DIAMOND JUBILEE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 258, 28 September 1935, Page 7

DIAMOND JUBILEE

ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH SIXTY YEARS REVIEWED Sixty years of parish life will be reviewed when, tomorrow, on St. Michael and All Angels’ Day, the Church _ of All Saints’ in Palmerston North will conduct the first services in commemoration of its diamond jubilee. The foundation stone of the first Church of England i n Palmerston North was laid on September 29, 1875, four years after the settlement was first established. This was the House of God for the early adherents of the Church who, with their background 'of Old Country tradition, and imbued with their hopes and aspirations, laboured zealously and faithfully that the ministrations of spiritual comfort could be given in a building endowed with the Divine grace. How well they succeeded!

Recently dedicated, a new standard of St. George will be broken from the church tower to-morrow in honour of the occasion, and sermons will be preached from the original pulpit which, presented by Mr W. 0. Poole, of Oroua Downs, is still in use after its decades of services.

By a coincidence. Dr. Sprott to-morrow will administer the rites of Confirmation for the last time as Bishop of the Diocese, as he is about to enter a well-earned retirement.

FIRST VICAR SURVIVING. Instituted tb the cure in 1874 by Bishop Hadfield, Rev. H. Bevis, the first vicar of All Saints’, is still alive in England at the advanced age of 93 years. Other former vicars, Canon C. C. Harper, Rev. H. G. Rosher and Rev. H. G. Blackburne, are all in parishes in England, while Canon W. Fancourt is vicar of St. Mary’s ProCathedral, Auckland. Former curates of All Saints’ who are now vicars of surrounding parishes are Revs. G. B Stephenson (Dannevirke); P. Wiltshire (Pongaroa); H. F. Wilson (Pahiatua); G. Watson (Eketahuna), and H. S. Kenney (Foxton), Rev. A. W. Payne, editor of the Church Chronicle, residing at Levin, and Canon G. Y. Woodward, the present vicar of All Saints’, were also at one time curates of the parish. The parish of All Saints’ once included St. Peter’s (Terrace End), St. Mary’s (Ashhurst), St. Barnabas’ (Bunnythorpe) and the Pohangina district. Doubtless these will be strongly represented at the jubilee of the mother church. THE FIRST SERVICES.

Anglicans held services on alternate Sundays with Presbyterians in the small wooden Courthouse as a place of public worship until, in 1874, an effort was made to establish a Church of England in Palmerston North, Rev. Henry Bevis, M.A., being appointed priest in charge of the district in that year. The first celebration of Holy Communion was held in the home of the late Mrs G. M. Snelson, but on September 29, 1875, four years after the first settlers came to Palmerston North, the foundation stone of the first church was laid by Mrs Snelson. It contained a commemorative document and coins of the realm. The building committee were Messrs G. Snelson, J. T. Dalrymple, H. S. Palmerson, E. Marsh, Robert Keeling, James Green and E. Brightwell. The Bishop of the Diocese was Rt. Rev. Octavius Hadfield, the incumbent Mr Bevis, and the builders Messi-s Meyrick, Perrin and Oakley. Land was purchased adjoining the church section, and a vicarage built later, the first occupant being Rev. J. A. Newth, who followed Mr Bevis. There was a very friendly gesture made to the Lutheran faith when, in 1877, a Sundav school was established in the Foresters’ Hall, then situated in the Square, under the supervision of Mrs Snelson, assisted by-Miss Waldegrave, Mr T. Sutton and Mr A. Clarke. Both Anglican and Lutheran children received their early instruction here, and annually this is remembered by the Lutheran pastor, who makes a donation towards the Anglican missionary funds. It was in 1877 that the late Mr Alan Skerman, destined to become a pillar of All Saints’ and its _ greatest lay worker, began an association which lasted for upwards of half a century until his death in 1934 after a life of singular devotion which endeared him to all parishioners. His was a record of unbroken service as organist, layreader, secretary to the All Saints’ Children’s Home, and people’s warden. His contribution to the spiritual life of the parish was a most notable one. His own description of the first Anglican Church at this centre was as follows:

“Picture to yourselves a small wooden building—the conventional ‘Early Day’ colonial church, as like a barn as it was possible to make it, a porch on one side with two windows, on the other side three windows —at the front two windows, and to crown all, a small bell-turret perched on the apex of the high-pitched roof. This was set in the middle of a small unfenced paddock —with a background of dense heavy bush, probably the densest in Palmerston North, covering, what is now Ferguson Street West, in those days a big white pine swamp.” The organ was placed at the extreme west end of the church and on the north-east corner was a small vestry. There was a tiny sanctuary at the east end. NEW CHURCH BUILT.

