ST BARNABAS IS 100

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33963, 2 October 1975, Page 13

ST BARNABAS IS 100

In 1875, with only 14 Anglican families in residence Willowbrook, now known as Fendalton, was the scene of a meeting that put forward the idea of establishing a church.

i Organised by the Hon. J. B. D. Acland, the meeting formed the basis of the establishment of St Barnabas, now one of the largest churches in New Zealand. In the last 100 years St Barnabas had remained a church for the people and has not turned into a museum, said the Rev.. Bob Lowe, vicar of St Barnabas. The building of the original church began in January, 1876, and it was ready for use four months later. The Rev. Francis A. Hare was temporarily vicar, pending the arrival of Rev. Croas-daile-Bowen from Britain. From then a service was held every Sunday, a priest (from Riccarton coming once a month to conduct holy I communion, and lay readers iconducting others. In 1883 it was decided to enlarge the chancel, apse, and transepts, at a cost of £460. Because of the growth of the congregation it was decided in the same year that the Riccarton-Fendalton church (as it was known then) be constituted as a iseparate parish, Fendalton. The first suggestion to build the new memorial church of St Barnabas came in 1884, but the new church ; was not completed until the: lend of 1926.

The original plan to build a completely new church of seating 240 persons and costing £1125 was rejected, and it was decided merely to enlarge the existing church, this being authorised by a meeting of parishioners in 1884. In 1912, with funds of £228, a proposal was made by Canon T. A. Hamilton to take steps towards building the new church. The scheme was launched jin 1919, the building fund | then standing at £472.

Mr Cecil Wood was chosen as architect, and provisional plans for the new church, to cost £lO,OOO, were

drawn. The foundation stone was laid on March 22, 1925 beifore a crowd of 800 people. Only £lOOO was needed to I erase the church’s debt at I the time of the jubilee of St I Barnabas in 1926.

The centennial fair, held in the church grounds at the week-end, was officially opened by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Muldoon), who was in the witness box at the 7 p.m. service on Sunday.

$12,000 was raised for the; church as a result of the; fair. “Money raised exceeded! all expectations,” said Canon! Lowe, A long-playing record! made by the church choir! had been “very well re-i

iceived.” said Canon Lowe, |as had the recipe book pubpished for the centenary. I The chairman of the fair committee (Mr K. G. Elliot) i said the fair had been very I much a team effort with (thousands of people in-