RUSSELL CHURCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22380, 28 March 1936, Page 10

RUSSELL CHURCH

CENTENARY SERVICES CELEBRATION TO-MORROW PLACE OF, HISTORIC INTEREST Celebrating to-morrow the centenary of its historic church, Russell attracts the interest of all New Zealand. It was in this building that Captain Hobson, on January 30, 1840, read the commissions and proclamations on which all his task of establishing British rule in those islands was based. -Hie instructions placed the negotiation of the treaty of cession before this formal declaration of the extending of tha bounds of New South "W ales to include these islands, with himself as thei:: Lieutenant-Governor; but he decided, after .xleliberation and conference of which there is no available detail, but sufficient knowledge to authenticate his procedure, to reverse its order. Hence Kororareka, as Russell was then, became the scene of his offical landing; and tlio church, the plac'3 of his fornial declaration of British sovereignty'. Conclusion of the desiired treaty of cession soon afterwards ratified his actiou. Christ Church, to give the building its chosen name, is consequently a nat.onal monument, a historic treasure in the possession of which Russell has reason to be proud. Its intimate and continuous religious history, however, males the centenary celebration highly important, quite apart from that constitutional event. By means the first church to be built in New Zealand, it i:5 now the oldest survivor of the farlv building operations of the Church Missionary Society. Date of Erection

When Qaptain Hobson availed him-,-self, with the society's permission, of its use as that of the largest public building in the only considerable township in the Bay of Islands, it had been in existence for about four years. The dati> of its opening is still a matter for rest-arch. Nevertheless, there are extant / two records by Mr. (afterwards the Rev.) Charles Baker, who as a cat'-ichist of the mission supervised the erection of the building. In one report, datisd November 2, 1835, he says that the churth was getting ready for use, but that much time and expense would -- fee required to complete it; in another, dati;d March 20, 1836, he says that - regular services, native and English, were being held in it. He gives the dimensions as 50ft. by r 3of:., and adds that it would admit of a gallery. Its roof, as early photographs shoir, was not so lofty as the present one,, but its walls were relatively high. Tha actual work of the building, under Mr. Baker's oversight, was entrusted to Mr. Charles Nesbit, whom the Church Missionary Society had sent from England in 1834 to erect churches. Contributions to the building fund of Christ Church date from that year. ißontributions to Building Fund In a list still preserved appear many names destined to be long associated with the history of "the Bay." Beside the many donors were some miristers of the T\ esleyan Missionary Society, a number of whaleship captains, and "Captain Fitzßoy, Mr. Chjis. Darwin and the officers of H.M.S. ' Beagle," who together gave £ls. This > vesiiel was on a world cruise for marine surveying and scientific work, young Charles Darwin being attached as laaturalist. The visit of a few days to the Bay of Islands—the only port of call in//New Zealand—occurred in the closing days of 1835. . Ilishop Broughton, the first Anglican - prelate of Australia, preached in the church on a Sunday in December, 183!?, and about a month later consecrated the graveyard. This burial groind has become famous, for in it resit the mortal remains of Tamati Waaka Nene and his wife Ruth (their monument was erected by the Government), more than one Consul of the United States (American whaleships made in early days much use of the bay), and. men of H.M.S. Hazard, who fell on the day in 1845 when Kororareki was sacked in the course of the War of the North. Many other graves of interest are there, the tombstones recording much history. It is known that on the east side of the church, -which is built north and south, instead of being oriented, many early graves exisit, although these are nearly all unmarked. Relics ol a Tragic Day The church, as is well known, bears thu marks of bullets and of one roundshot from the Hazard, vivid mementoes of the day that ended for a while the active career of old Kororareka. On thst dav Bishop Selwvn and the Rev. Henry Williams were busily engaged in succouring' the distressed and burying the dead. With the restored flagstaff on Maiki Hill overlooking the present toT-nship, Christ Church remains an impressive memorial of that difficult tl The lafid, in which it is centrally situated, was a gift from the Maoris as a site, for a church and burialground, a stipulation being made by them that natives should have right of burial equal with Europeans, and without the payment of any charge. Lhev have helped to keep the graveyard in - orcer, a work to which the Government has contributed a small subsidy, bu 4 5 credit for its present attractive appearance belongs mainly to tne unobtrusive enthusiasm of some local residents. , , , , In the details of the celebrations tomorrow both IVLaori and pakeha interests have recognition: Holy Communion at 8 and 11 a.m., Archbishop Averill • being the preacher and celebrant at the latter service; an afternoon service at 2.?!0 in Maori' and evensong at 7. A large attendance of visitors for the day is expected.