With the appointment of Rev. J. L. Keating, a man of vitality and enthusiasm, to the charge in 1880, there was a distinct forward movement in the life of the parish. Plans were prepared by Mr E. Larcomb for a new church, and the aspirations which this implied were realised when, on December 1, 1881, the foundation stone of a new church was laid, the building being consecrated on the following February 16. The old church formed the chancel, the new building constituting the nave. Rev. E. L. Carus Wilson succeeded Mr Keating in February 1883, for a brief term, and Rev. W. A. Leach, who became very popular with the parishioners, was the next vicar; but ill-health compelled him to resign after a few years’ service. Rev. H. E. Copinger arrived from South Australia early in 1884 and took up residence at the vicarage, which had not been used for four years. Ills personality reinvigorated parish life, and guilds were organised. Altar lights were first used in his time, and a choir of men and boys was established in 1885, probably with Mr Sherman as choirmaster. Services were instituted at Ashhurst, Taikitahuna, Newbury and Stoney Creek (Whakarongo). Rev. Henry Baclie Harvey, 8.A., of St. John’s College, Cambridge, followed Mr Copinger as incumbent m 1888, and in 1891 the church was enlarged at a cost of over £3OO to provide accommodation for another v 130 people. Under the zealous guidance of Mi Harvey, the Sunday school reached great efficiency, and Bible classes, be gan to function. A pipe-organ was erected in 1892 at a cost of iMU and in the same year was established the Ladies’ Guild', with Mrs L. A. Abraham, still a very active worker, as one of the original members of a faithful band who have worked for neally 44 years.

The parochial district of Ashhurst was formed in August, 1892, with Rev. M. Devenish in charge. Owing to the extension of activities by All Saints’ Rev. Robert Young was ordained as a curate in 1893. Owing to impaired health, Mr Harvey resigned in 1895, and subsequently became an honorary canon of Bristol Cathedral. During the term of Rev. H. F. Hunt, M.A., of Jesus College, Cambridge, who succeeded Mr Harvey, the second vicarage was built. THE PRESENT CENTURY. Just as Palmerston North was emerging from a period of dormancy, Rev. C. C. Harper, now vicar of Ford, Northumberland, began his ministry on May 1, 1900, and he set out to build upon a strong parish foundation, with Rev. H. F. Wilson as his first colleague. Alert and active, they could feel _ the pulse of a new generation. All Saints’ was enlarged in 1901 by the addition of a southern aisle, and in 1902 the present site of St. Peter’s Church, Terrace End, was purchased, the building being erected the same year. St. Columba’s, Linton, was established in 1902, and enlarged two years afterwards, while a second large classroom was added to the All Saints’ schoolroom. In 1904 a school was built at Hokowhitu, and in 1908 a churchroom was provided at Longburn, the old Methodist building which had stood at Newbury being purchased and moved to a site there. The proposal to build a permanent brick church for All Saints’ was first mooted in the vestry’s report in 1904, and the scheme was definitely launched in the following year. In the early part of 1910 the old church was moved to the back of the section, where it now stands, and the schoolroom was built behind St. Peter’s, Terrace End. THE CHILDREN’S HOME.

With no more backing than a small subscription list, but with unlimited faith and enthusiasm, the first board of management, appointed m IJUb, acquired a building which founded the All Saints’ Children’s Home, starting a great social work for orphaned and indigent children which has since been carried on as an important branch or the church activities. Soon free ot debt the home was enlarged to accommodate 36 children. Several years ago the institution was moved to the fine modern two-storeyed home built in Pascal Street on a site given by the. late Mr Hugh Akers. More recently a gift of £2OOO was • made by Mr W. M. Reed, of Broadway Avenue, towards liquidating the debt on the building—a most generous act ot p.niantliropliy. Since then the home has received a much appreciated bequest of £SO a year from the late Mr 1. itMoore, of Terrace End. After ten years of strenuous woik, Mr Harper was succeeded m iJiJ h 7 Rev. H. G. Rosher, who continued to pilot the parish through a period ot transition and church building. AMBITION REALISED.

