South Island’s Oldest Church

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30215, 21 August 1963, Page 6

South Island’s Oldest Church

On St Bartholomew's Day next Saturday, parishioners of Kaiiaipoi will begin a week of celebrations to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the founding of their parish. The church of St. Bartholomew has served Kaiapoi Anglicans for most of this period and is believed tn be the oldest church in the South Island still in constant use. The 106-ye®r-old building was originally erected on the sandy Darnley square. Winds eroded the sands from under the foundations and in 1860 the church was transferred to its present site further east in Cass street, where it was enlarged.

The vicar of Kaiapoi, the Rev. Walter Arnold, hopes renovations will be made to Krve the building for e generations. Timber for the church was milled from local bush and the pews and much of the timber trim in the building were hand finished, probably by spokeshaves. The choir of St Michael and AH Angels Church, Christchurch, will assist the St. Bartholomew’s choir in the opening service of the celebrations, Holy Eucharist on Saturday morning. Other events include a children’s party, a parish bail, a parish tea, a concert, and special services, ait which former vicars and residents of Kaiapoi will officiate. The Archdeacon of Wellington, the Venerable H. A. Childs, who lived in Kaiapoi when a boy, will be the preacher at the Family Eucharist and evensong on Sunday. On the following Sunday two former vicairs, the Rev. J. Evans and the Rev R. Taylor, will be the preachers.