The Flowing Tide by Rev. Frank. E. Leadley The Flowing Tide 1850-1950 A brief outline of the Onehunga Methodist Church and its influence through one hundred years. Prepared by Rev. Frank. E. Leadley First Onehunga Methodist Church, 1850 Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #8(1) 1950 Page 1 The Flowing Tide by Rev. Frank. E. Leadley INTRODUCTION Looking back to the early days of the Christian Gospel in New Zealand, it must be borne in mind that the pioneer Missionaries of both the Anglican and Methodist Churches came predominantly to the Maori people. Indeed, it may be said that fully 80 of Christian teaching a hundred years' ago was given to them. The establishment of churches for the pakeha closely followed the settlements which sprang up rapidly along both east and west coasts of the North Island, as emigrants from Great Britain arrived. It is with devout gratitude to Almighty God, and sincere admiration for a noble company of men and women pioneers, that the Trustees of the Onehunga Methodist Church review a century of Christian service, in which tills Church has been the head of a religious movement which extended through Otahuhu, Papakura, Waiuku, to the Bombay settlement, and Pukekohe; all of which places are today centres of Christian service to the community. The first Methodist Church in Onehunga, built in the year 1850, has long since served its purpose, and been sold. But there remains still in occupation the first Parsonage, a sturdy kauri building, erected in 1840 at Mangungu, at the head of the Hokianga harbour, and in 1855 brought by water and re-erected here. Morley's "History of Methodism in New Zealand" contains the following reference to the old parsonage:— "It says much for the timber and the faithfulness of its builders, that after standing the stress and storm of 60 years' service, it is still habitable and comfortable." This was written in the year 1900. The old house is still "habitable and comfortable" 50 years later. With a record of 110 years, surely it is one of the oldest inhabited houses in New Zealand! As the reader follows the brief outline of Christian effort given in this Centenary brochure, may he, or she, realise that we to-day are the successors of Christian stalwarts who, from small beginnings, and with limited resources, used to the full those Divine influences, that through the years have transformed thousands of human lives. Today, with greater facilities, it is our privilege to maintain, and extend in even greater measure, this "flowing tide" of devoted Christian service. Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #8(1) 1950 Page 2 The Flowing Tide by Rev. Frank. E. Leadley First Period 1850-1909 THE BEGINNINGS Two streams, flowing down neighbouring valleys, often unite to form a river, which, on its way to the sea, becomes a means of blessing to men who build upon its banks. This is as true of streams of influence as of water, and is seen in those spiritual forces which, though small at first, when joined, resulted eventually in the establishment of the circuit of which the Onehunga Methodist Church is the head. In the providence of God, one stream of influence was Maori, the other Pakeha. By far the larger was at first the Maori influence. PEHIAKURA This is the name of a place little known today. The Pehiakura Maori Mission Station was founded not later than the year l843. It was situated on the south-western shore of lhe Manukau Harbour, near the Heads, and was the home of the most influential tribe in the district. Twenty years before this date, the renowned chief, Epiha Putini (Jabez Bunting) had heard the Gospel preached by the English missionaries at Hokianga and at Pehiakura he erected a spacious and lofty church of raupo, furnished with many examples of Maori art. Eventually, however, the ownership of the land on which the settlement was established was disputed by another tribe, and in order to maintain peace, the chief and his people rowed their canoes 20 miles up the Manukau harbour to Ihumatao on the northeast, corner, in the district of Mangere, where they made their new home. Even after one hundred years, Ihumatao (now called Mangere) is still a centre of both Maori and Pakeha service, and the oldest portion of the Onehunga circuit. Pehiakura and Ihumatao, with other Maori preaching places on the Manukau, were in 1844 connected with the Auckland circuit, and were placed under the care of the European Missionary. Rev. H. H. Lawry, with Hone Piha as the Native Assistant. The earliest tabulated statistics of the New Zealand Methodist Church were presented at the District Meeting of 1844. Under the heading "Pehiakura" we read:— 1 Native Chapel 1 Local Preacher 3 Class Leaders 72 Native members 150 Attendants at worship. Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #8(1) 1950 Page 3 The Flowing Tide by Rev. Frank. E. Leadley AUCKLAND To the Rev. James Buller belongs the honour of unfurling the Methodist banner in the new capital chosen by Captain Hobson on the shores of the sparkling Waitemata. In “Forty years in N.Z." Mr. Buller tells of his first journey in September, 1841, from Tangiteroria, along native tracks for 200 miles to the small settlement that is now the city of Auckland. This pioneering visit extended over three weeks, and resulted in many valuable contacts being made. Mr. Buller made a second visit to Auckland the following year (1842), and reported to the District Synod the establishment of societies of 13 Europeans and 150 Natives; a grant by the Government of a section of land, and the sum of £l30 already subscribed towards the erection of a place of worship. Permission to build was delayed, but in due course Auckland's first Methodist Church in High Street was opened on July 2, 1843. It was not, however, until March, 1844, that the Rev. Walter Lawry arrived from England to take charge of the Auckland Circuit. The years immediately following tell a wonderful story of progress in the establishment of churches in and around the Capital, of which that at Onehunga was one. It is a notable fact that as early as 1844 the need for a Native Institution, where young Maoris could be educated and trained for leadership became imperative, and in the following year such an Institution was established where Trinity College now stands. It was here that in 1846, the Chief Jabez Bunting, already mentioned, while spending a weekend at this Native Institution, realised God's pardoning mercy in the forgiveness of sin. He became a great power for good among his people. Being anxious to promote Native education to the utmost, the Colonial Government granted a further area of 192 acres of Crown land at Three Kings, where the foundation stone of Wesley College was laid on April 5, 1848, by His Excellency Sir George Grey. Three Kings College has links with the Onehunga Church and Circuit. The Rev. H. H. Lawry reported that the trainees often attended the Onehunga Church for the Sunday evening service. When in 1847 a small weatherboard house had been built for the Missionary at Ihumatao, at a cost of only £52, the explanation is given in the District Meeting report:— "Great part of the workmanship has been performed by some of the young men of the Institution, under the direction of a European” During the years 1858-9 the College was linked with the Native Work at Ihumatao, under the charge of the resident minister, Rev. H. H. Lawry. Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #8(1) 1950 Page 4 The Flowing Tide by Rev. Frank. E. Leadley ONEHUNGA The unrest, before the Maori war, and the need for strategically placed settlements to protect the capital against invasion from the south, resulted in the settling of numbers of military pensioners in four areas—Onehunga, Otahuhu, Panmure and Howick. It is claimed that as early as 1845 a service was held in Onehunga bv earnest Methodist Local Preachers from Auckland; but evidently without permanent results, because at the District Meeting of 1849 the Auckland Circuit Report stated: "Attempts have been made at two of the Pensioners' settlements" (presumably Onehunga and Otahuhu) "but hitherto without success . though it is not intended to leave the field in quiet possession of the enemy." That this was no empty boast is evident from the fact reported to the Synod a year later (1850) : "At Onehunga, a chapel is in course of erection, the site for which has been granted by the Government." This plain building of wood, 24ft. by 18ft., paid for by local subscriptions, soon became a spiritual home, where men and women of sterling character were trained in Christian service. Within a few years the small chapel was doubled in size. Onehunga was really put "on the map" at the District Meeting of 1854, when the following momentous resolution was passed: “IT IS CONSIDERED THAT IT WOULD PROMOTE THE WORK OF GOD IN THE AUCKLAND AND MANUKAU CIRCUITS TO SEPARATE ONEHUNGA FROM AUCKLAND, AND JOIN IT TO THE MANUKAU CIRCUIT; AND TO REMOVE THE PREACHERS RESIDENCE FROM IHUMATAO TO ONEHUNGA. THE AUCKLAND QUARTERLY MEETING HAVING RECOMMENDED SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT, THIS DISTRICT MEETING RESOLVES THAT IT SHALL BE CARRIED INTO EFFECT." THE MANUKAU CIRCUIT In the year 1850, the extensive Maori work associated with the Auckland Circuit was separated and constituted as the Manukau Circuit with Ihumatao as the principal place, and the home of the Rev H H Lawrv. Other preaching places in the circuit were Taotaoroa, Pukaki, Papahinu, Pehiakura and Woodside.