HOLY CROSS CHURCH, ST. KILDA

Evening Star, Issue 22272, 25 February 1936, Page 3

HOLY CROSS CHURCH, ST. KILDA

HISTORY OF THE PARISH In connection with the forthcoming departure of the Rev. A. Wingfield after 18 years’ service as Vicar of Holy Cross Church, St. Kilda, the following history of this parish has been compiled : In 1903 a meeting of Anglican parishioners living in St. Kilda and in the eastern end of South Dunedin was held in Mr W. Cuttle’s house, Gisborne street, South Dunedin, to see if arrangements could be made for starting a Church of England mission in the district, under the direction of the vicar of St. Peter’s Parish. The meeting, which was well attended, decided to lease the Forbury School gymnasium for a Sunday school, and also for mission servicas to be started under the direction of the Rev. T. Russell, who was then curate at St. Peters, under Canon King. The original committee included Messrs W. Cuttle, F. Mace, R. V. G. Parker, J. L, Thompson, F. Royve, and W. Vickery, together wi,ldi several ladies. When Mr Russell left the parish the care of the missiqft- fell into the hands of the Rev. E. jy. Woodhouse, and under his charge Ipaflh the congregation and the Sunday School grew rapidly. In October, 1906, it was found desirable to lease the St. Kilda Town Hall for tho purpose of Sunday services and the Sunday school. The first committee formed to control the St. Kilda Church of England Mission Committee were Rev. E. L. Woodhouse (chairman), Messrs R. V. G. Parker (treasurer). J. L. Thompson (hon. secretary), W., Cuttle, D. Harris Hastings, F. Mace, J. Matthewson, F. Rowe, and S. Young, and also Mesdames Sims, Mace, and J. L. Thompson.

The following year this committee was strengthened by the inclusion of Messrs H. W. S. Hellyer, W. Jacobsen, and H. Hart. In 1909 the com-

niittee, with the consent of St. Peter’s Vestry, decided to raise funds to build a church and school on the sections at the corner of Driver and Chapman streets, which had already been bought and vested in the names of Messrs Mace, Vickery, Cuttle, and Parker. A Building Committee consisting of Messrs D. Harris Hastings (chairman), E. H. Hart, H. W. S. Hellyer, J. W. Matthewson, and W. Vickery, with Major R. G. V. Parker as treasurer, was set up, and they were very successful in raising funds. When the Rev.' E. Dering Evans took charge of the parish in 1911 it was felt that there was sufficient moneys in hand to warrant the erection of a building which could be used as a church' and Sunday school. It was arranged to purchase the section at the corner of Richardson and Chapman streets, adjoining the original sections, for this purpose. A contract was let for this building, to be called “The Holy Cross Chapel of Ease in the parish of Caversham.”. and the foundation stone was laid on December 9, 1912,

by the Very Rev. Dean A. R. Eitchett, who was acting as the bishop’s commissary, assisted by V.W. Bro. ArchDeacon Gould, P.G. chaplain, the R.W. Prov. G.M. E.W. G. H. Watts, and the W.M., officers, and brethren of Lodge Oceanic, 154 N.Z. The building was completed and ready for occupation in about a year, and on October 16, 1913. was dedicated by the Most Rev. the Primate (Bishop S. T. Nevill). In the first instance after the church was completed the district was nnddr the charge of the Rev. R. G. Coates, who, when the Rev. J. L. Mortimer succeeded Mr Evans, was followed by the Revs. A. L. Cantor and A. D. Mitchell.

During the next year or two the mission was in a healthy financial condition, and early in 1917 it was decided to separate from Caversham and form a St. Kilda parish, with its own vicar, churchwardens, and vestry. After negotiations with St. Peter’s Vestry, at the Synod meeting in June, Mr Hastings, who with Captain Easther. R.N., represented Caversham parish, brought in a Bill to constitute the parochial district of St. Kilda. This Bill was passed without opposition, and Mr Hastings was appointed church officer until a vicar was appointed. The first meeting of the parishioners was presided over by the Rev. J. L. Mortimer, when the following officers were appointed: Parishioners church warden, Mr H. W. S. Hellyer; vestrymen—Messrs M. Priest, W. Jacobsen, W. H. Dunning, A. Wilson, E. H. Hart. A. E. Thomson. M. Scott, R. Sailet, S. Young, and J. R. Briggs. XT]ion the recommendation of the parochial nominators the Primate appointed the Rev. A. E. Wingfield, of Gore, the

first vicar and he took charge on September 21, 1917, During iJio next 12 mouths the vestry paid oft .£250 of the debt on the church, and Mr Hastings, thanks to the generous support of the parishioners, was able to fulfil a promise he had made to the 1917 Synod, and in the 1918 Synod brought in a Bill, which was passed with congratulations, declaring St. Kilda. a parish. Mr Wingfield was appointed the first vicar, a position which he has hold with satisfaction to his parishioners and the citizens of St. Kilda. He will be succeeded by the Rev. C. E. Webb, who is at present vicar of Gore from which parish Mr Wingfield came.

