ANNIVERSARY OF CHURCH

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27309, 27 March 1954, Page 2

ANNIVERSARY OF CHURCH

ST. PAUL’S, CASHEL STREET FOUNDATION NINETY YEARS AGO St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Cashel street, the second Presbyterian charge founded in Christchurch, will celebrate its ninetieth anniversary from April 4 to April 11 with special services, a congregational tea, a Bible class reunion, a conversazione and other social meetings. The history of St. Paul’s goes back to January 4, 1864, when an advertisement appeared in “The Press’’ giving notice of “a meeting of those favourable to the establishment of a second Presbyterian Church in Chrirtchurch,” to be held in the warehouse of Mr Robert Symington, Cathedral square that evening .at 7 p.m. The advertisement was published over the names of three prominent citizens of the time, Messrs William Wilson, Drummond Macpherson and John Anderson. St. Andrew’s Church was the first Presbyterian Church in Christchurch.

Later in 1864 another notice announced that the Presbytery of Canterbury would meet in the Town Hall on April 20 for the induction of the Rev. George Grant to the pastorate of the second charge in Christchurch, with the Rev. William Hogg to preach and preside. In January, 1865, the first elders, Messrs J. Gillespie, W. Gavin, J. D. Macpherson, A. Rhind and W. Henderson, were elected. Then a year later a quarter-acre section was bought in Lichfield street for £150; by 1867 the church was opened practically free of debt, at the cost of £B5O.

This information is given in a booklet commemorating the church’s ninetieth anniversary setting out significant events in the history of the charge. The first minister, the Rev. G. Grant, resigned in December, 1838, and the Rev. A. F. Douglas was inducted to the charge on February 22, 1871. The booklet records that more than 600 persons sat down to tea at a welcome social for Mr Douglas, held in the Drill Shed_on Mam 7, and that one speaker remarked that there were two pieces of news that day—"the war news and the arrival of Mr Douglas.” Soon after Mr Douglas took over the charge, the Ladies Tract Society was formed. Foundation Stone Laid In 1873 a quarter-acre section in Cashel street facing Madras street was purchased, but it was not until November 7, 1876, that the foundation stone of the present St. Paul’s Church was laid. In the intervening years Mr Douglas resigned (1875) and in 1876 the Rev. John Elmslie, of Wanganui, became minister. Mr John Anderson presided at a soiree held in honour of Mr Elmslid, at which there were 10 speeches of welcome to the new minister. Mr Elmslie was reported in “The Press” as saying in his reply that “he felt a grudge against the provincial interests which had so greatly retarded and prevented the establishment of higher class and university education.’’ A Sunday School was commenced in Colombo street under the direction of Mr W. Henderson, Jun., and a second school was commenced at Montreal street with Mr John Cameron as superintendent in 1876. On November 7. 1876, the foundation stone of the new church was laid. Under the stone. Mr S. C. Farr, the architect, placed a bottle containing copies of “The Presbyterian Church Review,” “Free Church of Scotland Record.”

“Christian Record.” and the local newspapers, coins of the realm and a history of the church. A year later Mr C. J. Hodge was appointed organist and choirmaster at the rate of £6O

a year, on the understanding that “improvement in our congregational singing is a matter about which we are more deeply concerned than about the playing of the organ.” Style of Architecture The new church was opened on November 1, 1877, before more than 1000 persons. Mr Elmslie told the congregation that there had been some good natured criticism about the architecture of the church but he was to blame for the style as he had stipulated it -should not be Gothic, which was not suitable for carrying sound, according to a report in “The Press.” A Sunday School was opened at Bingsland under the direction of Mr S. C. Farr the same year, and in 1878 the Ladies’ Association was founded. In 1879 a Young Men's Society was formed, having as its aim “moral and intellectual culture, as well as literary and scientific pursuits.” A manse for St. Paul’s was purchased in 1880 for £l5OO. Mr Elmslie received the degree of doctor of divinity from Aberdeen University in 1890 and resigned from the charge in 1903. He died at the age of 76 in 1907.

In 1903 the Rev. Thomas Tait succeeded Dr. Elmslie. That year the manse was sold for £llOO and in 1905 a new organ was installed and a new pulpit built. The new Sunday school was built in 1908.

By 1914 the church roll stood at 546 and jubilee celebrations were held that year. Mr Tait was called to Adelaide and the Rev. John Paterson, of Sydney, was inducted at St. Paul’s. The next change in ministers came m 1924, when the Rev. W. Bower Black succeeded Mr Paterson, who received a call to Wanganui. Two years later a manse was bought at 330 Armagh street.

The first evening service was broadcast from St. Paul’s in 1928 The induction of the Rev. Alan C. Watson took place in 1932, and two years later the seventieth anniversary ot the congregation, then numbering 389, was. marked by a week of celebrations. That year Mr Arthur Lilly was appointed organist and choirmasten

When the Governor-General of New Zealand (Lord Galway) visited Christchurch in 1938, he read both lessons at morning service on April 29. The present minister, the Rev. Stuart C. Francis, was inducted in 1943. The next year Mr D. C. Burns, who had been session clerk and an officebearer for 48 years, died. He was succeeded by Mr S. E. McGregor, who is the present session clerk. The manse in Armagh street was sold in 1945 and a larger house secured at 271 Fitzgerald avenue. . The first of the new Dutch settlers identified themselves with St Paul’s congregation in 1950. the year New Life Movement was launched in the church, and of Canterbury’s centenary. Mr George Martin was appointed organist and choirmaster in 1952. and last year a property was bought at 234 Worcester street as a site for a new manse to be built. All offerings at the ninetieth .anniversary services next monthf will go to the new manse fund. The ninetieth anniversary celebrations will begin on April 4 with services at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., conducted by Mr Bower Black. In the afternoon a Bible class reunion and tea will be held. On April 5. a congregational tea and social evening will be held, and on April 7 a choral evening will be arranged by the choir. A children’s tea will be followed bv a dramatic service in the church, “The Way of Worship?’ presented by the Sunday School children on April 9. A conversazione will be held on April 10. The following day services will be held at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. by the Rov. E. G. Jansen (on furlough from Hong Kong). Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper at the close of morninc service, will be dispensed by Mr Francis.