HISTORIC CHURCHES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 163, 25 June 1934, Page 10

HISTORIC CHURCHES

TE AWAMUTU PARISH Appeal For Renovation Fund CENTENARY IN AUGUST \ The centenary of St. John’s Parish, Te Awamutu, which was founded in 1834 by the Rev. W. Williams, grandfather of the present Bishop of Waiapu, falls on August 23 next, and the occassion will be marked by special celebrations in whitli many church dignitaries, appropriately including Bishop Williams, will take part. The parish is one of the most closely linked with the early days of this country, and its historical associations are many and interesting. The two parish churches, St. John's and St. Paul’s, are in need of renovation, and in view of the coming celebrations, and also that they may be preserved as they should be, the centenary committee, headed by the vicar, the Rev. Stephen Wareing, and the | secretary and treasurer, Mr. H. Worthington, have issued an appeal throughout New Zealand for a sum of L'KXJO to carry out the necessary work. Tho parish of St. John, states a letter sent to tho “Tribune” by Mr. Wareing, was founded on August 23, 1834, by the Rev. W. Williams, who landed at Mangapouri, seven miles from Te Awamutu, purchased land from the local natives, and prepared for the incoming missionaries, Messrs. Morgan, Hamlin, and Stack. Owing to Maori disturbances the mission was abandoned by the missionaries in September, 1836, but local natives kept Christianity alive in the district under the supervision of the Rev. B. T. Ashwell. In February, 1812, John Morgan returned to reopen the station, this time at Otawao (Te Awamutu). During the next twenty years the district was consolidated, and churches were built at Te Awamutu and Rangiaohia. St. John’s Church, Te Awamutu was dedicated on Good Friday, 1854, by the Ven. Archdeacon Abraham, and St. Paul’s Church, Rangiaohia, later in the same year.

Each church possesses a magnificent stained glass window. That in St. John's Church is supposed to have been presented by Queen Victoria, and Lady Burdett Coutts is thought to have given tho one in Rangiaohia. At the beginning of the Maori War, Rewi Maniapoto was anxious to sack this place. A Maori woman, the sister oi Te Whero Whcro (Potatau), the Maori king, placed makutu or Maori magic on the church and its surroundings and threatened Rewi with dire penalties should ho molest them in any form. This action of Te Whero Whero s sister proved the saving oi the station. The church has passed through turbulent times, as is evinced by bullet holes in the windows. In the Maori War days tho present St. John’s Church was used by all denominations for services, as the records show, and to those who have associations with the district, and also to those who are interested in historic New Zealand, a.n appeal is made for assistance to help to renovate these historic, churches, which have been handed down as heirlooms that must be preserved intact for posterity. At a recent parish meeting a com--1 mittee was elected to make arrangements for tho coming centenary. The : object of tho committee is to raise by means of voluntary donations the sum of £lOOO for the preservation of these ; churches, and in making this appeal , tho committee feel confident that mem. bers of, all church denominations throughout the Dominion will be vital. , ly interested. The centenary celebrations in Aug--1 ust will be attended by His Grace the Archbishop, the Bishop of Waiapu ’ (grandson of the founder), the Bishop * of Aotearoa, and the Bishop of Wai--1 kato Diocese.