A Nelson Parish

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30028, 12 January 1963, Page 3

A Nelson Parish

[Reviewed by HAR.IJ The Centennial History of AH Saints* Pariah, Nelson (1862—1982). By H. F. Ault, Nelsen, 2M pp.

Archdeacon H. F. Ault though well-remembered in the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch is even more widely known for “The Nelson Narrative,” his centennial history of Nelson Diocese. To coincide with the centenary celebrations of All Saints’ church he has now produced this history of the parish of which he has been vicar for the last ten years,

He has had to deal with a plethora of individual names of clergymen and parishioners but he has handled this problem with great talent by linking the story ot the pariah with events and social trends of the past Here we read for instance of the arrival of refugees from Taranaki evacuated from New Plymouth at the beginning ot the Maori Wars, of developments in Nelson City noted by Sir George Grey in 1887 (the year of the building of the cnurch itself), and of the changing patterns of life as the years slipped by. Among the interesting people who figure in this book are Frederick Bennett destined to become the first Maori Bishop of Aotearoa and Rev. T. Fielden Taylor whose work as a padre in World War I and his labours in Wellington made him so well known forty years ago. The author is not without a sense of humour. In the description of the fine work of organists and choirs of the past (the present choir numbers almost 60 members) readers will be delighted by an aside such as this (p. 143): “From time to time the winds ot 'temperament ruffled the musical waters. One organist resigned ‘because he could not control the choir,* another refused to play the ‘Amras* at the close of the hymns, despite the vicar’s instructions. A well-known parishioner sat under a free during divine service because Jf mu ric played in foe Church, for he refused foe «M), to be waltzed into Church and waltzed out •grin.’ Que organist in his oSa^LJ SekW,rf ' ““ with incident, this ttohtebfe perish history certelnly deepens the reader s appreciation at the past The 86 illustrations are of fascinrifo£ interest and help to make this book of morethan aaere focal interest.