Centenary souvenir of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church : containing a brief history of the church from its inception in 1840 to the present time

Grocott, H. D. (Henry Dryden), The Church, Wellington, N.Z, 1940

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Title: Centenary souvenir of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church : containing a brief history of the church from its inception in 1840 to the present time

Author: Grocott, H. D. (Henry Dryden)

Published: The Church, Wellington, N.Z., 1940

IN THE CITY OF WELLINGTON NEW ZEALAND 1840- 1940

CENTENARY SOUVENIR

OF ST. ANDREW’S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

CONTAINING A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHURCH FROM ITS INCEPTION IN I 840 TO THE PRESENT TIME. COMPILED BY MR. H. D. GROCOTT. SESSION CLERK

REV. JOHN MACFARLANE.

The Coming of the Presbyterian Church to New Zealand

The colonists, with their Minister, the Rev. John Macfarlane, who arrived in New Zealand by the "Bengal Merchant in the year 1 840, were the founders of the Church of Scotland in these islands. In the first half of 1 839 there had been formed in Glasgow a West of Scotland Committee of the New Zealand Land Company, with Lord Provost Henry Dunlop of Glasgow as chairman. The "Bengal Merchant," commanded by Captain John Hemery, was chartered to convey passengers and emigrants from the Clyde to New Zealand. The vessel was of 303 tons burden, height between decks 6 feet 3 inches, and was built at Calcutta in 1812.

The passenger list comprised: Cabin class, 19 adcilts and 3 children; Intermediate class, 1 1 adults and 4 children; Steerage class, 86 adults and 23 children —a total of 1 46 persons.

In October, 1839, a public dinner was given in the Trades Hall, Glasgow, by the Committee, there being present about 150 guests, to celebrate the departure of the first Scottish colony from the Clyde. Among the speakers was the Rev. Dr. Norman McLeod, Minister of Loudoun, who, in referring to the Rev. Mr. Macfarlane, said that his much-beloved friend was going out to that fair colony, there to be engaged in the sacred service of the Sanctuary and the worship of the God of our fathers. He expressed the delight he felt when Mr. Macfarlane had offered his services for the purpose. In reply, Mr. Macfarlane briefly and suitably expressed his thanks.

On the 22nd July, 1836, Mr. Macfarlane had been ordained and inducted as the first minister of Martyrs’ Memorial Church at Paisley, from which he resigned in order to accompany the colonists to New Zealand.

On the 30th October, 1 839, a farewell visit was made in the steamer"lnverarayCastle” by members of the Committee, friends of the colonists and ladies connected with both, to the “Bengal Merchant” as she lay in Gourock Bay.

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THE FIRST ST. ANDREWS CHURCH ON LAMBTON QUAY. 1844-1866.

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The reception of the party was most enthusiastic. The "Glasgow Flerald" of the time, commenting upon the scene, stated: "But the occasion was touched with sadness, for it was not in the nature of Scotsmen to expatriate themselves from 'Puir auld Scotland,’ in which were all their associations and which contained the green graves of their sires, without the heart being pained and saddened."

On the following day the ship weighed anchor in a most favourable breeze, and the tug parted from her off Skelmorlie amid enthusiastic cheers of all on board both vessels. We read that "the sails of the noble ship were unfurled to the breeze and she went off in spanking style.

The Voyage

Mr. Macfarlane began his duties on board without delay, and on each Sabbath day the passengers and crew assembled for worship. In twenty days' time the vessel entered the tropics. During the voyage there was one birth, one death—a boy succumbed from sunstroke—and a marriage on Christmas day.

Arrival and Settlement

On the 10th February, 1840, the west coast of the South Island was sighted, and after calling at D’Urville Island the "Bengal Merchant” entered Port Nicholson on the 20th, and anchored off Petone Beach. There were lying in the harbour at the time the following vessels which had conveyed voyagers to the new colony: the Aurora, which had arrived on the 22nd January; the "Oriental” on the 31st; and the "Duke of Roxburgh" on the Bth February.

