor for a lengthy period. He was succeeded as Trust solicitor by Mr W J S Gray of Messrs Tompkins Wake & Co who retired in October 1986 to be followed by Mr P J Parham of the same firm. Mr Ken Dey who had been a Trustee for 17 years was also auditor for 30 years from 1959 until his retirement early in 1989. The current auditor is Mr Peter Stewart. Mr Fred C Daniell born in Wales in 1879 came from Masterton to Hamilton in 1908 to commence his architectural practice, and became a Circuit Steward before becoming a member of the Trust Board being appointed on 18 August 1909, replacing the late Mr J D Melville. He operated extensively and many Waikato buildings are based on his design. He served on the Trust Board until 25 January 1944 when he resigned to avoid any possible conflict of interest between his Trust membership and his role as architect and creator of Wesley Chambers. Mr Daniells is also credited with having organised the first musical competition in Hamilton. The Trust Board was initially established to provide for the control and maintenance of church buildings and property which in the early days of small church membership and years of depression would have been a most demanding responsibility. However they persevered and to them must go our appreciation. Little would they have realised the heritage they prepared for succeeding generations. In addition to the provision of churches, parsonages and halls, the Trust have erected commercial buildings to secure funds to support the on-going work of the church. Records available indicate their generosity in supporting new Methodist causes in Hamilton East (St Johns), Claudelands (Wesley), Hillcrest and Chartwell on the east side of the Waikato River, while on the other side of the river funds assisted development at Melville, Frankton, Maeroa, Dinsdale and Pukete. More recently the Methodist Hospital Chaplain's home was provided with the assistance of Trust funds. Funds were also provided towards the establishment of the three Maori Division properties in Hamilton eg Te Rahui (Tane), London Street in 1953, Te Rahui (Wahine), Bryce St in 1943/45 and the Maori Boys Hostel, River Road in May 1967, together with a Maori parsonage in Union Street to house the first Maori Minister, Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 196 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Rev Rangi Rogers. It is interesting to note that the Maori Boys Hostel had previously been the residence of the Waikato Anglican Bishop. Requests for financial assistance from outside Hamilton have been frequent but the Trust has had its lean times as well as its good times. Some of these requests for assistance have had to be declined or only a very token amount made available. Until recent years the resources of the Trust have been limited to assistance towards the provision of land and buildings and maintenance of same together with other expenditure restricted to a capital nature. A turning point in this attitude was when a request was received after World War II to support the Winston Churchill Memorial Fund. While some supported the worth of the cause, others clung to the prime task of assisting with land and buildings and other objectives of a capital nature. The position was met by a donation of £25 to the Fund. In recent years a more liberal attitude has developed with assistance being given towards stipends, travelling and the wider needs of the church and community, eg grants to Anchorage and Bryant Halls of Residence at the University of Waikato. It is increasingly becoming the policy of the Trust to serve the extension of the Kingdom of God by whatever means its resources may best serve this objective. While the original Trust was related to the original church and the property in Collingwood Street, its ramifications have extended greatly and its personnel now come from a much wider field. On more than one occasion Trust Board minutes have raised the recognition of this situation. Until the present time the Trust has operated under the provisions of the Wesleyan Methodist Model Deed of New Zealand 1887. To recognise the wider responsibility of the Trust and to update the basis of its operations, work is at present being undertaken to secure the acceptance by the national church of a new constitution in which the objects and modus operandi to meet the present and the future will be clearly provided for. The proposed new constitution will more clearly set out the widened functions of the Trust and will provide a greater range of assistance than has previously been the case. Following this trend a recent determination of the Trust was that of the allocation available each year for distribution, the first 10 should take the form of a grant to the Maori Division of the Church. Annual grants are also now being made to the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Synod to enable distribution to local causes where the measure of need is better known than by the Trust itself. The Hamilton Methodist Church Trust is now possessor of a greater measure of resources than ever before. With this goes a greater sense of responsibility and stewardship on the part of the Trust Board members. There is a commitment to see that these resources arc channelled to serve the Kingdom of God both in Hamilton and elsewhere to ensure that the greatest good will be achieved.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 197 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne “PAST IMPERFECT” “FUTURE CONDITIONAL” Philosopher George Santayana wrote "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it". The past has not been perfect-churches have a tendency to reflect the attitudes and values of society of the time. Early church leaders transplanted the traditions of Northern European Christian ritual into their new environment in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Along with the rituals and traditional ministry styles came the same prejudices of denominationalism and cultural intolerance. For example, it would have made sense to worship co-operatively in the new struggling military camp that was Hamilton in 1864 or to join with local Christian Maori but no—each settler denomination wanted a foothold; Presbyterian, Catholic, Anglican, Wesleyans and Congregationalists were all worshipping in Hamilton in 1870 (most in their own buildings), while the Maori people remaining in the area continued to hold for some time, established outdoor services at the bottom of Grantham Street. The missionaries and settlers showed little appreciation or understanding of existing Maori spirituality particularly as it applied to the land. Most settlers viewed the outcome of the New Zealand Settlement Acts as a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity to become land owners and to at least rise one or two steps up the social ladder. The Wesleyan Church in Hamilton may well have foundered in 1867 but for William Rayner's gift of land which was his to gift because the Pakeha, when they came, chose not to adapt to what they found, but to make what they found adapt to them. Cultural intolerance in church and community was still alive and well in 1918 as evident in the Trust Minutes of June that year. "In connection with implied proposal of Mr Evans fruiterer, to transfer his premises to a chinaman, (sic) it was resolved that the Secretary take immediate steps to inform Mr Evans that the Trustees cannot countenance such a proposal, partly on account of opposition already being displayed by other tenants". As landlords as well as landowners, the Wesleyan settlers who were Trustees held positions of power and prestige, in adolescent Hamilton. They earnestly attended to their responsibilities while upholding Methodist principles, but with no new models of cultural interaction to 'cut their teeth on', transplanted prejudices and practices prevailed. Therefore buildings, both church and commercial, became very important as symbols of identity, growth and prosperity of Wesleyan and eventually Primitive Methodism (although the Primitives had personal salvation as their main emphasis). The church was a focus for community life where people gathered for faith renewal through worship and fellowship.

