WORK OF THE CHURCHES

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1932, Page 13

WORK OF THE CHURCHES

FIFTY YEARS’ EXPANSION METHODISTS FIRST IN FIELD. ORIGINALLY PART OF PATEA AREA To the Methodists belongs the honour of erecting the first church in Manaia. This was a little old wooden building which stood on the site of the present convent school. It was purchased later by the Roman Catholics and did service as a Hibernian Hall until recently, when it was removed and re-erected on a fresh site nearby. For many years the Methodist Church was the only church building in Manaia. At first the Waimate district was connected with the Patea circuit, and the ministers used to travel round the district either on horseback or by gig. Eventually the work became greater, and the district was attached to the Hawera circuit. Later several successive young single ministers were stationed at Manaia, and finally a separate circuit was created. In October, 1998, a J-acre section of land was bought from Mr. G. N. Curtis, of Stratford, at a cost of £4l, and the present church building was erected at a cost of £345. The original trustees of the Manaia church were Messrs: J. J. Patterson, E. Wills, A. Hansen, A. Young and W. G. Rutland.

The first minister of the newly established Manaia circuit was the Rev. H. E. Abbey, who took the appointment from 1907 to 1909. The following is a list of succeeding ministers; Rev. Wm. Avery 1909-10; Rev. W. A. Burley, 1910-12; Rev. J. F. Martin, 1912-13; Rev. R. Spiers (supply), 1913-14; Rev. W. Rowe, 1914-15; Rev. W. S. Neal, 1915-17; Rev. J. F. Parker, 1917-19; Rev. H. J. Odell, 1919-22; Rev. R. E. Fordyce, 1922-23; Rev. C. M. Roberts, 1923-26; Rev. H. C. Orchard, 1926-29; Rev. B. Dudley, 1929 to date. THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. LONG SERVICE RECORDS. The Presbyterian Church has been identified with Manaia practically since its inception. The first recorded meeting of the congregation took place on July 14, 1884, when there were present Messrs. Geo. Glenn, J. D. F. Christie, W. A. McKay and T. Dawson. The meeting appointed Mr. Glenn as a. delegate to attend a joint meeting of the Hawera and Manaia congregations at Hawera on the following day. The Waimate Plains district was°first worked from Hawera, but later a separate district was' established, and on May 24, 1885, the following managers were appointed at Manaia: Messrs. W. Hair, J. W. Stoddart, W'm. Shearer and A. C. Gibb. Mr. T. Dawson was appointed the first secretary and treasurer. The first Presbyterian services were held in the Methodist church and later in the courthouse, the Rev. Mr. McLean travelling out from Hawera to hold services fortnightly. In August, 1889, a Cornish, organ was purchased at a cost of £l4. lu October, 1889, Mr. Charles Carlson’s tender was accepted for the erection of a new church and this, the present building, was opened on March 30, 1890, by the Rev. McGrant, of New Plymouth. The members of the committee appointed after the opening of the new church were Messrs. R. Smart, J. W. Stoddart, Geo. Glenn, W. A. McKay, Selby, M. Reid, J. Milroy, W. Hicks and J. D. F. Christie. Miss Bobin was organist the year the church opened, and Mr. H. W. Bobin became organist in January, 1891. In. August, 1891, after severance from Hawera, it was decided to send a call to the Rev. A. MacLennan, of Auckland, and he ministered to the district for six years. Mrs. D. Leitch was appointed cleaner of the church in October, 1891, and for a long, unbroken period the family carried out these duties, Miss F. Leith performing the work after the death of her mother° until illness compelled her own retirement six months ago. In 1892 the first manse and section were obtained and in June 1908 a new manse was built for the minis I .

The church membership has grown steadily with the general progress of the district and is now nearly three times that of the first membership. At first the communion roll numbered 56; now it is 160.

The various ministers and their terms of office are: Rev. A. MacLennan 180197; Rev. W. H. Phillips, 1898-1905; Rev. P. Wilson, 1906-09; Rev. W. H. Howes, 1910-16; Rev. T. Tait, 1917-19; Rev. J. D. Smith, 1919-27; Rev. R. Miller, 1927 to date.

The following have been secretaries: Messrs. T. Dawson and R. Smart, 18011892; J. K. Law, 1892-99; Bruce Hair, 1899-1905; Jas Little, 1905-06; T. A. Bridge, 1906-1920; G. H. Meuli, 1920 to date.

The following have held office as treasurer: Messrs. T- Dawson and R. Smart, 1891-92; A. Sutherland, -1892-95; A. G. Bennett, 1895-1906; T. A. Bridge, 1906 to date.

The organists who have held office are Miss Bobin, Mr. H. W. Bobin, Miss Hair, Mies Grace Hair, Miss Duncan, Miss D. Parkinson, Miss C- M. Bridge (8j years), Miss B. H. Bridge, 1920 to date.

