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, Claudelands - Moon Memorial Church, Te Uku - St Lukes, Maeroa - 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 Waikato 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 Waikato Museum 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 Tamahere. 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 Waikato River. 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.