Trinity Methodist Church Kingsland 1853-2003 by Audrey Wood 1 Trinity Methodist Church Kingsland 1853-2003 by Audrey Wood Churches, 1876, 1897, 1909, 1938, 1993, 2 Trinity Methodist Church Kingsland 1853-2003 by Audrey Wood CONTENTS A GRIPPING STORY OF EARLY METHODISM 1853 - 1899 CHURCH MEMBERS LOVING AND SERVING CHRIST 1900 - 1924 GROWTH AND ENTHUSIASM, CHURCH AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 1925 - 1949 AMALGAMATION WITH EDEN TERRACE - CENTENARY 1950 – 1974 FAITHFUL BAND OF WITNESSES - THE CHURCH 1975 ONWARDS RECOLLECTIONS FROM THE PAST APPENDICES 3 Trinity Methodist Church Kingsland 1853-2003 by Audrey Wood CHURCH HISTORY AND REMINISCENCES PREFACE The Trinity Methodist Church, Kingsland has been an oasis for many people over the past 150 years. I think of the dedication to the Church which past members have shown, the service they have offered to Christ and the Community, and this was too valuable a contribution to be lost. I admire those early settlers, when their first Church was too small, with determination, worked hard to build a larger one. Continually short of money, they held soirees, entertainments etc to raise money to finish the building, and with alterations and repairs, this continued through the years. Today, in the large cities such as Auckland, commercial buildings have taken over. Other Churches in the surrounding area sadly are no more. We think of Eden Terrace which closed in 1952, St. Georges Anglican at Kingsland and St. Enochs Presbyterian at Morningside all closed. Kingsland Methodist remains, and we have had the advantage of receiving members from Eden Terrace in 1952, and in February 1987 from St. Judes, Grey Lynn. These members have made a valuable contribution to the Church at Kingsland, and we thank them. THE AUTHOR Author, Audrey Wood Most of my life has been at Kingsland Methodist Church. When the family came to live at Morningside in April 1926, my sisters and I attended the Sunday School, the Christian Endeavour, and as we grew older, the Bible Classes. Because I was also part of the Tennis and Badminton Clubs, the Sunbeam Club and Girls’ Life Brigade, precious memories have been brought to life. I served as a Sunday School teacher 4 Trinity Methodist Church Kingsland 1853-2003 by Audrey Wood from 1933, and in 1962, as Superintendent for 14 years. My greatest achievement was the Music Festival, when the children were keen to come to Sunday School and enjoyed the Competitions of Singing, Handwork and Scripture Examinations. The children won the Handwork Shield, the Scripture Examination and the Musical Festival Shields on two occasions. I was excited to be Assistant Organist in 1938, and played for services when needed. I was appointed Organist/Choir Conductor in 1965 and I have been happy to continue as organist to the present time. People who have moved away have told us that Kingsland Church will always be special to them. Visiting Ministers and Lay Preachers also say that they love coming to Kingsland. I believe there is something special here for people — our Lord Jesus Christ is here. It is my prayer that the past will be an inspiration for future generations. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. I wish to express my appreciation to the Auckland Archive Department of the Methodist Church for their help - to Verna Mossong, Jill Weeks, Hazel Simpkin and Rev.Burt whose assistance has been very much appreciated in compiling this history. Also to Mrs. Helen Laurenson for her guidance and helpful advice. I thank past members and friends who have supplied photographs and information which has been invaluable. I thank you again. Please accept my apology if I have inadvertently overlooked any person. I also thank my son, Murray, for his professional help preparing the photos and inserting them in the book. I especially thank my husband, Fred, who has greatly assisted me in gathering the information and for transport over a long period. I have been most grateful for their help. I acknowledge the contribution given from the PAC Fund to this project. With gratitude Audrey Wood. March 2003 5 Trinity Methodist Church Kingsland 1853-2003 by Audrey Wood KINGSLAND METHODIST CHURCH HISTORY 1853—2003 A GRIPPING STORY OF EARLY METHODISM 1853—1899 During the early 1840’s and 1850’s there was a great influx of immigrants arriving in Auckland. Mechanics Bay, where the first arrivals settled, was becoming overcrowded. New settlers decided to venture inland where there were vast areas to choose from. Elihu Shaw, a Hokianga pioneer was driven from his home by Hone Heki’s war, and came south in the late 1840’s and bought 16Y2 acres at Cabbage Tree Swamp, and as he prospered, he bought more land. Shaw Street, off Sandringham Road is named after him. Collins and Ethel Streets, Leslie and Kenneth Avenues are all named after his children. Years later, our church families lived in these streets. In 1842, 18 months after Auckland’s first land sales, Mt. Albert land was advertised for public auction. 