According to the terms of charter the vessel was to remain at anchor for four weeks whilst the immigrants erected temporary habitations, but no such concession was allowed the passengers. Relating his experiences, Mr. Macfarlane stated that on the morning after arrival the agent of the New Zealand Land Company came on board, and, after conversing with the passengers, addressed the immigrants. Next morning a small party went on shore to explore the country and fix upon their future residence,

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and, said Mr. Macfarlane, “we wandered about all day through mud and marsh and bush, and returned at last to the ship wet and weary, and altogether disappointed in our object.” The following day, being Sabbath, the Minister preached from Psalm 137, verses 5 and 6: “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If Ido not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.”

For the next ten days parties went on shore, their investigations being rendered most disagreeable by incessant rains. At length, before the voyagers could possibly fix upon a place of abode the overflowing of the river having caused the men to change their original intention orders were given for their removal from the ship.

In describing the situation, Mr. Macfarlane wrote that “it was a cold, cloudy wet Saturday [most probably the 7th March], the stormiest day yet experienced. By dint of remonstrance, the free immigrants received a kind of shelter in the half-finished stores of the Company, and were also supplied with rations, but as for the cabin passengers, they had not a place in which to put their head; and as the goods were not landed, scarcely anything to eat. I fortunately had provided myself with a small tent before leaving Scotland, and you may judge of our state when I mention that up to nine o’clock at night twenty persons were glad to take shelter with in its narrow bounds. Thereafter a curtain was put up in the middle and several slept within it on the bare ground, while the rest, even females and children, were obliged to rest under bushes, with umbrellas or whatever they could get above them.’’

Sabbath forenoon (Bth March) was described as being favourable enough to permit public worship in the open air to the few who could attend, but in the evening it blew a perfect hurricane, with thunder and lightning, so that the distress of the previous night was doubly increased. On each Sabbath Mr. Macfarlane conducted public worship in the forenoon at such places on the beach as he deemed most expedient. A passenger who arrived

by the "Adelaide" on the 7th March, gave the following description of a service held in the open air on Sunday morning, the sth April, 1840:

“It was a beautiful, calm day, not a cloud to be seen in the sky, and the sun shone forth in its meridian splendour. The magnificent harbour of Port Nicholson lay before us, but not a breath of wind to ruffle the surface of its waters. The laving of the tide upon the beach was the only sound heard in that direction to break the stillness of the peaceful scene. To the left might be seen, anchored off Somes Island, the vessels which had brought them in safety across the mighty deep, with the British ensign hanging at the peak. To the right, and about a quarter of a mile distant, was the bush in its various and beautiful foliage, the nikau palm and the tree fern being conspicuous in their beauty, and the woods were musical with the song of birds. The background consisted of tall flax and the feathery toetoe, which was then in full bloom. Adjoining, and a small distance from Pito-one beach, there was a small clump of karaka trees, under which the settlers assembled to worship God. There was no Sabbath bell to call the congregation together, but the song of the bell-bird could be distinctly heard above all the songsters of the grove. There were about thirty or forty persons, among whom I remember Robert Rodger Strang, George Hunter (afterwards the first Mayor), William Lyon, K. Bethune, J. Telford, Francis Yates, Robert Kemble, Buchanan, and many whose names I have forgotten. The greeting was most cordial as friends met and briefly related their several experiences to each other since leaving the Mother Country.

"The Rev. John Macfarlane, the only clergyman, who accompanied the first expedition, officiated. He was then in the vigour of manhood, was of medium height, and formed a prominent figure in the group. When the reverend gentleman said: ‘Let us worship God,’ every head was reverently uncovered, and the small company joined with all earnestness in singing the One Hundredth Psalm ‘All people that on earth do dwell.’ He then read a portion of Scripture, after which he offered up a prayer. And there, with the canopy of heaven for a covering, did they pour forth their thanksgiving to God for bringing them in safety across the mighty deep to their desired haven. Then was sung: The Lord smy Shepherd, I’ll not want,’

“And here 1 may mention that Sabbath services were regularly held in Bethune and Hunter's store on the banks of the Hutt, and sometimes at Colonel Wakefield's house at Pito-one. What a contrast the previous week had been to this peaceful and holy Sabbath.

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THE SECOND CHURCH ON THE ORIGINAL SITE. 1866-18 78.

Writing a little later than this, Mr. J. Murray, who came out in the “Bengal Merchant,” stated that for the first three or four weeks all parties were busy erecting dwellings on the beach near the Hutt River. The houses were built of spars cut from the forest and roofed with long flax grass and a kind of flexible cane called supplejack. He related that he lived in Clyde Terrace, and the dwellings were the best in the colony. The Minister lived opposite to where he lived, and among the families in the settlement were those of Messrs. Strang, Banks, Hay, Yule and Logan.

