ST. ANDREWS DIAMOND JUBILEE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21816, 20 November 1940, Page 9

ST. ANDREWS DIAMOND JUBILEE

Presbyterian Church A Peric djf Progress The diamond jubilee of the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church was celebrated recently. The festivities included a jubilee tea in the Church hall, and a thanksgiving service conducted by the Rev. A. McNeur. In referring to the jubilee, Mr McNeur gave thanks to God for what the Church had meant In the St. Andrews district and for the continued loyalty of the congregation. Seated at the head of the table at the jubilee tea were the Revs. F. H. Wilkinson (Trinity), J. H. Reid (Orari), G. McNeur (Missionary from China), M. Wilson (Chalmers). A. McNeur (St. Andrews) and Mrs B. E. Evans. The jubilee cake was decorated with six candles, each representing a decade of Church history. Four of the oldest parishioners, Mrs Robt. Hutton (Otipua), Mrs Martin and Mrs Brunton (Otaio) and Mrs Moyle (Springbrook) were called on to light and extinguish the candles and cut the cake. Early Officers Mr McNeur in referring to the history of the Church welcomed Mr Robt. Hutton of Beaconsfield (now called Otlpua) to the jubilee gathering. Mr Hutton was treasurer 60 years ago and was in office when the first Manse was built at Beaconsfield on the north side of the Pareora River in the year 1882. This building stands in good repair at the present time. Mr A. Ward, Southburn, clerk of the Church Session, paid a tribute to the progressive spirit of the pioneers who held services and conducted Sunday schools in private dwellings throughout the district. Churches were later built at St. Andrews (1901), Southburn (1906), and Otaio (1913). The first Church Session (an interim one) was formed at Walmate in 1896, there being present the Rev. Mr Kelly, Messrs McTaggart and Smith. In 1899 a permanent Session was elected comprising Messrs David Martin, John Campbell and James Bowie (Session Clerk). In 1904 Messrs G. Lyall, A. Goodall, G. Cocks, J. W. Shaw and A. Nicol were appointed to the Session. Mr G. Lyall was appointed Session Clerk in 1910. The first mention of Church managers was In 1899 when Messrs A. Blythe, D. Martin, W. Miller, J. Linton, A. Copland, J. Bell, Keddie, J. Mein, J. Orr, J. Ward and A. Goodall (secretary and treasurer) were elected to office. During later years Messrs G. Cocks, P. Watson, R. Brunton, H. Evans, D. Lidey, W. Brown, J. Adam, J. Paterson, G. Hall, W. Purvis, W. Dunbar, A. M. Copland, B. Evans, T. Scott, R. Gray and J. Russell were appointed. Church secretaries after Mr Goodall were Messrs G. Wells, G. Lyall, Keddie, J. Fraser, W. Renton, H. Evans, D. France, W. Annett jr., and D. G. Lyall. The earliest church organists were: St. Andrews, Misses Busch, Sutherland, Keddie and Lyall; Southburn, Misses Kernohan, Evans, Miller and Cumming; Otaio, Miss B. Martin. Mesdames McKay, Goodall and Martin; Makiklhi, Mrs Goodall; Hunter. Miss Mclntyre and Mrs Guild. Congratulations Messages conveying best wishes to the Church from ministers and parishioners who were unable to be present were read by Mr D. G. Lyall. He also made reference to those parishioners who had passed away during the years that had gone. The Rev. J. H. Reid, Moderator of the Timaru Presbytery, conveyed greetings and congratulations from the Presbytery and expressed a hope that the church would go on build ng into tire future. Other speakers were the Revs. F. H. Wilkinson, G. McNeur, M. Wilson, Mrs B. E. Evans (pioneer women in the district), Mr McNeill, Hunter (ministers of the past). Items were contributed by Miss Muriel Wilkie, Mrs Wilkie, and Mr and Mrs Turpie.