FROM CHAPEL TO STORE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17381, 8 November 1924, Page 24

FROM CHAPEL TO STORE.

OLD CHRISTCHURCH LANDMARK.

Mr R. E. Green, in this article, tells the story of an old chapel that stood in the centre of the city in the early days, and was shown in last week’s picture of Cathedral Square in the early days, under which a premature reference was made to ths following article. „

EVOLUTION. The evolution of Time has brought about many changes. A stranger coming to these shores could have no conception of the many changes that have been effected since the beginning of this settlement. Buildings, lixe men. have come and after serving their purpose have passed out, and others have taken their places. T often wonder how many of the old hands are here to-day that remember the Wesleyan Church that was erected in 1854 on the eastern side of the Ferry Road (as it was called at that time), standing on a high mound about midway between Cashel and Hereford Streets. I nave no doubt if I briefly refer to that at one time sacred edifice and some of its transformations it will bring to the minds of some who have frurvived the inroads of time some pleasant recollections of happy hours spent under its roof. It stood almost close to the line of roadway, behind a picket fence about 3ft 6in high. (The road was not formed at that time.) It was a fairly large building and constructed entirely of wood. The walls on either side were (I think) about 14ft high and had quite a number of small Gothic headed windows in each side wall. The chancel at the eastern end had similar but iarger windows, and some coloured elass roof was high and steep, with its gable facing the triangle. In this gable was

had been “ had.” However, I went round and through the “ Chamber of Horrors,” but I -was very careful who I spoke to while in that transformed chapel that night. Then some will remember Dr Carr, “ the mesmerist,” who held entertainments in this building. His name will bring smiles to the face of some and a deep-set frown to others when it comes back to them how thev had been gulled by this all-powerful man. Dr Carr would fix his eyes on his subjects in the audience and, by a wave of his hands they had to come to him, moving slowly at first, but as they neared their master they would come at a mad pace over chairs and iorms and on to the stage, there, to do whatever they

were told. Carr wouid tell some that the}/ were dogs, and they would go down on their hands and knees and bark and snarl. Others were jockeys, and would stride a form and ride for all they were worth, while a group of young fellows would be devouring all kinds of raw vegetables as fast as they could cram it into their mouths. And to the olef “topers” he would give “long Sleevers ” of soapy water and tell them it was from Wilmer’s brewery in Cashel Street and was of the best brew. This they would polish off m double quick time, and like Oliver Twist they would ask for more. Sometimes Carr would bring his subjects back to their senses while in the miclst of their antics ; and then—oh, no! I mustn’t say what! T am sure you wouldn’t print it if 1 did. And all this. too. in a house that had been consecrated. (Wilmer’s brewery was right opposite the chapel but over in Casliel Street, just behind where Clifford, the photographer, is now). Dr Carr was a very large man, and he had a very small wife. He

a much larger window with one or two mullions and Gothic heads and glazed with coloured leadhghts. Be neath this was a large double doorway with Gothic doors. In the side were two rows of round pillars which supported the roof and principal rafters. These pillars were simply small trees with the bark stripped off and cleaned up by hand plane. (In fact, all timber at that time had to be sawn and dressed by hand.) Around each pillar and on all the walls were fixed a number of cande labra or brackets, and from the cross beams above were suspended a number of chandeliers. All these wese filled with some dozens of tallow candies. It sometimes happened that a moth or something of the kind would get into the flame of these illuminators and cause them to swill, and quite a stream of tallow would run down on the unfortunate person below, and it had no respect for ladies’ hats or black cloth coats; and it sometimes could be seen that the one who had their clothes soiled were striving hard to suppress expressions that were not printed in the book they held in their hand. However, as time went on, all these troubles were overcome by substituting better methods of illuminating.

came back to Christchurch again and resided for a time and had rooms in Colombo Street, nearly opposite Cookham House. There is some history about those rooms, but I will leave it to others to tell. Dr Carr used to draw great crowds to this hall and create much amusement.

