A CHURCH HISTORY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16558, 23 May 1914, Page 2

A CHURCH HISTORY.

FIFTY YEARS AT ST PAUL’S

The officers of St Paul’s Presbyterian Church have done a service to the past, the present and the future generations of Canterbury by publishing a booklet sketching tho history of the congregation from the time it was formed in 1864 to 'the present day. This little work is a record of perseverance, struggle and success. Some sixteen years after the church was established, for it laboured under a heavy debt, and m one year alone it paid nearly £7OO in interest. But “ the congregation was not dismayed by the financial troubles that assailed it, and although these hampered tlie pastor’s work they did not deter . him from carrying on many enterprises for the spiritual and intellectual welfare of the community in which he lived.” The pastor then wavS Dr J.. Elmslie. Ho exercised a great influence on the Church, and it is not surprising to find /him occupying a prominent place in this little history. As tho writer states, there are many people in Canterbury who remember the venerable pastor of St Paul’s, tlie gentle-man-nered old mail, with kind, pleasant and sympathetic ways. St Paul’s has been very fortunate in its pastors. The first was the Rev G. - Grant, “an accomplished scholar and a simple and pious man.” The Rev A. F. Douglas, who was an educative force in Canterbury, followed Mr Grant. Then came Dr Elmslie, and finally the Rev T. Tait, who recently accepted a call to Adelaide. The Church is now free of debt. When it was very young it took part in the Church extension movement, and it still carries on this work in the city and neighbouring boroughs. The booklet deals with these and other features of tho career of St Paul’s Church. It is published as a souvenir of the Church’s .jubilee, celebrated last month, and is an acceptable addition to the Church history of Canterbury.