CHURCH ACTIVITIES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20647, 9 September 1932, Page 18

CHURCH ACTIVITIES.

THE FIRST SERVICES. Bishop Harper made his first visit to the Oxford district in April, 1858. He held Divine service in Oxford for the first time on October 13th, 1861, and in 1862 the Rev. G. J. Cholmondeley was appointed to take charge of the district from the Hurunui to Eangiora

and Woodend. His cure included Oxford, and he conducted services in the old schoolroom on Main street. The first St. Andrew's Church was consecrated on September SOth, 1866, the Eev. A. P. O'Callaghan being the first vicar of Oxford and Cust. The first Eoman Catholic Church service was held in the Boad Board office in 1875. In 1879 the church was built on its present site, presented by Mr Harry B. Johnston. .The Baptist Church was the first definitely established in Oxford, the Bev. T>. Dolamore, who arrived in 1865, being- the first resident minister. The Methodists of Oxford built their first church in 1872, the Eev. J. W. Warboys being the first minister. The Bev. N. McCallum officiated for the Presbyterian Charge of Cust and Oxford from April, 1877, though services had been held since 1873. St. Colomba's Church was opened early in 1882. The Salvation Army began its activities in Oxford in July, 1885, under Captain Patrick and Cadet Hathaway.

was opened in May, 1873. The school was afterwards enlarged to three rooms, and at one time the attendance reached almost the 300 mark. In July, 1874, the West Oxford School was opened, and in 1876 Carleton and View Hill. The Woodside School (Cooper's Creek), first known as Oxford West side, was opened in 1882, Kiri Kiri in 1892 and Eockford in 1895. Warren opened in 1916. There was a period when the four bush schools were full; Oxford West with an attendance of over 100, Woodside 80 and View Hill 90. With the

cutting out of the bush, settlers moved elsewhere, and attendance fell. Successive Teachers. The headmasters of the schools have been:— Oxford East.—W. Wollstein (1872-78), J. H. Newlyn (1879-80-), T. A. Hamilton (1880-81), T. May (1881-2), Harry Wilson (1882-89),. R. B. Ryder (188?1904),- C. Bourke (1904-10), Lancelot Watson (1910-22), A. H. Denne (192229), Alex. Bringans (1929—) Oxford West.—John Harre (1874-5). T. Ritchie (1876-81), W. Cuthbert (188183), J. B. Harbidge (1883-1913), Geo. Anderson (1913-25). Woodside.—Mary. M. Reston (May, 1882-86), J. Marshall (1887-9), Lancelot Watson (1889-99), D. Arnott (18991906), F. T. Bundle (1907-11), Francis R. Callaghan (1911-15). Mrs F. L. Webb (1915-25). Carleton.—R. Willis (April, 1876-78), T. A. Hamilton (1878-80), W. A. Banks (1880-2), J. McLeod (1882-4), S. McCullough (1884-6), W. Stirling (18861902), Janet Dick (Mrs Cowens) (1902-

10), Wm. Dickie (1910-15), G. M. Pilkington (1915-17), W. T. Sloane (1917- j 23), W. J. Eoberts (1923-25). Ashley Gorge.—A Wright (1904-5). C. A. McMeekan (Mrs Kerr) (1905-25). View Hill (no dates). —Comyns, J. Mclntyre, E. Mayo, A. Malcolm, Densham, G. W. Maber, E. Mounsey, Miss Harvey, Mrs Dingwall, Miss Newport, Miss Smith, Miss Wilson, Miss Mounsey. Kiri Kiri.—E. A. Shrimpton (1892-4), E Hefford (1894-5), Miss Anderson (1895-6), Miss Hurse (1896-1900). Miss Callaghan (1901-11). Miss Bella Dynes (1911-20), Miss Affleck (1920-6), Miss Bowen (192(5-8). A. H. Ellis (1928-30), Mrs Consolidation in 1925. The schools were consolidated in 1925. Mr A. H. Denne, of the Oxford School, became headmaster of the Consolidated School, which opened with two rooms on the Bay Eoad site, the rest of the school being accommodated in the old East Oxford building. Tho new school was opened by Sir James Parr, Minister for Education, on June 20th, 1925. Three buses were provided for the conveyance of the children. Instead of a small school with one or two teachers, Oxford now had a Grade 5 school in a rural environment. Three rooms were added to the new school early in 1929. At this time, also. Mr Denne went to Dannevirkc, and Mr A. Bringans, the present headmaster, was appointed. Early in the present year two further rooms were added, the secondary and technical rooms were moved to a new site, thus completing consolidation. It now only remains to absorb the small schools still existing in the district. The Secondary Department. The secondary department of the school was opened in 1913, with Mr L. Watson as its first headmaster. This remained a sole charge department until 1930, when increased attendance warranted a second assistant. The first High School reunion was hold in 1925, and is now looked upon as a fixed institution. Metal-work and commercial subjects entered the syllabus in 1930, and at present a rural course is being developed along with the more academic work. Courses in art and music are a feature of the work. Consolidation was brought about by the support of the parents and the persistent efforts of the school committee. The present committee consists of: Mr W. H. Knowles (chairman), Mr A. Smither (secretary), Dr. Burnett, the Eev. W. G. Sell; Messrs T. Doody, G. A. Eyde, K. D. Henderson, E. E. Judson and W. J. Skurr.