SPECIAL SERVICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27081, 16 May 1949, Page 6

SPECIAL SERVICES

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS DUNDAS STREET METHODIST CHURCH Special services were held in the Dundas Street Methodist Church yesterday to commemorate its seventieth anniversary. The Rev. P. I. Cooke, a former minister who is now stationed at Dargaville conducted the services, and visitors from many parts of New Zealand were present. The celebrations will be continued with a reunion evening to-morrow night and special services will agdin be held next Sunday The church was opened for public worship on April 20. 1879 and the Rev James Guy was the officiating minister During the following few years Dundas Street became the head of a circuit which iricluded causes at Kew, Ravensbourne, Glenroy, Abbotsford, Highcliff, and Sandymount. This meant long days and heavy work for the minister and local preachers, and on Sundays the circuit horse was seldom stabled before 11 p.m. The Sunday school building was erected and the church was enlarged in 1905, due largely to the energy of the Rev. William Laycock. This was an important occasion, remembered by many present members. About that time the Dundas Street Literary and Debating Society won many honours in the city. The first minister appointed after Methodist Union in 1913 was the Rev T. A. Pybus. who now lives at Ravensbourne. The Rev. P. I. Cooke conducted a helpful ministry during the depression years and is remembered for his help to those in need at that time. For the past three years the Rev. L. Greenslade. now of Trinity Church, Stiifrt street, ministered, being recently succeeded by the Rev. G. Trebilco.