CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27157, 12 August 1949, Page 3

CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

Baptists’ Diamond Jubilee Sixty-five years ago a small company of people, brought together by a common faith and bound by a common loyalty, held preliminary meetings in the home of Mr J. Angus, Reed street, Oamaru, to discuss the advisability of forming a Baptist Church in Oamnru. Their plans were further advanced as the result of a conference with tile Revs. Alfred North and Charles Bright, of Dunedin, held on July 8, 1883. On August 13 of the same year, at a meeting held in die lecture hall of the Athenaeum, the church was formally constituted with a foundation membership of 23. A Sunday school had been commenced a month previously. For some six months the Baptist services were held first in the old Tees street hall, and later in the Athenns.im building. Then, largely as a result of the generosity of Ihe late Mr Gideon Rutherford, who gave the site in Severn street on which the church now stands, the congregation went ahead with plans to erect its own church premises. In July, 3889, the church was opened practically free of debt. The services on that occasion, which wore largelv attended, were conducted by the Rev. Alfred North. On the day the church was opened the Sunday school commenced in new surroundings under the charge of the late Mr George Carrad. During the 65 years of its existence in Oamnru. the Baptist Churcfc has been steadfastly loyal to its foundation principles of evangelical faith. Ministers and leading members have taken a prominent part in the civic and social life of the town. The members have always been readily sympathetic to anv wort v philanthropic cause. The church ha's been enthusiastically mi-sionary, contributing regularly to mission work in New Zealand and overseas. Two of the early members, the Rev. Mr and Mrs Robert Elder, rendered conspicuous missionary service in Argentina. The sixtieth anniversarv of the opening of the church building will bo celebrated on Sunday, when special services wi’l be conducted by the Rev. P. F. Lanvon general secretary of the Baptist Union o: New Zealand. At the morning service a communion table and chairs, purchased in honour ol the early foundation members, will be dedicated. At the evening service the Mayor. Mr M. F. E. Cooney, and borough councillors, will attend. On Tuesday, there will be a church tea in St. Paul's Hall, followed bv a social gathering in the Baptist Church.