Removal of Settlement to Thorndon

Within a few months the pioneer settlers decided that Pito-one, in the teeth of wind and weather and for other obvious reasons, was not the proper place for settlement, and a move was made to the upper reaches of the harbour at Thorndon.

In describing the first Maori marriage service, Mr. Macfarlane told of the gratification of celebrating a native marriage in the native tongue. He explained that he had frequently remonstrated with them in regard to their licentious intercourse with one another and also with the Europeans, and the consequence was that a young couple requested him to marry them according to the Scottish form. At the time appointed he repaired to the native village and performed the ceremony. There were about forty natives present (there being at that time about four hundred natives in and about 3Vellington ), and as he asked them to make a confession of their faith, and Mr. Macfarlane afterwards repeated the Lord s Prayer—he not being master enough of the language to pray extempore - the natives all seemed deeply impressed and declared that in future they would all be married in the same way.

Writing on the 23rd April, 1841, Mr. Macfarlane informed the Rev. Dr. Welsh, of the Church of Scotland, that he had removed to the town of Wellington, where nine-tenths of the people resided, and where he deemed it most convenient to labour. He regretted that he was able to preach only once on the Sabbath, as the only building available was occupied during the other half of

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the day by the Church of England clergyman. He was happy at the same time to state that a "respectable committee of the congregation had been formed in order to adopt measures towards procuring a permanent place of worship, and that subscriptions were in actual progress. ” But he mentioned that ‘‘though the building we intend to erect may appear to be of a very humble kind (its walls being of clay and its roof of thatch) still, such is the enormous price of labour that we are compelled to look for aid to the Church of our Fathers; and I doubt not that amid all her schemes of Church benevolence she will not be forgetful of the spiritual interests of her expatriated children in a far and savage land.” Continuing, the writer added that the Scottish settlers here, and the Church of Scotland generally, were much indebted to the kindness of one of the merchants, George Hunter, Esq., for Church accommodation. It is recorded that during the winter season, when the boisterous nature of the weather made it impossible to preach in the open air, Mr. Hunter, at no small expense of time and trouble, furnished the Minister with a comparatively comfortable place of worship in his own store, and manifested an anxious desire to promote the interests of the Church of Scotland.

The Sacrament of the Lord s Supper was dispensed for the first time on the I Bth October, I 840. Twenty-two persons sat down at the Lord’s Table, of which number two were admitted for the first time. From all accounts it was a deeply impressive service, and we can imagine that these folk, coming from the Church of their Fathers, rejoiced in the participation of her highest and holiest privileges.

During the first year Mr. Macfarlane baptised twentynine children and married nineteen couples, all of whom were registered by Mr. Strang as Registrar.

The First Scots Church

On the 9th November, 1 842, there occurred the first big fire in Wellington, which, fanned by a strong wind, rapidly consumed fifty-seven houses, comprising twenty wooden ones, extending along the beach from near

Barrett s Hotel. Disastrous as the fire was to many, it yet proved beneficial in some respects, for the old raupo whares and toitoi roofs were replaced by substantial brick stores and buildings. Present interest in this account is contained in the gift by Governor Hobson of a piece of land which had been devastated by the fire as a site for a Scots Church. Mr. Macfarlane described the position as being one of the most eligible in Wellington. The land had a frontage of sixty feet by a depth of over one hundred feet, and was the location of the Church for thirty-four years. At this time services were being conducted in the Maori mission chapel on Te Aro Flat and in the Courthouse on Lambton Quay.

