CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 750, 24 August 1929, Page 13

CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

PAPATOETOE CELEBRATION SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS’ WORK To mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Papatoetoe, celebrations commenced this afternoon, and will continue tomorrow in the form of special thanksgiving services. Such an event recalls many interesting experiences of the past century, and a history which indicates the rapid growth and progr(*ss of the Otahuhu and Papatoetoe districts. It was as far back as August, 1554, that the Rev. John Macky, M.A., arrived in Auckland from the North of Ireland, and commenced a ministry of 36 years, which first started with his preaching in Mr. Baird’s store on the banks of the Tamaki River. Thus was established the second Presbyterian Church in and around Auckland. Mrs. S. C. Baird, who was a member of the original congregation, still survives, and although she is in her 94th year, she continues to take a keen interest in the activities of the church. It was in 1855 that Mr. Thomas Baird gave the site in Great South Road on which the church and hall stand. The church was erected that year and was enlarged three years later. This, however, soon became too small for the rapidly growing congregation, and in 1863 a new church was built which served until 1923, when an imposing brick building was constructed. For a number of years the church was known as he Otara Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Macky was an able pioneer, and it is handed to him as laying the foundation of Presbyterianism in the scattered districts of Papatoetoe, Otahuliu, Tamaki, Howick and Mangere. In 1890 he was obliged to resign the active duties of the ministry owing to his total loss of sight, and in the following year he passed away. With the death of Mr. Macky, the Rev. 11. J. Steele, M.A., who had been appointed assistant in 1884, became the minister of the charge. In 1902 he resigned after a ministry which had been most acceptable to the people, and his place was taken by the Rev! A. Doull, of Rangiora, who carried on the fine work of those before him until 1910, when he left for Palmerston North. His successor was the Rev. C. hi- Porter, who laboured earnestly among his people until 1923, when his death occurred. It was in July of 1923 that the present minister, the Rev. T. H. Roseveare, late of Cambridge, took over the ministry, and with him the work continued to prosper, until now there is a membership of 220. A reunion of past and present members of the church was held in the hall adjoining the church this afternoon. A special musical programme was arranged, and addresses were given by members of the Auckland Presbytery and others. Special thanksgiving services will be held in the church tomorrow. In the morning the speaker will be the Rev. W. J. Comrie, formerly treasurergeneral and Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. The evening service will be conducted by the Rev. W. D. Morrison-Sutherland, Moderator of the Auckland Presbytery.