ST. BARNABAS' CHURCH.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18093, 7 June 1924, Page 10

ST. BARNABAS' CHURCH.

ITS HISTORY. The following particulars regarding St Barnabas' Church, Fendalton, which it is proposed shall be replaced by a new church, are taken from the fendalton Parish Magazine" : St. Barnabas' Church was opened on Alay 26th, 1876, as an off-shoot from the Church of St. Peter, Ricearton. Settlement was then developing in jventtalton, ana tnere were some parishioners who had "vision," a gift of immense value in the establishment of a new land. Children were growing up, the distance to the nearest church and Sunday Schpol was lpng, and the roads bad, and there were several streams to be crossed. A Sunday School was established by Mr J. Munnings (who was a Wesleyan), in his house, which stood on the site nowoccupied by "Quamby." Amongst the teachers at the Sunday School were Mrs Fereday, Miss Inwood and Mr Munnings. Then the church was built, the navo of tho present ejiurch, and at the opening service there were many visitors from other parts. Among the gifts to the Fendalton Church that are still in use were the. font, the gift of the late Mrs Philip Banmer, and the altar vessels ou the case of which is the following inscription:— "For the service of St. Barnabas Church, Fendaltqn, New Zealand, from the Brothers and Sisters of J. B. Acland, A.D. 1876." One service a Sunday only was held for a ivng time, and most of these services were conducted by lay-readers, tho Rev. Qoasdaije Bowen visiting Fendalton Chusch once a month f'r the service of Holy Cpmrnvanion- They were a sterling lot Qf people, and services were_ kept going on year after rear, the flocK gradually increasing, most of the parishioners being Church of England ' folk. In course of time the E.ev. T. Jasper Smyth came out from Ireland to be cuirate for lliccartqn-cum-FendaJton parjsh, and his earnest warm-hearted, breezy nature is still recalled by the few who remain from tliase days. In 1882 population had so far increased that Fendalton was created a separate papchial district, and the Rew. Jerehiiah Chaffers-Wejsh became the first incumbent. After fpur years' ministry lie was succeeded by the Rev. James West Stack, who remained for ten years, and the life and work of Mr ancj Mrs Stack left a deep spiritual impress on the district. A vicarage, apd school had been built as the years passed by, aiifl further additipns were made to both church and school. When Canon. 4t'ack left for England in JB9B, the Rev. T. A. Hamilton became vipar, and for over twenty years gave an earnest and faithful ministry to the parish, during years of great grpwth nnd expansion of the district. In 1919 he laid down his charge, and the present vicar, the llev. Hugh S. Leach, was appointed. With regard to the present building the magazine states: —"The old church lias seen much coming and going, and if if- could speak, could fell of piany joys and sorrows among the worshippers assembled within j'ts w;alls—many prayers and thanksgivings, blessings and renewals, much strengthening and qplifting. To many it is 1 truly "a hallowed spot." But its days are wellnigh oyer; its timbers are in many places decayed, and the years naive done their work. With the growth of beautiful and stately homes in the parish, and with the increase o* population, it is felt, and very right!-'- felt, that the House of God should be a, more worthy witness than the simple wooden building now nearly worn out, that has beer* the dearly-loved House qf Qpd fpr qur people for nearly half a century. In our Memorial Church Scheme we have set our hands to a work that, please God, we shall see an accomplished fact before very long, and our new church will be a place that shall stand for the glory of God, for a memorial to brave nien and women who laid down thejr lives, in the Great War, for a witness to the Christian faith, as lield by the Church of New Zealand, as a place of worship fpr us, for our children and the generations tc come, a place for us to realise our fellowship with God and with one another in the Great Family of the Almighty Father of all."'