FAIRLIE CHURCH JUBILEE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21088, 14 July 1938, Page 3

FAIRLIE CHURCH JUBILEE

Presbyterianism In Mackenzie County

Union Churches Preparations are already in hand for the celebration next March of two important Mackenzie Presbyterian jubilees; one is the sixtieth anniversary of the opening of St. Columba Church, and the other is the fiftieth anniversary of the formation of the Mackenzie County parish as a separate charge. As a jubilee thanksgiving effort, the exterior of the Church has been renovated and a new fence erected, the total cost of the improvements being £l4O. Later in the year a move will be made to renovate the whole of the interior of the Church.and Sunday School. By the time of the jubilee celebrations, it is hoped that the appearance of the Church and its grounds will be worthy of the occasion. Funds are also being raised to supply furnishings for the Sunday School and vestry. A new pulpit Bible and pulpit furnishings have already been given in memory of the pioneer workers of the Church, and will shortly be dedicated. The history of St. Columba Church is partly that of a Unic Church; and in the same way, the history of the Anglican and Presbyterian communions in the Mackenzie County is connected. As far back as 1865 services were held In the district by the Rev. George Barclay who, from Timaru, covered a parish of some 7000 square miles. With dauntless missionary courage he went into the furthest backblocks and played a large part in the erection of the Union Church at Burke's Pass.

On December 20, 1877, a public meeting was held at ‘‘Fairlie Creek” with the hev. George Barclay in the chair, and it was resolved to build a Union Church. A committee was set up comprising Messrs Donald McLean (chairman), S. Gillingham, Allan H. McLean, H. Welsh and W. Close. A building to accommodate 100 people was planned. Messrs Gillingham, D. McLean and Hamilton all offered sites, and it was eventually decided to accept the land belonging to Mr McLean because of its central position. Fairlie’s First Church For the erection of the first Church in Fairlie, Mr W. Annand. the assistant county engineer, offered his services as ' architect free. A tender of £395 was I accepted for a concrete building, and after many annoying delays, the Fairlie Union Church was opened in 1879 by the Rev. George Barclay, who at that time was working his parish from Geraldine, and the Rev. James Preston. The last named was in charge of the Geraldine Anglican Parish, which in those days included the Mackenzie County. The name "St. Columba" was not given to the Church until 1896, when it became wholly# Presbyterian. In later years, various additions and extensions have been made to the Church; in 1899, a Sunday School nd vestry were erected by Mr J. Riddle at a cost of £313. After the death of her husband in 1907, Mrs A H. McLean presented the present pulpit in memory of him, and later also gave stained glass windows. In 19' •, a transept to extend the seating accommodation was added at a cost of £425. A new organ costing £125 was installed in 1925; a communion table was given by the Bible Classes, and a baptismal font by the Sunday School in 1935. Since 1895 several hundreds of pounds worth of additions and improvements have been effected.

It was in 1895, owing to the growth of the population in the district, that a new movement was begun to investigate the possibility of one denomination buying the other’s share in the Church in pursuance of a clause in the original agreement. The Presbyterian interest in the Church was approximately two-thirds and the Anglican interest about one-third, and that fact influenced the final arrangement under which the Anglicans sold their share. Dual control of the uhurch ceased in 1895, when the Anglican interest was purchased. Until *1896, when St. Stephen’s Church was opened, both denominations continued to use St. Columba Church. Creditable Partnership

When the Fairlie Union Church became entirely Presbyterian property a partnership ended which was almost unique in the religion history of New Zealand. It was a partnership of bradmindedness made by men and women living in the solitude of a wide countryside; another sacred idea * s et could be said to have had its origin in the wilderness. There are now no longer Union Churches at Burke’s Pass and Fairlie, but that they once existed is an indication of the spirit that characterised the pioneers. That something of that spirit remains is seen by the fact that Presbyterian services can be held in St. David’s Anglican Church at Lake Tekapo, while Anglican services can be held in the Presbyterian Church at Burke’s Pass.

Mr England Gillingham, representing the Anglican congregation, was the first Mackenzie lay reader. He was drowned in the wreck of the Tararua and a monument to his memory stands in the grounds of St. Columba Church; it is also a monument to the Union Church days now remembered by only a few.

Burke’s Pass Church As the first church building in the Mackenzie County was at Burke’s Pass, no outline of the history of the Presbyterian jubilee would be complete without reference to it. The Church grew out of a public meeting held on August 26, 1871, in Stansell’s Accommodation House. Mr John Burges? had already given land for a site. The motion carried was: "That this place of worship be opened to members of the Church of England, the Presbyterians and the Roman Catholics.” Dr. Kimbell and Messrs Burgess and Ensor were the original trustees, and the addition of Messrs Melville Gray,

Spanding and Robertson made the committee of management, which had equal representation for Anglicans and Presbyterians. An interesting sidelight on the early days is presented by the fact that for the Burke’s Pass Church, Mr Dugald MacFarlane carved the reading desk and lectern, Mr Smith, of Rollesby Station, paid the cost of fencing material, and Mr Coulson gave his time for the erection of the fencing. The Rev. George Barclay (Presbyterian) and the Rev. George Cooper (Anglican) opened the church.

Until 1918, the small church at Burke’s Pass was the joint property of the Presbyterian and Anglican denominations. In that year, Mrs Catherine Ross bequeathed money to repair the “Presbyterian Church at Burke’s Pass,” and before the money could be acquired lawfully, the Presbyterians had to purchase the financial interest of the Church of England. The purchase was duly arranged, and the bequest used. But the passing of time has made Fairlie the county centre, and the need for the church at Burke’s Pass has declined, although monthly services are still held there.

A historical record of the work of the Presbyterian Church in the Mackenzie County is being prepared, and will be completed for the jubilee celebrations next March.

football The Mackenzie sole selector (Mr G. Giddings) requires the following players to assemble at the bandroom, Fairlie, on Saturday night: A. Crampton, A. Carlton, P. Perry, A. Sheridan, F. Greer, A. Simpson, L. Carnegie, N. McVey, R. Cook, R. Crampton, A. Mills (forwards); I. Simpson, J. Keenan, S. Donaldson, A. Smith, A. Kane, W. Cordes, C. Goulter, M. Saunders, C. Cowan, B. Hopkinson and G. Dewar. PERSONAL Miss Mollie Chapman, of Timaru, has been appointed to the staff of the C.F.C.A., Fairlie. “CRAIG’S WIFE* A diverting story of a coldly houseproud wife, “Craig’s Wife,” the Pulitzer prize play of 1937, featuring John Boles, Rosalind Russell and Billie Burke, will be screened at the De Luxe Theatre, Fairlie, at 8 o’clock this evening. Rosalind Russell appears in the title role as the implacable, calculating wife who segregated her home and husband from everything worth while in order to ensure her financial independence. Variety supports will be screened.