PENINSULA NEWS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 57, Issue 4001, 2 June 1948, Page 9

PENINSULA NEWS

75th ANNIVERSARY ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH PRESBYTERIANS CELEBRATE The 75th anniversary of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Coromandel, was celebrated on May 22 and 23. In spite of unfavourable weather which prevailed most of the time there were good attendances at the functions which took place on the Saturday and at the thanksgiving services held in the church on Sunday morning and evening. , A re-union was held in St. Andrew s Church on the Saturday afternoon and the opportunity was taken to renew old acquaintances and make new ones. The Rev. R. E. Leggott, of

Coromandel, who presided, opened proceedings with prayer and then introduced the Rev. S. R. Wishart, of Huntly, moderator of the Presbytery of Waikato, who spoke briefly and who in turn introduced to the congregation the Rt. Rev. J. D. Smith, 8.A., moderator of the General Assembly. Miss N. B. Mitchell, president of the ladies’ guild, presented to Mrs Smith a shoulder spray on behalf of the ladies. Afternoon tea was served and the ceremony of cutting the seventyfifth 'birthday cake was performed by Mrs A. J. McNeil whose association with St. Andrew’s Church, has extended over many years and whose parents, the late Mr and Mrs A. King, were early pioneers of the church. Mrs Leggott presented a shoulder spray to Mrs McNeil who, in reply, thanked those present for the honour conferred upon her.

At the close of the afternoon’s events all present assembled in front of the church where photographs were taken. Visiting ministers and their wives and also the managers were later guests at the manse where a buffet tea was served.

The programme in the evening took the form of a social. Following the singing of the doxology the congregation was led in prayer by the Rev. S. R- Wishart. The chairman, the Rev. R. E. Leggott, outlined proceedings for the evening and later made reference to the outstanding service rendered to the church by Mr A. J. McNeil, one of the present managers, who had served in that capacity for 44 years.

A number of letters and telegrams of congratulation from former ministers and members of the congregation were read by the secretary, Mr R. A. McNeil, who also read, in three instalments, the history of St. Andrew’s Church. Vocal items, which were greatly appreciated, were rendered by Mrs H. Ball, Miss F. Martin and the Rev. M. Leggott. Mrs Ball and Mrs E. Battson were accompanistes.

A number of speakers were called upon and these included the Rev. 0. L. Christian (who represented the Methodist Church), Mr Vercoe (on behalf of the Anglican Church), the chairman of the Coromandel County Council, Mr E. Deeble, the Rev. S. R. Wishart, the Rt. Rev. J. D. Smith and Mrs Smith, the last-named speaker giving a special message to the ladies. The singing of the national anthem was followed by the pronouncement of the benediction, after which supper was handed round.

The services cn Sunday, May 23, ■were both conducted by the moderator of the General Assembly, the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper'being dispensed with at the morning service. A notable feature of both services was the wide representation from sister churches. The choir rendered items on each occasion, the organistes being Miss J. McNeil (morning) and Miss P. Ward, (evening).