With the object of building a more graceful church edifice, a niorement was launched in May of i 912, and a board was placed m front ol the old church stating that tO.J'JO shillings (£4000) were required. Contributions of the shillings received, and a statement of those sull inquired, were recorded each ween: until the board became familiarly known as “The Vicar of Palmerston s lute.' Thus another financial struggle eegan and with three-quarters of the funds in hand the decision to build was made, the foundationn stone being laid on November 1, 1913, by Hr Sprott (Bishop of . Wellington). Rev . Grove was assistant curate and Messrs H Morrali and A. Skerman churchwardens. It was decided to discontinue the. charge for pew rents, Mi Kosher expressing the sentiment ft our church is really to be the home of the clmrclipeople of Palmerston North, then it must be free to all, without any cash qualifications for a seat m God’s house. The whole system of pew rents is in contradiction to the truest instincts of the Christian religion as well as to the democratic spirit of the age and country m which we live.” All Saints’ is believed to have been the first church in New Zealand to be equipped on truly English lines. ' , _ T . Captain J. D. R. Hewett, R.N., for years an indefatigable worker for the "parish, passed away in 1913. During the Great War the church hell rang at noon every day to call the people, of Palmerston North to prayer. The Girls’ Club was started m May of 1914 with Miss Heni Park as secretary, and had a membership of 140 in the first year. . On account of ill-liealtli in Ins family, Mr Roslier resigned in 1915, returning to England. Ho went to the Front later. Rev. H. G. Blackburne, M.A., was appointed vicar of All Saints’ in 1915 and obtained two. very efficient colleagues in Rev. F. G. Harvie (now Canon Harvie, of Auckland), and Rev. K. J. McFarland. Mr J. Holmes Runnicles was, in 1916, appointed organist and choirmaster, and he has occupied these positions ever since. On October 29, 1916, the debt of £9OO having been cleared off, the church was consecrated by the Bishop of the Diocese. Owing to a subsequent shortage of clergy during the War, Mr Blackburne was without a curate for 2i years, and Miss Park became parish sister, doing splendid work among the sick. The epidemic of pneumonic influenza swept round the world in 1918. There were as many as 57 burials by All Saints’ iff oik fortnight, the late Mr Skerman as sisting with the funerals while Mr Blackburne ministered to the si'-k and dying. The death occurred in 1919 of Mr E. H. Morrali, who was succesded as vicar’s warden by Mr James Mitchell,

but the latter passed awav three yearn laler.

Owing to the growth of the Sunday School, a brick sclio.t room costing nearly £IOOO was erected in .1920, and in the same year S 1 Peter’s became a separate parisn. There were 1150 children in the 13 town an 1 country Sunday sclioo.s in 1923. 111-h’ealt!i necessitate the return of M' - Blackburne. to England in 1924. Among the financial oftoits made in his time' was the finding of about £IOOO for the great east window, erected partly as a memorial, and partly as a thanksgiving for peace. Pending the arrival of Canon W. Fancourt, M.A., in July of 1934, Rev. G. W. Dent,' curate, carried on the work of the parish, and in 1926 Rev. IT. S. Kenney joined the strifF. During the vicarate of Canon Fancourt alterations were made at a cost of £650 to the old church to form a boys’ clubroom. A new churchroom (since extended) was opened at Takaro in 1927, and funds were raised to provide £2400 for the installation of a new- organ after Canon G. Y. Woodward, the present vicar, took charge of the parish. Rev. P. Wiltshire (now Vicar of Pongaroa), joined the staff in 1927 and in the same year it was announced that the . church debt had been paid off, much credit for this achievement being due . to Messrs L. M. Abraham and IT. G. Bagnall (lion, treasurer). Canon Fancourt was appointed vicar of St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Auckland, in August, 1929, after a popular ministry, and All Saints’ entered upon its present chapter under Canon Woodward. PROGRAMME FOR WEEK. The programme for Diamond Jubilee Week is as follows: Sept. 29.—Sunday, St. Michael and All Angels’. 8 a.m., Holy Communion. 11 a.m.,' Confirmation. Lord Bishop of the Diocese. 2.30 p.m., Children’s Service. Rev. IT. S. Kenney, B.A. 7 p.m., Festal-Evensong. Veil. Archdeacon Bullock.

Sept. 30.—Monday: 6 p.m., Old Parishioners’ Tea. 7.30 p.m., Sunday School Teachers and Bible Classes, Deaconess Heni Park.

Oct. I.—Tuesday: 7.30 p.m.,Preparation service for newly-confirmed. Oct. 2.-—Wednesday: 7 a.m., Holy Communion 8 p.m., Parish Social. Oct. 3.—Thursday: 10 a.m., Holy Communion, 7.30 p.m., Devotional Service. Rev. G. B. Stephenson, B.Sc. Oct. 4.—Friday: Children’s party. Oct. 5. —Saturday : Birthday party at All Saints’ Children’s Home. Oct. 6.—Sunday, Octave of St. Michael and All Angels.’ 8 a.m., Holy Communion. 11 a.m., Matins. Ven. Archdeacon Petrie. 2.30 p.m.. Men’s Service. The Lord Bishop of Nelson. 7 p.m., Festal Evensong. The Lord Bishop of Nelson. Celebrations marking the golden jubilee of the founding of All Saints’ choir will commence with a full cathedral service on Tuesday, October 15, when a special choir will sing Parry’s “Blest Pair of Sirens” (Milton) as the anthem, and conclude with Evensong by the combined choirs of the district on Friday, November 1.