As the vicar hud been living in a rented house since he arrived in the parish, the vestry thought it would be better it a, suitable property could bo found for a vicarage, and on July 18, 1919, it was decided to purchase a property at the corner of Chapman and Council streets for £B4O. On November 19, in the absence of the Primate, the vicar unveiled a handsome brass tablet containing tlje names of those parishioners who died and served in the Great War.

At the annual meeting in 1923 the treasurer (Mr H. W: S. Hellyer) reported that the church and all property connected with was free of debt and they had assets valued at a low estimate at £2,800. The total receipts that year were over £9OO and there was in addition a credit balance in the bank of over £IOO. This satisfactory state of affairs was due in the main to the interest taken in parish affairs by the parishioners, to the keen interest taken by the vicar in his work and the parish generally, to the efforts of the lion, treasurer (the late Mr H. W. S. Hellyer). to the unremitting work of the capable vestry, and last but not least, to the vigorous efforts of the band of loyal women who had worked so faithfully in managing the annual sales of work, collecting, etc. In this connection the earlier parishioners will call to mind the good work done by the late Mesdames Cuttle, Sims, Vickery, Hart. Higginson, Hellyer. Mace, and Woods, and Mesdames J. L. Thompson, R. G. V. Parker, and H. Luscomhe, who are still alive, but not now connected with the parish.

Mention should have been made of the fact that in 1920 a Sunday schoolroom was erected in the vacant plot in front of the church. Hitherto the senior scholars had met in the St. Kilda Town Hall and the juniors in the church, and this was, to say the least, very unsatisfactory. At the annual meeting in 1925, Mr H. W. S. Hellyer. who had been the parishioners’ church warden since the foundation of the parish, refused on the ground of ill-health to be re-nomi-nated for that office, and Mr M. Priest, was appointed in his stead. As Tigs been previously stated. Mr Hellver was undoubtedly the mainspring behind the financial position ot the church, as he had acted as hon. treasurer as well as warden. He died in June, 1926, regretted by all who knew him, and a brass memorial plate was erected by the parishioners in the chancel to perpetuate his memory. Mr M. Priest, was appointed as his successor. He followed the good example set by Mr Hellyer, and was, like him, a tower of strength to the parish organisations. He resigned from that office at the end of 1928. and before giving up office, was able to report that all the church buildings, etc., then valued at £3,700, were free of debt and there were cash balances in the Dunedin Savings Bank amounting to £590. Mr Priest, whose work for the church will not be forgotten, resigned his office because he was leaving the district, and died on November 20, 1929. His position as people’s warden Was filled by Mr W. Jacobsen. _ At the annual meeting Mr P. J. Priest was appointed by Mr Wingfield vicar's warden, Mr Hastings, who had he\d that position since the parish was formed, having refused nomination. The first representatives on the Synod were Mr Hastings and Major Parker, and on the latter’s retirement Mr Hellyer was elected in his stead, and on the death of Mr Hellyer in 1926, Mr P. J. Priest was _ appointed, and has held that position ever since. Special mention should be made of the good work done by Major Parker, who was the vestry secretary for seven years, and also by Mr E. K. Broad, wlio was honorary auditor.

Mention also should be made of the self-sacrificing work of the past organists—Mrs Tyndall (Miss Gladys Stoneham), Mr F. Kettle, and Miss King—and also the present occupant of that office, Miss Clarkson. It is impossible to individualise the services of all those who have worked hard for Holy Cross Church and parish since its inception, but the following list includes the majority of those who are no longer living:—-

Clergy: Revs. E, L. Woodhonse. W. Ronaldson, and A. D. Mitchell. Churchwardens: Messrs H. W. S. Hellyer and M. Priest. Vestrymen; Messrs W. H. Dunning, A. E. Thomson. J. R. Briggs. S. Young, H. Clark, C. Halliday, R. Steel. Lay reader; Mr A. Fleet. Throughout Mr Wingfield’s term of office the relations between the vicar and his officials and the congregation have been quite cordial, and there is general regret that his present condition of health Has caused him to resign at a comparatively early age. He carries with him to his new home in Wellington the best wishes of not only his late parishioners, but also of the citizens of the borough with whom he has been brought into contact, for his restoration to health and that he will be spared for many years to enjoy his rest, and that Mrs Wingfield and family will be able to look back with happiness to their sojourn in St. Kilda. knowing the respect that they are held in in that borough.