HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 31 March 1930, Page 6

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

FIRST MEETING AT WAKEFIELD

The first meeting of the Catholics of Wakefield to consider the matter of erecting a church was held at the house of .Mrs Hagen on Thursday 11th February, 1869. Thomas Shea was elected chairman. The Rev. Father Charyre submitted two plans prepared by Messrs Jacobson and Stewart respectively. Tho plan of the latter was accepted. The following were elected a committee to carry out the work: Messrs James Arnold, Edwin Fowler, Joseph Hoult, Senr., Joseph Hoult, Junr., Joseph Tomlinson, Joseph Bolton, Thomas Shea. Mr Thomas Shoa was appointed chairman and Mr Joseph Hoult secretary. Subsequent meetings were held to select a site for the church, to arrange for the calling of tenders for the election of tho building, and to provide lor the materials required and the work to be done. It is interesting to note that tin

grant or conveyance of the two acres of land on which the church stands is dated 18lh November, 1858: "William England, Esq., "to Messrs Hagen and others in trust for the Roman Catholics of Nelson."

Tenders were called for the building of the church. The successful tenderer was Mr Thomas Good.

FOUNDATION STONE LAID

The ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone took place on 10th October, 1869. The Rev. Father Garin, S.M., P.P., celebrated mass, the choir being in attendance. The preacher on the occasion was the Rev. Father Charyre. S.M., to whom the Rev. Father Garin gave the credit of being the builder of the church. The foundation stone was laid by Mr Joseph Hoult, Senr. The work was completed by the end of April, 1870, and arrangements were made for the opening ceremony. This took place on Saturday, 7th May, 1870, The Revs. Fathers Garin and Charyre and about 250 people attended. After the ceremony all present sat down to a sumptuous repast and then returned to their homes to await the dedication of the church on the following morning, Sunday, Bth May. Unfortunately rain fell in the morning, but Rev. Father Garin and his faithful people wero able to witness the accomplishment of a glorious work when Holy Mass was offered for the living and the dead. From the diary of Rev. Father Garin it appears 'that the total cost of the building was £IOB2 18s lOd. made up as follows: Subscriptions Wakefield and Waimea £258 10s; funds outside the district £326 19s lOd; materials given by. parishioners £497. Cash donations from £2O to 10s were given and amongst the donors the following names and amounts appear: R. Tomlinson £2O, Henry Redwood, Senr., £2O, A Friend £2O, S. Hoult £l6, Mrs Hagen £lO, Ed. Hoult £lO, W. Hoult £lO, J. Arnold £lO, H. Redwood, Junr., £lO, P. O'Connor £6. O'Dwyer £6, J. Tomlinson £6.

The following gave £5 each: T. Reibet, Thomas Shea, P. Byrne; £4— £2 10s, J. Tomes and M. Stewart S. Sand, A. Forsoli £2, J. Leahy," J. O'Connor, Baigent, M. Coughlan, J. Glass, W. Million, €. J. Frank and Rev .A. Martin, Father Garin £5 and Father Petitgean £3 3s. Material donations were given by the following: Timber for the church, heart of totara, Mr J. Hoult, Senr; shingles for roof. Mr J. Hoult, Junr,. and Mr 11. Fowler; carting of materials, Edward Fowler, senr.; church seats, Joseph Tomlinson a,nd Edward Fowler, Junr.; high altar, W. H. Jones; rail and fence around property, J. Hagen and C. Tomlinson; stone and sand for church foundations, G. Tomlinson, Jolm Arnold and H. Fowler.

The two acres of land whereon the church is built, by the foresight of the early Catholic pioneers, was secured as early as 1858, eleven years before the church was erected. A portion of this land is a cemetery and in it rest many of the old settlers of the Waimeas. The church which has a stone founda-

lion is constructed of heart /f totara and uiatai and is in a perfect stale of preservation both outside; and in. It 'comfortably seats 200 worshippers.