OLD CHURCHES OF THE DIOCESE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18185, 23 September 1924, Page 11

OLD CHURCHES OF THE DIOCESE.

TO THE EDITOE. 07 "TEX PRESS." , Sir,— ! ln a letter of September 3rd the Rev. C. A. Fraer said - the dates of the erection of the first churches at Papamii, Akaroa and St. Michael's were .wajitgd. Six or seven year's after tho pilgrims had spread into the cciuiitry' a. neat church" is reported , to have been erected, through the exer"tions of itr'W: G.' Britiari, at Papanui. Those - who arrived at Akaroa by the Monarch (April 2nd, 1S50), or their descendants', should be able to indicate when that church was begun.- The Be v. W. "Aylnier" and; family-•wero-Included in the early settlers. He was first incumbent, although Revs. W. Thomas' and • 11. 11., took>tcmporary.4uty, according to the,' booklet published bv tho CotafniSsary-. of' Bishop Selwyn. Tho Bishop's .records would no doubt refer : to ' that' of' church openings in various part 3 of his extensivo diocese — 'from the north-to the south of the Colony. I can personally testify to the extreme and accuracy of Bishop Harper's records from 1859 as I s have" found • them.' There are many persons who, from .old letters and. dced3 of land, could shed light on. the enquiries -now being made if they would only take the trouble to do so. In olden times it was a constant practice to copy letters written to England, and an old copying lpook might afford tho information in assisting the Diocesan Office to compile an accurate history, which has hitherto not had the attention which the subject 'deserves. In 1854 the booklet I have referred to saya Rev. _W. Avlmer . was then , curate at Akaroa (stipend £100), while Rev. James 'Wilson, at Riccarton, • Rev. -W. Wellock,. Governor's .Bay, Rev. Geo. .Attwell, at Sumner,' and Rev. J'. Raven, liaiapoi and North Canterbury, had -no-stipends, and,for years their cervices "to the Church were labours of love and devotion, besides which there is evidence they generously contributed to the raising of the churches. I am not for a, moment hinting that others did not do likewise, only showing the ea.rnest desire-there was to forward-the aims and ambitions-of the founders of the Canterbury Association, and their lovalty to' Bishop Selwyn. 1 ours, etc., * .T. LOWTHIAN WILSON. . Kaia-poi, September, 19th, ■