The new building was opened for Divine Service on Sunday, 7th January, 1844, and was considered as constituting a step in the successful progress of the settlement. Commenting upon this, the “Wellington Spectator of the time said: "A church naturally precedes all other establishments or institutions having for their object man's happiness in a civilised state, and we might now expect to see properly organised schools, libraries, clubs and all those other proofs of the advancement of civilisation for which Scotland ranks second to no countrp on the face of the earth. The building will accommodate from three to four hundred persons, and although plain, seems well proportioned, doing infinite credit to all concerned in its erection. The Directors of the New Zealand Company must, and we feel sure their representatives here will, feel gratified at the erection of so handsome an edifice opened under the auspices of the same clergyman who sailed from Scotland for New Zealand in connection with the New Zealand Company. The site of the building is the most central, and consequently the best in Wellington. The Rev. John Macfarlane, the pastor in Wellington and of the congregation, commenced the services of the day, having selected for the subject of his discourse a passage from Psalm 54, v. I : ‘How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts.' A review of the establishment of houses devoted to the service of God constituted the chief feature of a most eloquent address, and we felt during the dis-

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THE THIRD CHURCH. ON THE TERRACE. Erected 1879. Destroyed by fire, 6th August, 1921.

course that the words of the preacher were indeed verified, and that a house devoted to the services of religion* was indeed firmly and permanently established in Wellington. An afternoon and evening service also took place, when the congregation was addressed by the Rev. Mr. Ironside and the Rev. Mr. Duncan. The collections made at the services were, we are happy to understand, liberal.

Thereafter Divine service was conducted each Sabbath morning and evening in the new building.

In 1843 a Sunday School was conducted in the Mechanics' Institute on what appears to have been a community basis. The Superintendent of the school in 1 843 reported that since the opening of the school on the I 9th June, I 842, there had been admitted 63 boys and 39 girls, a total of 1 04. Of these 48 had left and there were now in the care of the gratuitous teachers 56 children, the average attendance of whom was 45.

Departure of the Rev. John Macfarlane

As far back as 1841 Mr. Macfarlane's health had been unsatisfactory, and he decided to revisit Scotland on furlough for eighteen months. On the 22nd September, I 844, he was tendered a civic farewell in Barrett's Hotel (the hostelry in which all important public functions took place) when appreciative reference was made to the performance of his extensive and onerous duties as the only ordained Minister to the Europeans in the settlement. He was referred to as having never obtruded his own doctrines, but had showed Christian charity and forgiveness for annoyance he had been required to encounter. The reverend gentleman replied with feeling, and thanked those present for the honour shown to him.

Mr. Macfarlane sailed in the “Bella Marina" in the following month. For unexplained reasons he did not return to the Colony. He retained his connection with the Church of Scotland, and is said to have preached on occasions in his former church at Paisley, and in 1 847 was presented by Her Majesty Queen Victoria to the parish of Lochgilphead, in Argyllshire, and admitted to the charge

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on 9th September, 1847. He married in 1832, and passed away at Glasgow on Bth March, 1859.

For two years after Mr. Macfarlane’s departure services were conducted at irregular intervals by the Rev. John Duncan, who had arrived in the "Phoebe'' at the end of April, 1 843, under the auspices of the Reformed Church of Scotland as a missionary to the Maoris. He remained in Wellington for some time to learn the native language. Services were also conducted by the Rev. John Inglis, who had likewise arrived to take up missionary work. During the years 1846 to 1850 Mr. Inglis served as minister in the Scots Church, and in November, 1 850, sailed in the “John Bunyan” for the New Hebrides, where he laboured with eminent success for very many years.

Rev. Wm. Kirton

Early in 1850 the Rev. William Kirton, having been appointed by the Church of Scotland to succeed Mr. Macfarlane, arrived with his family from Scotland.

There was a division in the congregation, and in the second year of Mr. Kirton's pastorate a memorial signed by 69 persons residing in Wellington was sent to the Free Church of Scotland asking that an ordained minister be sent out to form them into a congregation. The congregation thus established was later known as St. John's.

It was about this time that the Scots Church became known as St. Andrew’s. Mr. Kirton served as minister until I 863, when he transferred to the Church at Kaiapoi. Little is on record of events during during this period. No doubt the progress of the town during the thirteen years Mr. Kirton occupied the charge would be considerable.

Rev. James Stirling Muir

In I 864 the Rev. James Stirling Muir was appointed by the Church of Scotland to succeed Mr. Kirton. By 1 866 the time had arrived for a church building more adequate to requirements, and a contract was let for the erection of a new one on the original site. On the 25th June of that year Mr. Strang laid the foundation stone of the building, beneath which, among other articles, was placed a com-

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memorative vellum, which now graces the vestry of the present church.

