ST JAMES’ PARISH

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32382, 22 August 1970, Page 15

ST JAMES’ PARISH

Anniversary At Riccarton The sixtieth anniversary of the founding of St James’ Anglican parish, Lower Riccarton, will be celebrated by two special services to be held at the church on Sunday. At a family service on Sunday morning, the speaker will be the Rev. H. Dryburgh, director of Christian education for the Anglican Diocese of Wellington. The serman during the evening service will be preached by the Dean of Christchurch (the Very Rev M. L. Underhill). On August 26 1910, the first vicar of the parish (the Rev. J. B. deGalway) was inducted by the then Dean of Christchurch (the Very Rev C Julius). The present vicar (the Rev. J. S. Vincent) said that invitations had been sent to many people who had been associated with the church in the past to attend the services.

Although the parish of St James’ was established only 60 years ago. the Anglican Church was active in the Riccarton area from the founding of the settlement in the 1830 s. In these early years, the district was part of St Michael’s parish, Oxford Terrace. After a meeting on April 8. 1906. it was decided to inaugurate the new district of Lower Riccarton to be run in conjunction with St Michael’s. A year later the church hall was dedicated on a site at the corner of Peverel and Rotherham Streets. In 1921, however, the hall was burnt down and the property was sold. The present site in Mandeville Street, was bought soon after this and on February .4, 1923, the foundation stone for the present church was laid. The church was opened 17 months later by the Archbishop of New Zealand (the Most Rev. C. Julius).