Fairburn Church Anniversary

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 17, 26 January 1934, Page 9

Fairburn Church Anniversary

Twenty-fifth Anniversary Services and History of Church Foundation and progress during the period

The twenty-fifth anniversary of of the Fairburn Methodist Church was commemorated last Sunday the 21st. inst. when special services were held, the congregation being representative not only of Fairburn and the immediate surroundings, but of a large part of the County. The President of the N.Z. Methodist Conference Rev. A. J. Seymour, who was also present at the opening of the Church, twenty-five years ago, was not able to attend the services. It was regretted that at the time when the Fairburn people were commemorating the anniversary of the opening of the Church, the Minister who was in charge of the district at that time, Rev. C. Aker, is seriously ill. For those members of the congregation who had come a distance, lunch was served by ladies of the locality. The Church building, after being repainted both outside and inside and with a handsome new pulpit, the work of Rev. J. M. Blight and Mr. A. G. Buckingham, did not show its 25 years, and stood as a credit to any community and a witness to the faith and energy of its builders, many of whom have passed on. k The morning service was taken by the Rev. J. M. Blight, the Methodist Minister in charge of this district, who took as his text the Epistle to the Hebrews, Chapter 11, verse 8—“ By faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance. obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went” and delivered a powerful address, of which the following is a precis:— “These words call to mind the early days of this wonderful man, Abraham. While realising the ideal situation of the place in which he was living, he was willing to venture forth, and to sever the threefold tie of land" and people and home —because God called him. His faith was (1) That which led him to venture forth; and (2) built on his trust in God’s never-failing word. Life today is a great venture; calling for the exercise of faith, faith that is of the venturesome type, and that is nourxished by spiritual means. As a body of Christian people we must not rest on past achievements. The world today, if ever, needs men and women of strong Christian principle and oonvietion, who are willing to venture out and to attempt great things for God. The next 25 years must see us with willing hearts and willing hands that are willing to do God's will. Then this place will become a spiritual centre from which radiates a gracious, yet compelling, Christian influence that is felt in home, in social, and in community life." The afternoon service was conducted by the Rev. W. H. Nicholas, the Presbyterian Minister in this district, who after a short interesting address to the younger members of the congregation, delivered an inspiring sermon, taking as his text—- “ Better is the end of a thing, than the beginning thereot.”—Eccles. Chapter 9 verse 8 * “The beginning and ending of every event in our lives and experience is the part that matters most to us. As individuals, a good beginning with purpose maintained, will mean an end accomplished and the realisation of a purpose achieved, so with the united efforts of a community for a social or religious ideal; in the beginning there is the joy of planning and work, hut the greater joy is the fulfilment of the purpose arrived at, and each can say “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.” So the Church and what it signifies in looking backward for the past twentyfive years has before it the joy of a dream realised. A vision became tact, the power of the gospel not only preached in the pulpit, but lived in the lives of men and women and the people who planned in the past can say today “better is the end than even the beginning." Looking backward is right but the real duty of life is "going forward" and the end is but the beginning of a new experience, a new task. To this we come with the lessons learnt in the past which • will enable us to plan more truly so as the new era opens before you as a Christian people. Plan it for God and His Gospel as revealed through our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, for He is the Be- » ginning and End of all things.” The final service for the day, that in the evening was conducted by Mr. G. S. Chapman, who taking a» his subject “Faithfulness" delivered a stirring appeal to the people gathered.

