THE GOSPEL LIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 118, 21 May 1941, Page 9

THE GOSPEL LIGHT

EARLY WELLINGTON

FIRST METHODIST CHURCH

NOTABLE CENTENARY

Sunday next. May 25, will be celebrated by the -Methodists, of. Wellington as the centennial of the establishment of the first. Methodist circuit in this city. Although Wellington was visited in 1839 by the Methodist missionaries the Revs. J. H. Bumby and John Hobbs, and again in January. 1840, by the Rev. James Buller, who preached to the immigrants on board the Aurora in Port Nicholson, it was. not until December, 1840., that the Rev. J. Aldred arrived as. the first resident minister The arrival of Mr. Aldred marked the beginning of organised Methodism in Wellington, and this notable event is being commemorated next. Sunday.

The first Methodist church was a small wooden building erected at the corner of Cuba and Manners Streets. This was later enlarged to seat 130 persons. In 1845 it was superseded by a brick church f* seat 300, but this building was destroyed by earthquake in 1848. A church was then built in wood. In this building was installed the first pipe organ in a Wesleyan Church in New Zealand. In 1867 the handsome Manners Streel Church was erected, but this was destroyed in the great Manners Street fire of June, 1879. TWENTI CHURCHES. The large Wesley Church in Taranaki Street was opened in 1880, From this church extension work has been carried on throughout tht city and suburbs until today, when there are upwards of twenty Methodist churches in Wellington City and Hutt Valley. On Sunday next the special services will be conducted by the Rev. VV. A. Burley, president of the conference, the morning service being of an official nature and attended by representatives of the Government, Mayor, and city councillors.

Special .nusic will be provided by the Wesley Choir, including an anthem composed for the occasion by Mr. H. Temple White,

. The celebrations will be continued on Tuesday, May 27, when a tea will be held at 6 p.m, and a conversazione at 7.45 p.m., when greetings will be extended by Bishop Holland, the Rev. D, D. Scott, Moderator of thi Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. Clarence Eaton, an ex-minister of the church Mr. Burley will be the chief speaker.

The celebrations will conclude on Thursday, May 29, with a grand musical, festival in Wesley, Church by the combined Methodist choirs under the baton of Mi. Temple White.

The Methodist Church has been closely associated with the development ol the city throughout its one hundred years, and it welcomes this opportunity of thanksgiving and commemoration of those who down the years have given their. . best for the church and the city.