BERESFORD ST. CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19779, 28 October 1927, Page 12

BERESFORD ST. CHURCH.

CONGREGATIONAL PROGRESS SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY. The seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Beresford Street Congregational Church will be celebrated by the opening to-morrow afternoon of the new hall by the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson. On Sunday special anniversary services will be held in the hall in the afternoon, and at the Town Hall in the evening. The church was founded in Mai;ch, 1852, by the Rev. Thomas Hamer, who came to New Zealand under the auspices of the Colonial Missionary Society. The original members numbered 21, and the first services were held in a cottage in Albert Street. On this site was erected two years later the building which was occupied until recently by the Auckland Central Mission. The building was enlarged in 1864 to accommodate both church and Sunday School. In 1866 Mr Hamer resigned owing to failing health and his place was filled by the Rev. J T. Warlow Davies, who was selected in England for the pastorate. The present church property was purchased in October, 1869, and the school hall, which is now divided into classrooms was erected and used as a church until the end of 1875. Such rapid progress was made that a larger building became necessary, and *on February 20, 1876. the first service was held in the present church in Beresford Street. In the following August Mr. Davies resigned to carry on his work sn New South Wales His successors were the Rev. Joseph Robertson, 1877 to 1886; Rev. James Chew 1887 to 1893; Rev. George Burgess, 1893 to 1897; Rev. Joseph Parker, 1898 to 1900: Rev. John Wilkms 1900 to IS 07; Rev. Steele Craik, 1908 to 1912; Rev. Robert Mitchell, 1912 tc 1915; and the Rev. Frederic Warner, 1915 to 1922. At this thru th» advisability of closing the church was considered. An appeal was made however, to the Colonial Missionary Society with the result that in May, 1924. the Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher took charge Under his guidance the activities of the church have grown to such an exten' that the available buildings have become inadequate and it has been found necessary to hold Sunday evening services in the Majestic Theatre and to build the new hall in order to extend the work of the church among the young people of the city