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 198 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne Society in general and Hamilton in particular have changed dramatically in 125 years. In some areas the Methodist church has been forced to change, in others it has been the catalyst for change. There have been people of vision like Percy Paris, but also those we have chosen to ignore. The views of women, youth and of other cultures have not necessarily been sought and when those views have been gathered they have not been heeded to any significant extent. However we are now realising that we can break down cultural and denominational barriers. We can make new choices in our lives—try new paths. The Christian Gospel message has the power to change attitudes so that instead of merely reflecting the values of society around us, it can shape them. We can as individuals and as a church come to terms with and accept diversity in men and women, young and old, Maori and Pakeha, and between different denominations and ideologies believing that each of the partners has gifts to give and receive from one another. In the Church there must be processes whereby each encourages and supports the other so that the decision making and resource sharing benefit the whole, not just the majority. In our Hamilton Methodist past we have a rich heritage of the responses of so many people to God's call to live life in all its fullness. While today we may not understand or agree with the manner or measure of some of those responses we know that each moment of feeling, thinking and acting becomes a God given memory so that through our remembering we can acknowledge our past and learn for the future. The future of our church as we approach our 125th Anniversary, and our future as Aotearoa-New Zealand, as we approach the 150th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi is conditional upon how much we are prepared to go on learning about who we are, where we have come from, why we are as we are and the nature of the community and world in which we are called to live and witness. What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.

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APPENDICES I Succession of Ministers II Circuit (Parish) Stewards III St Pauls Leaders 1989 APPENDIX I SUCCESSION OF MINISTERS At Trinity Wesley Church, Collingwood Street 1864 Rev J Rishworth 1867-69 Rev Joseph Berry 1869-71 Rev J H Simmonds 1871-73 Rev J Law 1873-75 Rev W G Thomas 1875-78 Rev J Smith 1878 Rev W J Watkin 1879-81 Rev H Bull 1880- Rev C Griffin 1880 (second Minister appointed) 1882 Division of Circuit into Hamilton, Cambridge and Te Awamutu 1882-85 Rev J Dukes 1888-90 Rev J Dellow 1880 Rev S Lawry 1891-94 Rev J Thomas 1894-97 Rev J J Mather 1897-1900 Rev J Hosking DD 1900-03 Rev H L Blamires 1903-06 Rev J Pinfold FGS. Mr Pinfold abroad 1905. Rev Reed substituted. 1906-08 Rev T Fee 1908-11 Rev H L Blamires 1911-15 Rev J Wrigley Primitive Methodist, London Street 1904-08 Rev P Mairs 1908 Rev A Armstrong 1909-11 Rev J Benning 1913 Rev J Clover 1913-15 Rev J Clover and Rev J Wrigley jointly (At St Pauls, London Street after Union in 1913) 1915-18 Rev T J Wallis 1918-23 Rev E 0 Blamires 1923-26 Rev W Ready Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 200 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne 1926-31 Rev P R Paris 1931-33 Rev W H Hocking 1933-36 Rev H T Peat 1936-42 Rev R B Tinsley 1942-47 Rev C H Olds BA 1947-54 Rev H C Matthews BA 1954-62 Rev W R Francis BA BD 1962-72 Rev A K Petch BA. Rev Petch away much of 1971. Rev C O Hailwood substituted. 1972-80 Rev P A Stead BA 1980-82 Rev H A Darvill 1982-86 Rev W Ford, Rev Mary Astley 1986 Rev B H Turner APPENDIX II CIRCUIT STEWARDS (now known as Parish Stewards) 1870-71 S Tanfield and H Buttle 1882-73 C S Bridgeman and H Buttle 1873-74 W N Buttle and D Caley 1875-76 H Buttle (replaced his brother who moved to Auckland), D Caley 1876- H Buttle and J Gane 1900 J Andrew and J Bennett 1901-02 J Andrew and W H Worsley 1903-05 W H Worsley and H S Hardley 1906-07 S Knight and J W Bowles 1908 W H Worsley and W F Mason 1909-12 J R Fow and S A Pethybridge 1912-14 J R Fow and F C Daniell 1915-16 O F Clothier and T L Hames 1917-18 G H Gilling and S A Pethybridge 1919-20 G H Gilling and J B Pomeroy 1920 G H Gilling and R J Bell 1922-23 R J Bell and J T Bryant 1924 W Y Kirkman and R W Kirkpatrick 1924-27 W Y Kirkman and W B L Williams 1928-35 W B L Williams and J C Tietjens 1936-37 W B L Williams and H Beebe 1938-42 W B L Williams and A C Burgess 1943-47 W B L Williams and H C Wood 1947-56 W B L Williams and H H Fow 1957-58 W B L Williams and W K Stevens 1958-63 W B L Williams and H R Vyle Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 201 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne 1963-65 H R Vyle and A Smith 1966 Alfred Smith and Warren Birch 1968 Alfred Smith and F (Geoffrey) Dean (Melville) 1969 Alfred Smith and Howard Underwood 1973 Alton England and Howard Underwood 1974 Alton England and Les Missen (Melville) 1978 Alton England 1979 Harold F Witten, Alton England 1985 Harold F Witten, Alton England, Ken Cleaver (Melville) 1987 Harold F Witten, Alton England, Mrs Dorrie Hosking (Melville) 1988 Harold F Witten, Ms Pat Irving, Mrs Dorrie Hosking

