ST. PETER’S TO OBSERVE CENTENNIAL OF PARISH

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28551, 2 April 1958, Page 10

ST. PETER’S TO OBSERVE CENTENNIAL OF PARISH

This Easter the centenary of the parish of St. Peter, Riccarton, will be celebrated. Once a district of scattered farms, sawpits, tents and sod huts, it is now part of one of the fastest-growing suburbs of Christchurch. ■ When the Rev. Edward Puckle was appointed minister to the district in the early 1850’s he held services in the homes of parishioners and, at least once, he held a service of baptism in a hotel. In the last eight years, since the Rev. H. G. Norris became vicar, the number of parish families has increased from 750 to 1200. The first church of St. Peter was built for £315. At the service of consecration, on April 6, 1958, it was disclosed that the site of the church, land for a schoolhouse, the churchyard and the sites of the parsonage, house and glebe, amounting in all to 20 acres, had all been given by the Venerable Archdeacon Mathias who was then Archdeacon of Akaroa, but had for some years from 1851 been licensed to the cure of Christchurch with Riccarton. "English-Looklng” “The very pretty and Englishlooking edifice, with its handsome spire surmounted by a cock, is conveniently situated at the angle formed by the divergence of the Harewood and Upper Lincoln or Springs roads (now Main South and Yaldhurst roads), about four miles and a half from Christchurch,” according to a contemporary newspaper report. In the early days of the parish the incumbent had to take services as far away as Halswell, Governor’s Bay and Little River, quite a long journey on horseback. It was typical of the Rev. Croasdaile Bowen, vicar from 1857 to 1890, that he drew the plans, not only of the new church school, opened in 1874, but of the master’s house as well. As the population of the district grew the boundaries of the parish decreased. Fendall Town parishioners, in 1876, began building the church of St. Barnabas as a chapel-of-ease to St. Peter’s, and also in that year Templeton, Prebbleton and Halswell agreed to unite and form a new parish. “During those difficult years of the ’eighties, a succession of garden parties, concerts and entertainments were given,” noted the writer of the history of the parish for the seventy-fifth anniversary celebrations. "The best talent of Christchurch came out to Riccarton to perform, and some beautiful singing and instrumental music was given.” Strict Economy Strict economy was practised during the lean years towards the end of the nineteenth century, but by 1900 sufficient money was in hand to continue the building of the new church in stone. The transept and a part of the nave were added to the chancel, built in 1876. During the 1920’s funds for the completion of the new church steadily grew and on Saturday, April 20, 1929. the then Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt. Rev. Campbell West-Watson), opened and consecrated the new building—free of debt. Although the bounds of the parish today may be less than they were 100 years ago, the work is increasing. In 1949 a large part of the glebe was subdivided for housing, and a new vicarage was built. Late in 1957 three building sections were bought in Avonhead road, and plans for a church room are being considered. An assistant-curate's house will have to be provided before long, and extensive repairs to St. Luke's Church, Yaldhurst, have just been completed, at a cost of more than £4OO. This week-end and next week parishioners will mark the centennal at special services and social functions. Holy Communion will be celebrated at two early services on Easter Day, at 10 a.m., a family service will be held, at 11 a.m., the Rev. P. W. D. Parr, chaplain to Christ's College and a former assistant curate, will preach at a choral communion service. The vicar will preach at the festal evensong and afterwards parishioners will meet at supper. Services of Holy Communion

will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. On Monday evening the centennial banquet will be held in the parish hall; on Tuesday the centennial ball, in the members’ lounge at the Addington Trotting Grounds; and on Wednesday morning past and present members of the Mothers’ Union will meet at morning tea. Children's Service The children of the parish will have the opportunity of attending their own service on Thursday afternoon, after school, with a children’s party to follow. On Friday a parish dance will be held and on Saturday a garden party, historical pageant and afternoon tea. St. Peter's Club reunion and high tea will be held in the evening. The celebrations on the Sunday after Easter will open with Holy Communion and a parish breakfast. At 10.30 a family service of thanksgiving will be held, at which the preacher will be the Venerable Archdeacon E. A. Gowing, Archdeacon of Christchurch and Vicar of Merivale. This service will be followed by the ceremony of "clipping the church.” St. Peter’s choir will hold a reunion that afternoon and at the festal evensong the preacher will be the Dean of Christchurch (the Very Rev. Martin Sullivan). The week’s celebrations will close after the service with the parish supper.