RUSSELL'S HISTORIC CHURCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22628, 16 January 1937, Page 15

RUSSELL'S HISTORIC CHURCH

Sir, —1 wonder whether you will permit an Australian visitor to mingle a word of appreciation with a plea for action. This week, during a stay at Russell, I had one of the great experiences of my life in visiting Christ Church, the oldest church in New Zealand. My admiration is unbounded for those who care for the flower beds and lawns of the churchyard, where so many of the early settlers rest. Never have 1 seen a "sacred acre" in such line condition; and, it was a delight to see parishioners at work mowing the? grass between the graves with every mark of devotion and pride. All this is in pleasing contrast to many of our neglected Australian cemeteries. On entering the historic church, however, one has other feelings. One was immediately saddened by the marks of the desecration wrought by excursionists on Sunday last, but the saddest sight to a visitor was the signs of dilapidation in the building itself. We noticed, l'or example, many places in the shingled roof where daylight could be seen. Two windows bad broken panes of glass and were stuffed with dirty rags to keep out the weather. One pane of glass was out altogether. the opening being veiled by a faded piece of cloth. The quaint gallery stairs yield under pressure for want of a carpenter's attention, and the gallery lias been supported by an undressed piece of timber in striking contrast to the dressed pillars provided by New Zealand's first church builders. It seemed strange that the centenary of this famous church could have passed and such decay still exist. 1 trust that I shall not be considered impertinent if 1 suggest two courses of action. First, it would appear that tourists should be appealed to for financial assistance to restore the edifice. We noted that in the first twelve days of this year, 650 visitors had taken the trouble to sign the visitors' book, and we wondered whether some general appeal to visitors and others could not be launched in order to place the building in first-class order. Surely many non-Anglicans would be willing to assist in the preservation of this national monument. One would like to csce fragments of the history of the church placed in prominent positions, and some of the fading inscriptions on Tombstones saved from oblivion. Secondly, one would respectfully suggest to "the church authorities that the church should he dedicated as a shrine, ft place of prayer for the future relations of Maori and British people. The walls of the church bear the marks of bullets fired during the fighting of 1845. What more fitting than that on the same walls there should be affixed an invitation to tourists, to kneel and pray for the future of the two peoples whose destines are so closely interworked in this beautiful Dominion? I feel sure that a few moments of such l/rayer in the Anglican Church at Russell would send many an Australian back to bis own land better able to cope with our Aboriginal problem. May the rising generation in both New Zealand and Australia learn to make the most of such sacred places as Christ Church, Russell. Donovan F. Mitchell. Armadale, Victoria.