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Otago Daily Times, Issue 19204, 21 June 1924, Page 4

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DIAMNOD JUBILEE. To morrow special services will be held in Green T shncl Pro« , '' , erian Church to mark its dh-mond juh‘ ! > Green Island was disjoined fmm Res l '' aleri and organised into a separate congregation in Decani '■ er, 1852. lap it was not till June, 1 r 6* ‘hat the Rev Dr Waft entered upon long (nere. It is this latter date that is heirs commemorated to-mor-row and at a social gathering next Thursdav evenin.tr Green Island, in the verv enrlv days, was connected with Dunedin under the pastorate of the venerable' Dr Burns, who occasionally nreached in the nioponr school in the bush, and also in the church erected near the present manse. Needless to snv. Dr P'Urn s was made heartily welcome, and hosnitaHy treated in the homes of the settlers, and his memory was held in gratetul remembrance. In 1855 Green Island became part of the pastorate of the late William Will, who came and nreached every third Sabbath with great accentanco. In January. 1862, the first office-bearers were elected, their names being-;—Richard Kunciman. James Neill. WhlHa-ra' Afnrtin, John Johnson (elders). David Howden, David Andrew. James Runciman, and John Blair (deacons). On December 26. 1862. Green Island was disjoined from TDist Taieri, and organised into a separate congregation, with all its rights and privileges, one of the most important being the power to call a minister. Several eligible candidates appeared. but there was a want of unanimity until tho Rev. Michael Watt arrived, and he was induced to become pastor. It would be difficult to over-estimate the services rendered bv Dr Watt to tho congregation during his long pastorate of close bn 52 years, from June. 1864, to April, 1903. and to gauge the esteem in which ho was held bv all classes of tho community It was during Dr Watt’s pastorate that the first mooting house at Walton Park was erected, and also the handsome church, which is so conspicuous in tho township. be cost of this building, of which Messrs Mason and Wales were the architects, was about *.1700, £llOO of which was subscribed at one meeting alone. The foundation stone was bud Vm Mr John Cargill, sop of Captain Cargill (the leader of the first hand of immigrants in K4B, and a descendant of Donald Cargill, of Covenanting fame), and was coenod for public worship) on Sabbath. May 5. 1878. Tho Rev. Mr Will conducted the morning service. Dr Stuart the afternoon, and Professor Salmond the evening. After Dr Watt’s removal the present minister, the Rev. J. Kilpatrick, was selected to fill the vacancy, and during his period of office the operations of the congregation have been greatly extended.