Mr. Muir laboured as minister during a difficult period. He gave much attention to the organisation of a Sunday school, which was opened on the 2nd June, 1867, and of which he was the superintendent. The minutes of the annual meeting held on the 14th January, 1867, record that the following were elected as managers for the year: Messrs. John Martin, R. R. Strang, R. Kirton, Captain Mclntyre, P. Laing, W. James, J. Smith, R. Greenfield, C. McKirdy, F. Sidey, John McGlashan and D. Wilkinson. Mr. R. Light was appointed to play the harmonium and conduct the psalmody for the "volunteer quoir. Mr. Muir resigned the charge at the end of I 869.

Thence and until the end of October, 1871, the Rev. Mr. Gumming, of Rangitikei, filled the position of minister temporarily. Mr. George Robinson also conducted the church services with much acceptance. Mr. Williams, and later Mr. Nicholls, served as choir leaders.

Rev. C. S. Ogg, M.A.

Mr. Ogg having been appointed by the Church of Scotland as minister of St. Andrew’s, arrived in the “Jessie Rendman” on Sunday, I sth December, 1 872, and as there was no other minister of the Church of Scotland in New Zealand Mr. Ogg read himself into the pastoral charge of St. Andrew's. His stipend was £350, of which the Church of Scotland Colonial Committee contributed annually £l 00 for two years. Mr. Ogg’s appointment was very acceptable to the officers, and he soon exerted an influence which largely increased the membership. In the first year of Mr. Ogg’s ministry the revenue of the church rose from £1 1 5 to £4OO.

Local colour is introduced by a decision to light the church with gas, in November, 1873, also a suggestion made by Mr. Gibson at the managers’ meeting held on the 29th June, 1874, that it would be a desirable acquisition to obtain a bell, the ringing of which would announce to strangers loitering about the wharf the neighbourhood of a place of worship, and probably have the effect of

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Mr. and Mrs. J. A. THOMSON. Prominent workers in St Andrew’s for over fifty years.

THE PRESENT CHURCH. Erected 1922.

attracting some of them to the church. Mr. Gibson was authorised to order a bell from England, provided the cost was defrayed by special subscriptions!

In September, 1874, Mr. Ogg received a letter from the Secretary of the Colonial Committee approving of St. Andrew's Church connecting itself with the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. St. Andrew’s Church was received into the General Assembly of New Zealand in November, 1874.

By 1878 the site of the church had, by reason of its central position, greatly increased in value, and the property was sold in April of that year to the recently established Colonial Bank of New Zealand and land on the Terrace, upon which St. Andrew's now stands, was purchased. A tender was let for the erection of a new church building (the third) at a cost of £3,987.

This building was dedicated by the Rev. Mr. Ogg to the service of God on Sunday, 13th July, 1879, a soiree being held on the following evening. The New Zealand Presbyterian" of the Ist August stated that the property, including church building, site, foundation, schoolroom, organ and manse, cost over £9,000. The funds were obtained by the sale of the old church site. The building was described as handsome, and added another to the architectural ornaments of the city. It commanded a view of the greater part of the city and the harbour, and presented a very striking appearance as seen from the Bay. The morning service on the day of opening was conducted by Professor Salmond, of Dunedin, and the evening service by the Rev. D. Bruce. The building seated between 450 and 500 people. The whole of the work of erection reflected credit upon the architect, Mr. C. J. Toxward, and the contractors, Messrs. Archibald and Scoular.

In the year I 884 the sister congregation of St. John's suffered serious loss in the destruction by fire of their church building. St. Andrew’s expressed their sympathy by contributing to the cost of a new building. At this time Mr. John McGowan, who for many years had served as superintendent of the Sunday school, was compelled to give up his connection with Church and School by removal to Petone, and was succeeded by Mr. J. Jack.

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(Above) Rev. J. Gibson Smith 1903-1916

(Below) Rev. S. Robertson Orr 1918-1926

Rev. C. S, Ogg, M.A. 1872-1902

(Above) Mr. R. R. Strang Prominent Office-bearer 1840-1874

(Below) Rev. R. J. Howie, B.A. 1926-1934

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After the long period of twenty-nine years Mr. F. Pierard retired as conductor of the choir, with which he had eminent success, and his genial personality had won him general friendship.

