AFTER FIFTY YEARS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 96, 20 October 1936, Page 7

AFTER FIFTY YEARS

ST. DAVID'S, PETONE

ITS HISTORY TRACED

Visitors from all over New Zealand are 'expected to be present at the fiftieth anniversary celebrations of St. David's Presbyterian Church, Britannia Street, Petone, which will be held during the weekend. The Presbyterian Church has filled an important part in the history of Petone as it has helped to cater to the spiritual needs of the Scottish immigrants who work in the large industrial concerns in the district and other Presbyterian families.

The earliest Presbyterian congregation in New Zealand (St. Andrew's, Wellington) was founded on Petone beach, when the Rev. J. Macfarlane conducted a service there.

In the proceedings of the . General Assembly, 1886,. there is recorded the first reference to definite' work in Petone. Prior to this time attempts had been made to secure a student or missionary to labour in this field, but it had been found impossible. The reference by the assembly is as follows:—"Petone, a rising township at the head of the bay from Wellington, the site of the Government railway ■workshops, the Gear Meat Preserving Works,' and a woollen /factory. The Rev. James Johnstone has been appointed to this sphere and has met with some measure of success." Mr. Johnstone preached at St. David's while still a student, and prior to this services were conducted in Petone by city ministers. In 1887 Mr. Johnstone left for a trip to the Old Country. The record states: "Petone has suffered from lack of regular services since Mr. Johnstone left. The place cannot make progress until we get another agent located. The township is growing, and ere long there will be materialfor a good congregation." About this time the Presbyterians of Petone evidently became disheartened. In March, 1887, a letter was received by the Presbytery, of Wellington from Mr. John McGow'an intimating that the managers of the Petone congregation had unanimously agreed that the Presbyterian services ■ should. be discontinued in the district and that the harmonium and other effects -belonging to the, church should be sold.. The Presbytery regretted this decision and appointed a ; committee to meet the Petone congregation, which was • considerably heartened. In January, 1888, Mr. Thomas McDonald, a student from Glasgow University, commenced work in Petone, and success attended his labours from the very beginning. FULLY-SANCTIONED CHARGE. The year 1889 is memorable in the history of the congregation. A request was made to the Presbytery that Petone should be made a fullysanctioned charge. The Presbytery complied, and on May 7, 1889, a meetingl was held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Petone, at which information was given that a church was then in course of erection and £300 was still required to complete the building. Permission was given to the congregation to borrow this amount. A call was sent to ; the Rev. Alexander Thomson, and' the ordination and induction took place in the church on August 1, 1889. Mr. Thomson was trained in the Glasgow City Mission, and served for a time as student evangelist in Patea and Waihenga before coming to Petone. Mr. Thomson began his ministry when the town was in its infancy. He gave himself unsparing to his task, and he also took an ' active part in the cause of education, A memorial bursary was inaugurated to celebrate his work. He died on March 7, 1914, after being minister of the church for 25 years. The Rev. A. B. Todd, 8.A., of Geraldine, was inducted on September 2, 1914. Mr. Todd's ministry was not of long duration, but it was carried out during the stress and strain of the war period. In May, 1919, he intimated to the session that lie had accepted the position of the secretary to the home mission committee, which was at that time located in Wellington. Mr. Todd did many yeairs of service in his new sphere, and died in April, 1932. For a time after his retirement from the secretaryship of the home mission committee he preached at Roseneath and Karori. The next minister was the Rev. J. A. Mackenzie. After he returned from the war he was engaged by the church to meet the ships ..on which the returned soldiers travelled. He -was called, to St. David's, and the induction took place early in December, 1919. Mx\ . Mackenzie remained in Petone until August, 1924, when his health obliged him to resign. During his ministry there was a fairly large addition to the Communion roll from the ranks of the young people. MR. LOAN'S MINISTRY. , The present minister, the Rev. J. C. Loan, was called from Taihape and was inducted on February 5, 1925. This service is remembered as the occasion of the introduction of electric lighting, St. David's being the first church to be wired in Petone. During the service the lights went out and candles were brought in. The incident aroused ranch interest and some amusement. The progress of the charge during the first years of the present ministry was most marked, and the passing years have been marked by a steady growth and development. The organ, which prior to ]928 was dependent on water power, was equipped with an electric blower, and the instrument was renovated' and repaired. The front part of the'church property was greatly unproved by the erection of a well-designed brick fence with buttressed pillars and iron gates, the whole work being made possible by the generosity of one of the elders of the church, Mr. John Nesbit. Another recent gift is a beautiful memorial window • presented by Miss J. Cook in memory of her father, the late Mr. Thomas Cook. In 1929 a special -effort was made to clear the debt on all the church buildings. The debt had been incurred in 1905, and was gradually reduced year by year until there was*an amount of; £360 still owing. The whole of this amount was subscribed and the debt discharged. At the annual meeting of the congregation in 1933 the managers were authorised to enlarge and improve the hall. Mr. Loan has built up the membership of the church and is greatly'respected by his congregation and the public of the district.

The anniversary celebrations will commence on Saturday, when there will be a reception and welcome to visitors between 3 and 5 p.m. On the following day a Communion service will be held in the morning, and after the evening service a reunion will be held in the halL The preacher will be the Rev. G. Budd, superintendent of missions. On Monday a tea will be held at 5 p.m., and at 8 p.m. a social function will take place.