St Kilda Methodist Centenary 1902-2002 Page 1 St Kilda Methodist Centenary 1902-2002 MINISTERS St. Kilda Town Hall: 1902-03 Rev. Josiah Ward 1904 Rev. Josiah Ward H. Ramsbottom 1905 Rev. T. Trestrail H. Ramsbottom 1906 Rev. T. Trestrail C. Eaton St Kilda Church: 1906-07 Rev. C. Eaton 1907 Rev. R. F. Williams 1908 Rev.W.Grigg Rev. A. Allan (supply) 1908-1910 Rev. F. Rands 1911-1912 Rev. R. H. Wylie St. Kilda Circuit from 1913: 1912-1916 Rev. A. J. Seamer 1916-1920 Rev A. Hopper 1918-1919 Rev. J. R. Nelson (supply) 1919-1920 Rev. L. Hudson (supply) 1920-1921 Rev. E. E. Sage 1921-1924 Rev. B. Metson 1924-1928 Rev. E. S. Harkness 1928-1931 Rev A. C. Lawry 1931-1935 Rev. P. R. Paris 1935-194O Rev. T. Skuse 1940-1946 Rev. L. C. Horwood 1946-1951 Rev. D. J. D. Hickman 195 1-1960 Rev. G. R. H. Peterson 1960-1964 Rev. R. E. Patchett 1964 Rev. S. Werren (supply) (Supernumerary) 1964-1967 Rev. B. E. Jones 1967-1969 Rev. R. Gibson 1969 Rev D. J. D. Hickman (supply) (Supernumerary) 1969 Rev. F. Prosser (supply) (Supernumerary) 1970-1974 Rev. J. H. Conway 1974-1975 Rev. R. Greenwood Dunedin Circuit: 1975-1977 Rev. E. C. Stevens (supply) Page 2 St Kilda Methodist Centenary 1902-2002 Mr. A. Harman (Lay Preacher) (supply) Dunedin Mission: 1977- Rev. R. Burton Rev. Doug. Pratt Rev. Paul Sinclair Rev. Alan Upson Rev. Lynne Frith-Upson Dunedin Parish: Rev. Norman West Rev. Gordon Abernethy Rev. Alex. Webster 2002-2002 Rev Geoff King Rev Jean Bruce ------------------------------- 1902 St Kilda was a Home Mission Station in the Cargill Road Circuit 1913-1975 St Kilda Circuit 1975- 1997 Dunedin Circuit Dunedin Mission A preaching place in Dunedin Parish Page 3 St Kilda Methodist Centenary 1902-2002 ST. KILDA, DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND Township of St. Kilda 1862 Area bounded by Prince Albert Road, Bay View Road, Moreau St and Victoria Road. Borough of St. Kilda 7th December 1875 Area bounded by Bay View Road, Forbury Road, Victoria Road, Andersons Bay Road. Andersons Bay Road from Bay View Road to Royal Crescent. Royal Crescent east to Victoria Road. 1890 The Bible Christian Church (Dunedin Methodist Central Mission) were holding services in St. Kilda as early as 1890. Where these services were held is not known. These services were only held in St. Kilda for a short time. Bible Christian Church, Dunedin. Cash book. Statement dated 27th June 1890 included — St. Kilda, collections 12s 1d. 1896 St. Clair State Primary School opened. 18th June 1902 St. Kilda Town Hall opened. 1902 Cargill Road Methodists saw an opening at St. Kilda. They felt an attempt should be made to hold services in the Borough. 5th October 1902 First Methodist services in the new St. Kilda Town Hall, Borough of St. Kilda. 6.3Opm. Rev. Josiah Ward. 1903 The rapid development of St. Kilda during recent years led to the Methodist authorities to acquire a section with a view to building in that locality. 1903 Methodists purchase corner section — Queen’s Drive and High Street. (now Tedder Street). 1904 At present St. Kilda is without a church. The Wesleyans hold services in the Town Hall every Sunday. “Encyclopedia of New Zealand” 1904 1904 Population of St. Kilda 1900 Page 4 St Kilda Methodist Centenary 1902-2002 14th August 1905 Musselburgh State Primary School opened — (not in St. Kilda Borough). February 1906 It is rather a unique experience as far as St. Kilda is concerned — viz., a borough with over 2,500 people and no church yet built. The Methodists have had services for some years past in the new Town Hall, but realise that the time has come for a forward move. This course was decided on by a recent meeting of the Trust Board. - Newspaper Report. 12’ May 1906 Foundation Stone for new Methodist Church. Inscription — This stone was laid by J. B. Shacklock, Esq. 12th May 1906. 23rd September 1906 New Methodist Church at St. Kilda opened. 1909. St. Clair Presbyterian Church opened. 7th November 1909 Musselburgh Presbyterians — First service in Masonic Hall, Prince Albert Road, St. Kilda. 1910 St. Kilda Methodist Sunday School Hall opened. 1910 Primitive Methodists open a church at 106 Andersons Bay Road. After Methodist Union in 1913 — church sold. Today a private residence at 106 Musselburgh Rise. (not in Borough of St. Kilda.) 17th January 1911 St. Kilda Post Office — opened for business 1911 Musselburgh Presbyterian Church, Queens Drive, St. Kilda opened. 20th April 1912 Coronation Hall, St. Kilda built (next to St. Kilda Town Hall). December 1912 Holy Cross Church (Anglican) opened. 