“This is one of the greatest qualities one can possess. We need to be emphatic in our description of moral qualities for after all we live upon faithfulness. It is this very quality that has given us this place of worship. Men who were faithful to their sincere promptings and whose promptings came into action. It is faithfulness that has kept it in existence in all the years past. It is this same element that has prompted men of today to renovate and brighten up this house of God, and we hope in the future this same quality will still be evident in the Christian life of worshippers. None of us may we be great men or women, but we can serve God pre-eminently by faithfulness. And as we enter upon the Sicond term of 25 years of Christian service let us take heart, take our estimate from God who is faithful above all. Let our trust be in Him. We must work toward lofty ideals, but let us not be discouraged if our attainments are not high. There is a splendour that is possible for the least of mankind. Goodness born of faithfulness is the only enduring brilliance. Live so that it will be said of you “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” Life is a challenge and we are so made as to respond and as Christian men and wemen, we are here to make this world of ours better. We are expected to have faith and take a risk. This brings us to the thought of an ideal. And it is everything to have a noble, a high ideal. Let me say there is no ideal presented to us equal in Character to the Man Jesus Christ. If it should be that you fall, fall with your face toward your ideal, never give up, bear in mind there is a path that other men have trodden and succeeded. Those who have gone before us here in this place, had their bill-top experiences and the opposite. In the years that are before us let us strive more fervently to attain to the highest ideals, being faithful in all that our hands find to do." Mr. Bruce Foster, as organist, assisted materially at the services.

History of Church We are indebted to the Rev. J. M. Blight, and the trustese of the Fairburn Methodist Church for the following brief history of the Church. On May 2nd, 1908, a Building Committee, consisting of Rev. Aker, Messrs A. Stevens (Chairman), N. Buckingham, C. Christensen, T. Whitehead, W. H. Eaves, H. Carse, T. Coulter, J. W. Hoskin (Treasurer) and T. J. Coulter (Secretary), met to make the initial arrangements for the erecting of a Church building at Fairburn. A site of a quarter acre section on Duncan’s Road was offered by Mr. T. Coulter and this was gratefully accepted. On October 3, it was decided to acoept a tender of £36 for labour only, submitted by Weber and Kenny, contractors, of Kaeo. The foundation stone was laid in October, the ceremony being performed by Mr. George Wilkinson, County Chairman. A Bible for the Pulpit was donated by Mr. S. Foster of Oruaiti. The official opening ceremony took place on Saturday, January 16th, 1909 and was performed by Rev. Spence of Auckland. The following day, January 17th, three services were conducted, by Rev. Spence, Rev. Aker and Rev. Seamer. On January 18th, the day followingthe opening services, the first wedding in the Church was solemnised, the contracting parties being Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Hoskin. The happy couple were presented with a Family Bible, the gift of the trustees. In November 1910 a Church bazaar which realised £79 was responsible for the clearing off of all debt. On 25th April, 1922, a memorial tablet to those in this district who had laid down their lives in the Great War, was erected in the Church. The unveiling ceremony was performed by the late Mr, T. Wallace. On May 11th, 1922, a new trust was elected, consisting of Messrs A. Stevens, J. P. Coulter, H. Parker, 0. Fisher, J. M. Dawson, R. B. Coulter, W. Metcalfe, C. Christensen and T. J. Coulter. During October 1924 the Church was painted and small renovations carried out. In 1933 the Church was very fortunate in having a beautiful organ given by the trustees of the Remuera Methodist Church. This instrument has added not a little to the helpfulness of the services. In August 1933 a committee was set up to consider what improvements to the property could be effected to fittingly celebrate the 25th anniversary, which fell due on January 1934. As a result of this it was decided to erect a new pulpit and paint the Church both inside and out. This has been done and now a beautiful building is open for the use of worship.

The following is a list of Ministers who have laboured in the district during the 25 years. Revs. Aker, G. W. Pittendreigh, C. H. Kendon, J. H. Combes, W. T. Blight, W. Bowden, F. G. Brown, J. Reid, G. H. Cule, E. Clarke, H. W. M. Payne, C. G. Bycroft, B. H. Teague, W. M. Jones, R. T. Wearne, R. Grice', I. M. Raynor and J. M. Blight.

As a result of the efforts of the people and the proceeds from the concert, the trustees of the Fairburn Methodist Church had in hand more than sufficient to pay for the materials required for the re-painting and renovation of the Churoh the work having been carried out by a band of volunteer workers.