TWO NEW CHURCHES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 239, 8 October 1937, Page 14

TWO NEW CHURCHES.

METHODIST DEVELOPMENT.

SITE AT MISSION BAY

Developments in the Methodist Church were referred to, in an interview to-day, by the Rev. E. D. Pntohott. chairman of the Auckland Methodist District, following a tour of the North, in which he was accompanied by the Rev. F. Copeland. of New Plymouth, president of the Methodist Conference.

"There has undoubtedly been an awakening of interest in the Church in the North," he said. "That is evident among the Maoris as well as the Europeans." At Pupuke. near Kaeo, in the Whangaroa district, where the first Methodist mission was founded in 1822. the visiting ministers were given a cereinonial welcome by the Maoris, and the addresses wore translated into Maori by interpreters.

A new ohurrh being built at Kaitnia, with accommodation for 100, would be opened before Christmas, said Mr. Patchett. The timber had been sawn from kauri and rimu trees donated by members of the church, and tTie cost was thus reduced to a minimum.

To meet tlie growing needs of various district!*, lie sakl. ordained men would be appointed in the near future to Kaitaia... and Ruawai, where in the past probationers had been stationed, and a home missioner would be appointed to Te Kopiiru. Mr. Patchett also stated that a site had been purchased in Patteson Avenue, Mission Bay, from the Melanesian Mission Trust Board, for a church to be built in permanent materials. This would be the first Methodist church in the West Tsmaki district. It would be situated on the higher land overlooking the centre of the bay.