1913 Methodist Union Uniting Church (Wesleyans, Bible Christians, and United Methodist Free Churches) and Primitive Methodists. St. Kilda becomes a separate Circuit. First St. Kilda Parsonage (two storeyed) built. The Borough of St. Kilda Before the turn of the century, the Borough was mostly fields used for grazing cattle. The section on which the church now stands was a three-sided paddock, the property of Mr. Mitchell who used it for grazing cattle. Later the section was filled in and the church built in 1906. Page 5 St Kilda Methodist Centenary 1902-2002 The many vacant sections on which was grown wheat and oats are now of course all built on. The roads were formed with rock from the quarry at Musselburgh and sand from the beach, and these were not tar- sealed and because of this the streets as such created a dust nuisance in the summer and were very muddy in the winter. Some of the streets were only illuminated with gas lamps. There was no Post Office to serve the Borough; letters were posted in street boxes at various points, the mail being cleared daily. There was, of course, the Town Hall, but a larger hall, to be known as the Coronation Hall, was yet to be built. The above was commissioned to be written for “Jubilee Record” 1956. It was in these conditions and in this environment that the Methodists built their church. Beginnings Prior to the commencement of Methodist services in the St. Kilda Town Hall and the opening of the St. Kilda Methodist Church in September 1906, cottage meetings were held in a number of Methodist homes. Cottage meetings were held in the home of Mrs. Ashley Cooper’s parents, Council Street, St. Kilda. Miss E. Slater, whose address was Macandrew Road, South Dunedin, attended the first cottage meeting for Methodists in the Borough of St. Kilda at the home of Mr. Hopwood in 1900. Miss Slater was present at our 60th Jubilee Celebrations in 1962 attending the morning service in the St. Kilda Coronation Hall (next to the St. Kilda Town Hall) and the Conversazione in the Sunday School Hall. In 1901, cottage meetings were conducted in St. Kilda by Rev. T. G. Brooke (President of Conference). We are grateful to those who opened their homes so that these cottage meetings could be held. This was the beginnings of Methodism in the Borough of St. Kilda. From the Primitive Methodist Church. Asking Council to allow their Church to withdraw from the Agreement to lease the Hall for Sunday services and stating the Cargill Road Wesleyan Church is prepared to take over their responsibility in the matter. Moved by Cr. Parker and seconded by Cr. Sandilands. That they be allowed by withdraw, on the Cargill Road Wesleyan Church signing an agreement similar to the one made out for their Church and that a clause be inserted giving them the use of the piano for £1. — carried. St. Kilda Borough council Minutes. 23” September 1902. Page 6 St Kilda Methodist Centenary 1902-2002 Memo of Agreement - Lease of Hall Cargill Road Wesleyan Church and St. Kilda Borough Council. Memorandum of Agreement this twentieth day of September 1902 between the Mayor, Councillors and burgesses of the Borough of St. Kilda hereinafter called the Corporation of the one part and the Minister and office bearers of the Cargill Road Wesleyan Church hereinafter called the Church of the other part. Whereby the said Corporation agrees to let and the said Church agrees to take the St. Kilda Borough Hall on Sundays for the purpose of holding religious services therein for the term of one year from the twentieth day of September 1902 it may be optional at the end of the term for the Church to take the Hall for a further term of one year at a rental to be agreed upon by both parties. The said Church agrees to pay a rental of Twenty five pounds (25) per annum payable quarterly in advance, the first payment thereof of six pounds five shillings (6. 5. 0) be made on the first day of October 1902 such tenancy to date from the twentieth day of September 1902 and to end on 20 day of September 1903 the said Church agrees to pay the rent at the times and manner aforesaid. The said Church agrees to pay over and above the aforesaid rent the sum of one pound per annum for the use of piano to be paid quarterly with the rent. The said Corporation agrees to allow the said Church the use of a room in the Corporation’s building one night every quarter for the purpose of holding a Committee meeting also the use of the Hall one night in the year for a social night to be arranged. The said Church to be responsible for any damage done to the building or furniture belonging to the Corporation (fair wear and tear accepted) also to make good any such damage, damage by fire excepted.