In later years Mr. Ogg s health was failing, and in April, 1 899, he visited Scotland, the Rev. John Hall, of Westport, officiating in his place. Advancing age was taking its toll upon Mr. Ogg, and in 1901 Mr. Alfred Jolly conducted the service each Sunday evening. Subsequently, Mr. Ogg tendered his resignation and was granted by St. Andrew’s an annuity of £lOO per annum. Thus concluded an historic ministry of over thirty years.

Rev. J. Gibson Smith

The Rev. J. Gibson Smith, of First Church, Invercargill, was called to St. Andrew's in August, 1903. He served with much acceptance until, owing to failing health, he retired from the charge in 1916. In 191 4 he visited Europe, during which times the services were conducted by the Rev. E. R. Harries with much appreciation.

In 1907 the Legislature passed the St. Andrew's Church (Wellington) Empowering Act, which, in view of the former adherence to the Church of Scotland, set at rest any doubt that St. Andrew s was now truly and absolutely a portion of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. This brought to a happy ending a vexed question.

Rev. S. Robertson Orr

On the retirement of the Rev. J. Gibson Smith, the Rev. J. M, Thomson, M.A., acted as minister for six months, and the Rev. S. Robertson Orr was inducted to the charge in March, 1918. He had been called from the church at Milton.

The Great War had at this time been taking heavy toll upon the nations for almost four years, and Mr. Orr gave splendid service in local measures, and especially in the welcome home of our New Zealand soldiers who for sickness or other reasons were drafted back to these shores.

REV. A. B. KILROY, M.A. Inducted 18th October, 1934.

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In 1920 the Church manse was situated in Hobson Street. As the distance was found to be too great for the convenience of the minister, the present site was acquired and the manse erected in Bolton Street.

On Monday, 16th August, 1921, a disastrous fire occurred by which the church and part of the adjacent buildings were destroyed. Pending the erection of a new building. Divine service was held in the Artcraft Theatre (now the Tivoli).

Plans for a new church and hall were prepared, and a contract let to the Fletcher Construction Company at a cost of £14,806. The hall and Bible Class rooms were undertaken first, and the hall was used for the first time in May, 1922, and the class rooms a few weeks later. The donations received towards the cost of the new buildings were most liberal, and apart from these, different gifts were made of a pulpit (a replica of the one in the old church, only slightly larger), a communion table and chairs and other fittings.

In February, 1924, Mr. Orr was granted leave of absence, and his place was taken by the Rev. Dr. Van der Las, of Bethany Presbyterian Church, Seattle, U.S.A., whose ministry made a lasting impression on the congregation.

The Rev. Mr. Orr gave faithful service throughout his ministry, and he resigned in February, 1926, on removal to Canada.

Rev. R. J. Howie, B.A.

The Rev. Mr. Howie, who was minister of the church at Orange, New South Wales, was called to St. Andrew's, and was inducted on the 16th September, 1926, During a fruitful ministry of over seven years he won the love and esteem of the membership and the respect of the general public.

The vacancy in St. Andrew's was filled for the next six months by the Rev. T. Tail, M.A., 8.D., who came from Australia for the purpose. His preaching was received with much acceptance, and his kindly nature won for him general affection.

Rev. A. B. Kilroy, M.A.

During the interval the selection of a successor to the charge received the collective consideration of the committee appointed to nominate a minister, and a call was given to our present minister, the Rev. A. B. Kilroy, M.A., then in St. Paul s Church, Oamaru. Mr. Kilroy was inducted on the 1 Bth October, 1 934. Under his ministry the membership of the congregation has continued to increase, being now larger than at any given period.

Missionary Organisations

The ladies of St. Andrew s have taken an active interest in the cause of Missions. The P.W.M.U. has been doing excellent work since its establishment in 1912.

The Girls Auxiliary was founded three years later, of which Mrs. A. Mackay, now a Vice-President of the P.W.M.U., is the remaining foundation member.

More recently the Busy Bees Hive came into being.

Youth Work

As has already been noted, the Sunday School has been in existence since 1867. The Y.M.B.C. was established in 1 904, Mr. N. H. G. MacFarlane being the only foundation member still with us. He was leader of the Junior Y.M.8.C., which was formed in 1906.

The Y.W.B.C. was instituted in 1903, with Mrs. Mac Lean (Miss C. Lambert) as leader, and she is still a member of the congregation.

