METHODIST CHURCH

Southland Times, Issue 24056, 21 February 1940, Page 4

METHODIST CHURCH

CENTENNIAL SERVICES IN INVERCARGILL The celebration of the centennial of the arrival of the first Christian missionary in the South Island, the Rev. James Watkin, a Methodist minister, will begin in Invercargill on Sunday next. The Rev. E. T. Olds, of Auckland, who has just returned from a preaching tom- of Australia, will take the services at the Central Methodist Church. On Sunday, March 3, the Rev. Professor Albiston, M.A., 8.D., presi-dent-general of the Australian Methodist Church and professor of theology at Queen’s College, Melbourne University, will conduct services at the Central and St. Peter’s churches. He is the guest preacher- of the New Zealand Conference and is making a tour of the main centres. On Monday, March 4, Professor Albiston will be the guest of the Methodist laymen of Invercargill at a complimentary luncheon. A united centennial rally will be held the same evening in the Central' Church. Methodist services were first conducted at Invercargill in 1863 by Mr Whiting, a layman. In the morning they were held in the Police Court, on the site of the Chief Post Office, and in the evenings a building in Conon street was .used. The first church was opened in 1864 by the Rev. Isaac Harding and was situated on the North road. The South Invercargill cause, later known »s St. Peter’s, was begun in 1887.