APPENDIX III ST PAULS METHODIST CHURCH – MEMBERS OF THE LEADERS MEETING, 1989 Ministers Brian Turner Presbyter-in-Training, Lisiate Manuatu Convenors: Outreach, Alf and Pat Pinkerton Pastoral Care, Mary Ford SSPQ, Raewyn Bayliss Worship and Education, Pat Irving, Virginia Graham Appointed Representatives: Catering, Eileen Grayson Choir Director, Bev Page Choir Representatives, Gordon Ford Hostesses, Virginia Graham Lay Preachers, Jim George (in training), Howard Vyle (retired), Tom West Property Committee, Ona Coatsworth Sacramental Stewards, Hilda Bray Society Stewards, Jim Marsters Sunday School, Joan Beaumont Women's Fellowship, Joyce Witten Youth, Nik Cree Congregational Representatives: Brian Clark, Joan Elton, Neville King Secretary, Lesley Utting Parish Stewards, Pat Irving, Harold Witten Treasurer, Merv Raynor (overseas 1989), Vera Mitchell — Relieving Treasurer

Hamilton Parish History Committee 1989 Page 202 Cross Currents by V. Graham and D. Payne BIBLIOGRAPHY Norris H C M Armed Settlers 1956 Norris H C M Settlers in Depression 1964 Rishworth John Journal—Copy in Glen Collection, Invercargill Public Library Glen Frank G. Methodism in Auckland during the Maori Wars 1860-1864 Pub. Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Vol 16 Nos I & II of Proceedings 1957 Watson, Norton Wesley Methodist Church Golden Jubilee 1925-1975. Buchan, Errol— Editor Wesley Methodist Church 1975-1985. Nuttall, Roger-Editor Faith in Action-25th Anniversary, 1984, Melville Methodist Church. Oldfield, Rev C B Five Decades of Hamilton East Methodism- 1910-1960. Twenty Five Years in Retrospect — St Johns Methodist Church Hamilton East 1910-1985. Hamilton East Methodist Circuit Silver Jubilee 1924-1949 -Booklet. Payne, D H Tamahere Eventide Home- The Story of the Early Years, 1986. Olds, Rev C H BA Souvenir of Waikato Methodism 1867-1942. Silvester, Rev John MA "Out on the Swamp", St James Methodist Church Frankton 1913-1963 Burton, Ormond, Percy Paris Pub Friends of Percy Paris, Wesley Church Wellington, 1963. Court Lew H, Ready Aye Ready—the story of a romantic career, Epworth Press London, 1935. Nuttall, Roger (editor). Upon this rock I will build my church. Golden Jubilee of Rototuna Church 1911-1961 Thompson, May, Annals of Rototuna, Pub M Thompson 1979. Vyle H R (editor), A Hundred Years of Methodist Witness in Hamilton, Published 1964.

Digitization and corrections added by Alec Utting 2016

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