Dedicated for Service

Several members of St. Andrew s have dedicated their lives to the service of the Church. They include the Rev. C. J. Tocker (St. Paul’s, Invercargill), Rev. J. D. Smith (Mt. Eden, Auckland), and the Rev. H. A. Mitchell (Roslyn, Dunedin) to the Ministry; Mr. J. Brabyn (now deceased) to the Home Mission Field; Mrs. Stewart (Mrs. M. Robinson) to the Foreign Mission Field; Sisters Janet Harper and Noel Ogilvie to Deaconess Work.

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A record of this Church would not be complete without a brief reference to the connection for very many years of families who are still represented in the membership. As an instance, Mrs, J, Armour Thomson is still a member of the choir, which membership extends to the second church building, which was sold in I 878. The late Mr. J. Armour Thomson, who passed away in 1936, was a member of the congregation for over half a century, and a faithful elder for nearly as long. At the time of his death he was clerk to the Session, a position he had filled for very many years.

Mr. D. Georgeson has been on the roll of St. Andrew’s for more than fifty years, and he and Mrs. J. A. Thomson are the two present members with the longest continuous association with the congregation.

Several other families, members of which played an important part in the work of the Church during the early years, are still represented in the membership, and include Miss Archibald, Mr. R. Blackwood, Mrs. Cooper, Mr. J. W, Jack, Mr. J. McEldowney, Mr. W. S. W. McGowan, Mrs. Pearson, Mrs. Rennie, Miss Young.

It is also noteworthy that for twenty-two years Mr. F. F. Thomas has occuped with ability and distinction the position of organist and choirmaster.

In concluding this brief historical narrative, we have every reason to believe that St. Andrew's Church maintains an honoured place in the City of Wellington as a standard-bearer of the Cross of Christ.

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Officers of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Wellington, in Centennial Year

Minister: REV. A. B. KILROY, M.A.

Session (in order of seniority) : Messrs. N. H. G. McFarlane, F. C. Standidge. J. Harper, W. S. W. McGowan, A. White, A. A. Kirk, C. T. Jeffreys, W. 1. McCallum, Rev. D. Calder, Messrs. C. D. Morpeth, A. J. Baker, W. P. Maule, H. D. Grocott (clerk), G. Woodward, Rev. A. E. Hunt, Messrs. W. McLay, A. Ironside, A. T. Orange, D. A. Moar.

Board of Managers: Messrs. J. Brown, T. Griffin, T. P. Hanna (Treasurer), C. Haines, A. G. Hercus, R. A. Hood, J. W. Jack, E. P. Lambert, W. G. Little, R. P. McCracken (Secretary), R. McDonald (Secretary, W.F.0.), J. McEldowney, J. T. Martin, H. H. Nash, J. Niven, R. G. Paulsen, F. R. Pearson, K. R. Reed. G. P. Shepherd, J. L. Steel, W. Stewart, J. L. Thompson, R. Watt, C. G. White.

Auditor: Mr. Geo. Ross.

Editor, “St. Andrew’s Echo”: Mr. G. Woodward.

Choir: Organist and Choirmaster Mr. F. F. Thomas; Librarian Miss Curtis.

Bible Classes:

Senior Young Women; Leader Miss I. Blackwood; Secretary Miss F. Dobson.

Junior Young Women: Leader Miss S. Johnson; Secretary Miss N. Dobson.

Senior Young Men: Leader (resigned) Mr. A. C. MacKenzie; Secretary Mr. J. Jenkison.

Junior Young Men: Leader Mr. A. G. Hercus; Secretary Mr. Stewart MacFarlane,

Sunday School: Intermediate Department: Superintendent Mr. A. T. Orange. Primary Department; Leader Miss N. Thomson. Beginners’ Department: Leader Miss S. Ogilvie.

Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union: President Mrs. A. B. Kilroy; Secretary Mrs. J. L. Steel.

Girls’ Auxiliary: President, Miss Yorston; Secretary Miss Porter.

Busy Bees: Leader Miss B. Hellon.

Maori Mission Birthday League: Mrs. J. A. Thomson.

St, Andrew’s Association: President Mrs. A. B. Kilroy; Secretary Mrs. J. D. Hamilton.

Church Officer: Mr. C. E. Naylor

Please return this item to:

Document Supply Services

National Library of New Zealand

PO Box 1467

Wellington

Please return this item to:

Document Supply Services

National Library of New Zealand

PO Box 1467

Wellington