In a country churchyard

Press, 2 November 1985, Page 19

In a country churchyard

A fine pink and grey stone, equal in quality to the best granites, was excavated from nearby hillsides for the walls of Kaituna Valley’s Church of St Kentigern. Its name is derived from a British saint who lived and worked in the western districts of Scotland during the sixth century and became Bishop of Scotland. Mr T. H. Parkinson, an early settler in the district, planted the attractive blue gums behind the early English Gothic-styled church. Services were first recorded in the district in 1858 when the Presbyterian minister, Rev.

Charles Frazer, conducted a service in a woolshed. He continued to hold the occasional service until 1865 when Kaituna became part of the parochial district of Governor’s Bay. Anglican services began in 1866 when the Rev. M. Lingard called the congregation to worship in the homestead of Mr T. H. Parkinson. Other early Anglican services were held by the Rev. Bradley from 1871 to 1874 and the Rev. Otway from 1875 to 1879.

Among the vicars serving in the district during these early years were the Revs Knowles, Cox, and

Sheldon, and the Rev. Pritchett was vicar in 1900 when Kaituna became part of the parochial district of Little River. Services were held in various parts of the valley from 1866 to 1900 including woolsheds, granaries, schools, and in the open air. The first meeting about building a church was held in 1912 when a committee was elected. By 1932 the construction of a church had been authorised on land given by Mr W. F. Parkinson. Mr Roy Lovell-Smith of Christchurch drew up the plans and the Rennell brothers submitted the lowest

tender of £617 for construction of the slate-roofed and gable towered church. The Bishop of Christchurch, Bishop West-Watson, laid the foundation stone in 1933 and the church was completed in 1934. The first service was conducted by the Rev. D. R. Hay, the vicar of Little River, and the organist, Miss Betty Coop, continued to play for 30 years of church services. Sir Heaton Rhodes gave the altar as a memorial to the Rhodes family who were the first owners of the Kaituna Run, sold to Mr T. H. Parkinson in the early 186f)s.

The stone for the altar was brought from Sir Heaton’s farm, Otahuna, at Tai Tapu, and the credence table is of Otahuna red stone. Mr N. Gardiner gave the memorial windows on the south side of the church, the Parkinson family gave the window above the altar, and the west memorial windows were provided by the Girls Club and Mrs A. G. Jamieson. The bell and fittings were given by Mrs W. F. Parkinson and the font byMr and Mrs I. L. M. Coop and Mrs M. Coop.

By

TESSA WARD