PAPATOETOE JUBILEE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 200, 24 August 1929, Page 11

PAPATOETOE JUBILEE.

CHURCH CELEBRATIONS.

ESTABLISHED 75 YEARS.

REUNION OF PIONEERS,

St. John's Presbyterian Church, Papatoetoe, to-day celebrates its 75th anniversary. On August 27, 1854, the first service was preached in Baird'3 store on the banks of the Tainaki River, and the following year the first church building was opened. The parish of Papatoetoe has been gradually reduced in area in the last. 50 years, and from it have been carved out tlie Otahuhu, Mangere, Manurewa and Howick parishes, which have all achieved a fine record of progress.

Pioneering work was undertaken by the Rev. John Macky,.M.A,, who arrived from the North of Ireland on August 20, 1854, and the following Sunday established in Papatoetoe the second Presbyterian Church of the Auckland district. His ministry continued for 'M> years. The present-church bite on the Great South Road was given in 1855 by Mr. Thomas Baird, and Mr. S. C. Baird gave three acres for a manse and a cemetery. The first church, 30ft by 20ft, was opened in November of the same year; and was enlarged in J BSB. Two years later a new church was built, and was converted live years ago into a Sunday school. The present attractive building was opened in 1923.

Arduous Ministry. Through 3b" arduous years Mr. Macky was engaged in the work of the parish, assisted in his early activities by a session that included the Piev. David Bruce, of St. Andrew's, and the Rev. T. Norrie, of Papakura. The first minute, November 27, 1855, stated that Mr. Macky had announced to the congregation his intention of assuming to his .counsels Mr. James Wallace, who had been an officiating elder, in the Free Church of -Scotland, and was appointed the first elder of Papatoetoe.

Partial blindness handicapped ' Mr. Macky in his later years, and in 1890 complete loss of sight compelled him to resign. His death occurred the' following year. Long experience of colonial churciv work, his thorough knowledge of church law, and his carefulness in expressing his opinions, made hie ministry.; notable in the...history of the cliurch. J

His courtesy, dignity and-firmness were long remembered in the Presbytery and Assembly, where lie had been a conspicuous figure for many years. Mr. Macky had been appointed on November 25, 1802, first Moderator of the New Zealand. Presbyterian Church. Tbere were present at the first assembly 12 ministers and seven elders. . ,

Successive Changes. In 1883 the Rev. Robert Erwin, M.A., a retired clergyman, of Cliristchurch, assisted in the parish work for a few months, and, ill 1884, the Rev. D. J. Steele, M.A., a. son-in-law of Mr.'Macky, wus appointed assistant pastor. He assumed full charge of the parish on Mr. Macky's death. Mr. Steele resigned in 1902, and the Rev. A. Douall, M.A., of Rangiora, was inducted in March, 1900. He resigned in 1910 to go to Palinerslori North, and was followed by the Rev. Charles E. Porter, who was minister until his death in 1923.

The Rev. T. H. Roseveare, at present in charge, was called from Cambridge in July, 192:>, and under him the church lias continued its progress. The membership is now 220, and since his appointment a new church hall has been opened in Station Road for Sunday school and

evening services. The anniversary celebrations include a reunion of past and present members this afternoon, and special thanksgiving services to-morrow, conducted by the Rev. W. J. Comrie and the Rev. ,W. D. Morrison Sutherland, Moderator of the Auckland Presbytery.