OTOKIA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Evening Star, Issue 22687, 29 June 1937, Page 3

OTOKIA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

As the Otokia Presbyterian Church will be opened 70 years on August 25 next, a general meeting of members and adherents was held' to consider marking the occasion in some appropriate way. From a representative gathering a strong committee was elected to make the necessary arrangements. The committee afterwards met and decided to hold celebrations on August 28 and 29, such to take the form of a garden party on the afternoon of August 28, and a soiree in the evening, and a church parade and service on the Sunday afternoon. The church has had a very interesting career. At first Otokia, or as it was sometimes called, Moeraki Bush, was part of the East Taieri Church district, which in those days extended from Green Island to Waihola. The Rev. Mr Will used to cover his large parish on foot and on horseback. Prominent members of the Moeraki Bush Church were Messrs James Reid, Wm. Adam, A. Fleming, and Robert Renton. In 1858 the Waihola charge, which included Kuri Bush and Moeraki Bush, was formed, with the Rev. J. M'Nicol as its first minister. He was followed by the Revs. Allan, Patterson, Borne, Hall, and Somerville. In 1867 .the church on the Cemetery road was built, and the first communion was held in September of that year. In 1899 the South Taieri charge was formed, and in the following year the manse was erected at Otokia. The church continued on the hillside for 53 years, and in 1920 was dismantled and re-erected alongside the manse, where it still stands.