The members of the first session were Messrs. J. W. Stoddart end W. A. McKay. The following have been session clerks; Messrs. A. Sutherland, Rev. A. MacLennan. J. Honore, Rev. W. HPhilips, Rev. P. Wilson, T. A. Bridge 1909 to date (23 years).

It would be an incomplete record without mention of the splendid service rendered by Mr. T. A. Bridge. For 31 years he has been an elder, for 23 years he was session clerk, for 16 years treasurer and for 14 years secretary.

MANAIA ANGLICAN CHURCH. CONSTITUTION OF PARISH. In 1883 the Hawera parochial district was constituted, the large area of the Waimate Plains being included. The Manaia services were held in the courthouse for the first few years. The victar from 1883 to 1889 was the Rev. W. H. Roots. He was succeeded by the Rev. W. H. Kay, who held office until 189£ In 1892 the Waimate Plains parochial district was constituted, and this territory was separated from Hawera with a minister of its own. Ihe Rev.. J. W< Chapman was the first resident minister. He held office from 1892 to 1896. In 1893 St. John’s Church was built at Otakeho, and St. Cuthbert’s, Manaia, was built in 1894. From 1896 to 1901 the Rev. A. W. H. Compton, M.A., was vicar. Subsequent ministers were: Rev. H. T. Rawnsley,' 1902-06; Rev. D. C- Hampton (locum tenens), 1906-07; Rev. H. W. Klingender, 1907-09. . . In 1909 the parochial district of Manaia was constituted, and St. Aidan’s Church, Okaiawa, was erected in 1912. Since the Manaia parish was formed the following ministers have been in office: Rev. W. F. Stent, L.Th., 1909-14; Rev. A. T. B. Page, A.K.C., 1914-18; Rev. W. Tye, 8.A., 1918-20; Rev. S. Ogden, 1920-21; Rev. A. C. Swainson, B. 1921-27; Rev. C. W. Solomon, L.Th., 1927 to date. The church officers at the present time are: Churchwardens, Messrs. C. W. Abbott and W. J. Cryer; lay reader, Mr. H. C. Fendall; vestrymen, Messrs. H. C. Fendall, J. A. Hansen, V. H. Hobday, R. A. Johnstone, N. S. Mac Diarmid, W. Leppard, and J. Taylor. CATHOLIC CHURCH AT MANAIA. SPLENDID PARISH WORKERS. I Originally the Boman Catholics of Manaia belonged to the parish of Hawera, which on its establishment in 1875 embraced all Taranaki south of .Mt. Egmont, an area that is now divided into several flourishing parishes. It was during the pastorate of Father Mulvihill, 1884-1898, Hawera’s fourth parish priest, that the first step was taken to establish in Manaia a separate centre of Catholic activity. This whs ■ the building of an attractive and com- i modious church that has given excellent j service right down to the present time, i The next step was the establishment; of a parish school and the introduction ; of the Sisters of St. Joseph by Mon-; signor Power in 1899. The latter, in his > historical sketch of the parish of! Hawera published in 1 1925, has some-) thing to say of the difficulties with i which he was faced in this task. We: read here, that his efforts were en- j thusiastically seconded. “The chief or- i o-anisers of this work were Messrs.; Michael Franklin and the late Philip j McCarthy, who had been for years the i very life of religion in Manaia. They j had valiant helpers in. Mesdames Jos.. McCarthy, Hodgson, Hughes, Beck, i Shanahan, Landers and Knight; the I brothers McPhillips, though ten miles distant, were as eager and busy as any, as were also Mr. Ned Long and. his wife. Hawera, anxious to give a helping hand, sent Mrs. Bernard McCarthy and Miss Power, who, joining forces with Mrs. McVicar, made her stall the most successful at the Convent bazaar.”, Manaia \was made the centre of an independent parish in January, 1910. Father Bergin was the first parish priest in charge. The parishioners built and furnished a fine presbytery for him. Father Saunderson came to Manaia as pastor in 1913. He was succeeded by Father John Kelly. During the three years he was parish priest the convent was enlarged and a start was made at raising a fund for a new school. His successor, the late Father O Dwyer, at once took up the scheme. In this, he was supported by the generous contributions of his parishioners and the able assistance of an efficient committee including Messrs. William Duggan, Cosgrove, °Long, Mourie and J. Hickey. The result was an up-to-date Convent school at a cost of £2300, which Father O’Dwyer had the statisfaction of seeing completed a short time before his death in November, 1930. The present parish priest is Father Butler. The parish of Manaia includes the church, and. flourishing congregations at Okaiawa and Auroa. In the Manaia parish there is a branch of.. the Hibernian Catholic Benefit Society. It has for its president Mr. C. L. Wilcox. The list of past presidents includes the names of Messrs. Garrigan Mourie, James Bourke, James O’Donnell, D. Bourke, Landers, Lynskey, Dunn, Daley, Shanahan, Joyce and Walsh The present secretary is Mr. J. A. G. Cosgrove, who has the distinction of being one of the longest term secretaries of the society. His . predecessors were Messrs. J. J. Hodgson and J. J. Meldon.