13 blocks were offered, mostly 20 acres for small farms and these were close to Kingsland. Kingsland Cricket Ground in flood, later Eden Park. There was a Cornishman, John Walters, who arrived on Kawau Island in 1845 to run an ill fated copper mine. Two years later he landed in Auckland, bought a block of 52 acres where Eden Park now stands and began farming, quarrying and carting metal on roading contracts. 6 Trinity Methodist Church Kingsland 1853-2003 by Audrey Wood John McElwain who was born in Ireland, reached New Zealand in 1848. He worked for the Government for 2 years and then 2 years in a merchant office. He bought 55 acres in Kingsland, which he farmed, and was fortunate to receive a gift of 60 acres from his brother George. Allan Kerr Taylor, born in India and educated in Edinburgh reached New Zealand in 1849 at the age of 16 and immediately bought 60 acres and later an adjourning 233 acres and ultimately extended his holdings to 1000 acres. THE FIRST CHURCH, WHAU ROAD CHAPEL John Walters who gave the land for the Church. It was John Walters, who in 1853 gave land for a Methodist Church at Kingsland. His land was situated from the Whau Road and extended to Eden Park and surroundings. The land for the Church was only a short distance from the present Railway Station on the Sandringham side. A number of staunch Methodists had settled in the area and were excited at the thought of worshipping in a Church. They volunteered to help in constructing a stone Church, which was called the “Whau Road Chapel.” At first conditions were very primitive. Those who came to worship sat on forms with no backs, and there was no music for singing. A pitch pipe gave them their ‘note”. Homemade candles gave them their light at the evening services. These things did not matter. They were so happy that now they had a Church in which to worship God, and they were grateful to Mr. Walters for his gift of the land and materials. Mr. Walters was the first “Class Leader”. Families had settled in the district. Mr. James Gribble who lived in the Cabbage Tree Swamp area had 11 children, there were 10 in the Sadgrove family and 11 in the Kemp family. The area did not take long to become populated, and the Sunday School increased in numbers. 7 Trinity Methodist Church Kingsland 1853-2003 by Audrey Wood The first settlers lost no time in calling on the newly formed Auckland Provincial Council to make new roads. In 1854, at the second Session, a petition signed by fifteen Mt. Albert settlers asked that Whau Road be considered for major upgrading and that money be granted to make a road from their farms to Auckland. In 1857, Mr. McElwain gained the contract for carting scoria for the roads. John Walters and his home, circa 1920. The original little stone church served until 1858, when a wooden building costing £133 was erected on the site of the present Sunday School. The first meeting to plan for this Church was held in July 1857 at the home of Mr. J. Walters. Rev. R.B. Lythe was the Chairman, and the committee consisted of Messrs. J. Walters, S. Gribble, J. McElwain, A. Mears, J. Gribble and W. Moyle. In the Minutes of the Auckland District Annual Meeting in 1858, chaired by Rev. Thomas Buddle is the following note. “At Whau Road in the Auckland Circuit a weatherboard Chapel capable of seating 130 persons had been erected.” It was officially opened by the Rev. Isaac Harding. This second Church was used also as a schoolroom and a Public Hall. In 1865, a 30-acre block, part of Mr. Kerr Taylor’s farm came under the hammer for the establishment of a new suburban village to be called Morningside. It consisted of 120 allotments for villa residences. As the population increased, more pressure came for better roads. DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES. Local Government began a year later when 13 settlers met in the Whau Road schoolroom and elected the first Councillors. The Morningside Day School opened in 1870. Mr. McElwain was the donor of the land. The Opening was held in the Whau Road Chapel on Monday 10th January after which the children assembled in the new school. Fees collected were 6d per week 8 Trinity Methodist Church Kingsland 1853-2003 by Audrey Wood until the child had learnt to write. Thereafter one child 1/- per week, 3 in a family 2/6 per week and 4 in one family 3/- per week. Mr. R.C. Whitham was Headmaster from 1892 — 1903 and during his term many scholars secured Scholarships including several Rawlings Scholarships.