PORT CHALMERS CONGREGATIONALISTS

Evening Star, Issue 21723, 18 May 1934, Page 6

PORT CHALMERS CONGREGATIONALISTS

SEVENTIETH ANNIVERSARY Seventy years ago the Congregational Church at Port Chalmers was opened, and the Rev. James Fraser was its first minister. The present pastor is the Rev. T. Flower. The church has a fine record of service, ever striving, and not without result, to make spiritual ideals active forces in the life of the community. Its historical record is interesting, and probably unique in that one of its ministers was an ex-prime minister.

Mr Fraser, the first minister, came to New Zealand for service amongst the natives of the North Island but the Maori War was on at this time, and prevented his doing so. At the request of a number of people at Port Chalmers he undertook the organising of a Congregational centre and. the opening of a church there. Associated with him were Mr Ebenezer Flint, Mr Andrew Thomson, Mr John Inches Thomson, Mr Hugh M'Kinlay, Mr Robert Bauchop, and Mr Robert Ritchie.Soon after the church was opened Mr John Moragan joined, and he took an active interest in its affairs, presenting a section on which to build a new church when such was needed. The congregation held divine service in the local Masonic hall until the church was ready for worship. After a ministry of eighteen months Mr Fraser went to Sydney. He was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Forsaith,-ex-Prime Minister. He was an outstanding man in other respects than: having formed the “ clean shirt Ministry. When he arrived in New Zealand he brought a shipload of merchandise for trading purposes. At one period ho was an elder of Knox Church, and was Protector of the Maoris in the North Island. As a member of Parliament he moved a motion of noconfidence in the Government. It was carried, and the Governor called on him to form a Ministry, which he succeeded in doing. The Governor’s call was so sudden that in describing it later in the House the Premier said he had not time to don a clean shirt in his hurried response. Hence the name of “ Clean Shirt Ministry.” . , „ ~r The Rev. Stephen Smith followed Mr Forsaith. At the end of four years his death took place, and he was buried in the old cemetery. Mr _ Smith was gaol chaplain, and'he initiated the Patients’ and Prisoners’* Aid Society, The Rev. James Maxwell was the next minister, and he was followed by the Rev. W. M. Grant, whose name became closely associated. with the church and church activities at Port Chalmers. Mr Grant was after nine years in Port Chalmers moved to South 'Australia, where he returned in 190/, and resumed the ministry, from which he retired in 1925. Mr Grant was one of the founders of the Bible in schools at Port Chalmers, and personally conducted the class at the public school for twenty-three years, and wholly unassisted for the final nine years of that period. Mr Grant is now living in retirement at Port Chalmers. His nephew. Dr Allan Grant, is medical officer at Nauru, and at present is acting Administrator. . . During Mr Grant s absence in Australia the Rev. Keay Fisher and the Rev. Edward Taylor were the. incumbents at Port Chalmers, and since his retirement the Rev. N, H. Finch and the Rev. Mr Flower. The Congregational Church has been an active force in the community, and was in touch with shipping and early day life. The window over the pulpit is a souvenir of the wrecked steamer South Australia. Two young ladies who walked to Dunedin of a Sunday morning in pioneer days to attend divine service in the city became members or this church. It was a picturesque incident, for they walked barefooted through the hush from Port Chalmers it was in pre-road days—and washed their feet in the Water of Leith before donning their Sunday footwear. Members of the church were in touch with shipping, particularly Captain wmiain Hodge, who sailed his own ship, and Mr W. Elder, who had a controlling interest in the whalers Othello and Splendid. Other names recorded were Mr Benjamin Facer and Mr Robert The' anniversary, celebrations included a reunion gathering of members and non-resident ex-members yesterday afternoon. Despite the weather there was a good attendance. The Rev. Mr Flower prayed that the divine blessing might rest on the church and its activities in the future as in the past. Mrs Flower and lady members of the congregation handled the afternoon tea portion of the programme with gratifying success. . ■ The speakers were Miss M. K.Begg, whose father was for a time choir condoctor; Mr W. J. Gibb, who was Sunday school superintendent during the Rev, Mr Taylor’s ministry; and Mr h. Jack, whose parents were active church workers. The list of organists of the church is as follows Mrs G. M Km. lay, Mr A. Bott, Dr W. Bauchop, Miss Nellie M'Kinlay, Mr L. Jack, Miss Isobel Stevenson, Mr R. Holden, and Mr G. K. Roy.. The list of Sunday school superintendents shows Andrew Thomson, John Joyce, M.H.R., D. G. Stephens, Alex. M'Kenzie. Robert Ritchie, Robert Bauchop, R. P. l'l ea * e > • J. Gibbs, R. Jack, Rev. W . M. Grant, and Rev. T. Flower.