PIONEER MISSIONARIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19156, 23 October 1925, Page 12

PIONEER MISSIONARIES.

THE WILUAMS MEMORIAL. NEW CHURCH AT PAIHIA. A PICTURESQUE BUILDING. Deep historic interest centres round the Williams Memorial Church, recently erected at Paihia to commemorate the centenary of the arrival at Bay of Islands of those noble pioneer missionaries, Henry and William Williams. The church has been erected by members of the Williams family, and the foundation stone was laid last summer by Mr. T. S. Williams, the oldest surviving descendant of Archdeacon Williams. The consecration will take place next January and the occasion will be marked by a notable gathering of members of the various branches of the Williams family. The new church, for which Messrs. Gerald Jones and Palmer were the architects, is a picturesque little building in Gothic design, with a slate roof and a handsome copper spire. The builders were Messrs. Brook and Neame, of Auckland. The stone of which the church is built is of an excellent quality of Milestone, quarried at Taumarere, near Opua. Ihe walls are built in random rubble, both inside and out, 2ft. thick, and the chancel is divided by a stone arch 26ft. high, xhe roof is constructed with hammer beam trusses of heavy kauri timbers. As far as was possible, New Zealand materials have been used for the building and furnishing. Many historic associations are connected with the church and ite surroundings. Itis. built in the churchyard of the_ old building, which has been removed to Taumarere. This was not this original church erected by Messrs. Williams, but the old framework was used when the church was rebuilt, and although 90 years had passed since the timbers were first _ laid, the framework was found in a fairly sound condition when the building was lately removed. The church-gates are the original on.es brought out from England by Mr. Henry Williams over 100 years ago, and tne bell which hangs in the copper spire belonged to the original church. It was housed not in the church itself, but in a tiny belfry built in a tree outside, and for over half a century, its musical peal has tolled out over the quiet waters of Paihia. The organ, too, holds interesting historic associations, and is said to be one of the first which found its way to New Zealand. For many years it has been used in the Paihia Church, and is now in Auckland undergoing repairs by Mr. G. Croft, in readiness for its new sphere of usefulness. The church will seat a congregation of 150, and new furniture is now being made in Auckland to match the interior design, which is picturesque and old-fashioned and in keeping with the historic associations which the building commemorates. An interesting feature of the church is its strong-room, where the Russell Church records and valuable historic documents dealing with the establishment of the mission at Paihia will be stored.