BAPTIST CHURCH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 29 April 1937, Page 3

BAPTIST CHURCH

ANNIVERSARY SOCIAL REMINISCENCES OF EARLY DAYS The 86th anniversary of the Baptist Church was further celebrated when on Tuesday evening upwards of 100 members, adherents and friends sat down to an old-time church tea. The ladies’ social committee had excelled itself in the catering arrangements, the tables being beautifully decorated. A number present at the tea were found to have had fifty-five years membership with the church. 1 At the evening meeting the Rev. A. Fear welcomed those who had come in from the country and the older members and pioneers of the Church. A letter of good wishes was read from Mr James Mills of Wellington, who had been associated with the church over 60 years ago. A letter was also sent to Mrs Ben Blick, of Blenheim, the oldest living member.

Mrs Fear presented bouquets to Mrs Scott (Riwaka), Mrs W. Blick (Blenheim), and Miss L. Blick (Nelson), and buttonholes to Mr R. Black (Nelson), Mr Glidewell and Mr W. Hockey (Richmond), these six being the oldest members present. Mr Martin Blick gave an account of the early history of the church. All his grandparents, he said, were foundation members, and he was the third generation still in the church. Mr Blick mentioned that when Queen Victoria gave a charter for the foundation of Nelson City, she stipulated that all emigrants should be nominated by the clergy. A man named Horn founded the church with 13 members. Mr Blick went on to say that the church met one day to decide whether they would write home to the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon for a minister. While they were praying about it. word was brought that a ship (a great event in those days) was sailing up the bay. This ship had on board the Rev. D. Dolamore, a Baptist minister, who became the first minister of the Nelson Church in 1851 The speaker said that there was a good deal of correspondence in the press at that period, concerning the church, and baptising people in the Maitai, which was the custom at that time.

Mr F. Cullen also spoke and gave some humorous stories connected with bygone ministers. Mr Glidewell, who was an early trustee of the church, and at one time superintenderit of the Sunday School, spoke on the Christian Endeavour work.

Mr C. Kershaw, former secretary of the chuch, gave a wealth of interesting information relative to the church’s early history. Among other things he told how when short of funds on one occasion they decided to collect the pew-rents a quarter in advance, and on another occasion they increased the rents. During the Rev. Mr Cato’s time 35 young people were baptised on one occasion in the year 1882, some of these being present that evening. In those stern old days, said Mr Kershaw, the deacons disagreed with one particular minister and called upon him to resign. Upon his refusal they locked the church doors and refused to have a service until he went. During Mr Dolamore’s ministry a manse of two stories was built for the sum of £2OO. The present manse erected last year cost over five times that amount.

Mr R. Black gave reminiscences dealing principally with the Rev. Mr Bray’s ministry, and his association with the late Mr Thomas Pettit in the Sunday School. Mr Black was choirmaster for a number of years and later was associated with the work at Richmond.

The Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles, secretary of the Baptist Union, on behalf of the Union brought greetings and good wishes. The Nelson Church, he said, stood high in the esteem of the Union. It had always been a missionary church which accounted for much of its success, a number of its members having engaged in Christian work in foreign lands. ‘‘The sun never sets on Baptist missionaries,” said Mr Lascelles; “they are working all over the world; and although our numbers are small in New Zealand yet we stand first among the free churches of the world.”

Items were contributed by Mrs W. Hockey (recitation), Mrs A. Robertson, and Misses J. Wood and Y. Kerr (vocal

trio), and Mr F. Thomson (solo),