Then again some will remember this hall was used for Sunday school entertainments. There were also “ teafights ” and other fights, some cruel, from bantam cocks and dogs to the professional pugilist. Then there were concerts, some sacred and some otherwise, more of the latter. I could mention many exhibitions and other purposes that this (at one time) house of worship had been used for, but must draw in or I will bring down upon my shoulders the wrath of the editor, and that would be more than I could stand. It wouid be like the last straw. However, at the risk of such a calamity, I must mention one more exhibition that was held there, because I am sure it will revive in the minds of some the very pleasant hours they have spent there, and which were of a highly educational nature, while they watched “I’VVoodroff,” the clever and most artistic glass blower that ever came to New' Zealand. There seemed to be no limit to his skill. The first thing that drew visitors’ attention was a glass horizontal steam engine in full working order. Every particle was glass, even to the boiler, under which was a large spirit lamp that kept the water boiling. All the glass being clear, you could see the water boiling and bubbling, the piston moving to and fro in the cylinder, and the movement" in the steam chest were nlainly visible. There was the eccentric, the crank, and fly wheel. All in glass and in perfect order, and many parts of it gave off prismatic colours which intensified the grandeur of that wonderful piece of mechanism. To see that engine working was something worth seeing. This engine was turning models of various kinds of machinery, including a quartz crusher with a number of “stampers” each rising and falling alternately on a solid bed of thick glass, which 'kept up a continual “ clink, cjink.” Then again some will remember the “Spinning Wheel •• which the engine also turned. This was about twenty inches in diameter, with a rim about two inches wide (all glass). On this Woodroff would draw out glass in strands as fine as silk, and when the wheel was covered to about 4-inch deep, lie wouid draw his knife across the rim and lift off a. hank about sft long. This he cut up into lengths of about eight inches and divided it into small banks, tied it in a loose knot and handed it to his audience. This was only one part of his skilful performance. He would make scores of artistic and useful articles, and there seemed to be no limit to his skill. Although this is of sixty years ago. T know there are some in Christchurch to-dav. self included, who hold pleasant recollections of Woodroff and his works of art. However, others came to “The Hall” and passed on, till early in the ’7o’s, when Mr H. E. -May opened a shop in Colombo Street (just south of Cook and Ross’s) as a, draper and clothier. His business soon grew to large porportions and he had to move into a larger building (at least that’s what he told the public) However, he took possession of “ The Hall ” in High Street, and here the chapel went through anothei transformation and became a huge drapery and clothiers’ establishment, where everything could be bought to

At the south-western corner of the church stood a tower with a very high spire. This was a very prominent feature, and could be seen many miles inland. When the Ferry Road was formed it left the church a few feet above the footpath. This necessitated a flight, of steps being formed to reach the doorway.

For eleven or twelve years service was regularly held in this place of worship. In 1864, just ten years later, the foundation stone was laid for a new stone church in Durham Street. When this building was completed then the church in High Street ceased to be a place of worship, but was afterwards used as a public hail. I may here mention that in 1868, three years after the Durham Street Church was completed, it was severely damaged by the greatest earthquake that has ever been felt in Christchurch, and many other stone and brick buildings were damaged at the same time. Chimneys went down like skittles for miles around and some buildings were so badly damaged that the top portion had to be taken down to save it from Jailing. I could mention several which had to be wholly or partly taken down. 'The shake was so prolonged and severe that it struck terror not only into the hearts of men but cattle of all kinds were alarmed and scc.mpereci about as if they were mad. I rather enjoy the sensation of an earthquake. but 1 don’t want to feel anothei like the one of 18GS I could give a long account of the damage that was wrought, and of the ghastly faces of women and children that could be for days after, but I must g.’t back to the hall, the subject of this article, and where such a great change had taken place. What had been a "sanctuary" w«5 now almost a bedlam at times—-a real “ Paddy's market.” oi something worse where everything could be seen from an octopus or sea lion down to a handful of white mice in the hands oi a laclv who wouid send the mice on an excursion round her her slender form. She would place them on her feet and they would travel to higher regions under her dress and make an exit from under her neckband or from under her cuffs into her hands. And there were all kinds of wild and tame animals (performing in ail manner of ways), from the rearing lion to six fleas harnessed and drawing a four-wheeled coach, and there were, also exhibited many freaks of nature. I aere was a full-grown horse perfect in every way, but absolutely destitute of hair, and a lady of very large proportions who had been married twenty years but had never spoken a word to her husband, although she could pick him up with one hand quite easily. She had many other qualifications, and one was that she was dumb. Then again, I wonder hew many “ Star ” readers can remember going to the waxworks that was shown in this once a consecrated, building I will never forget mv first vi'dt to that show. It was the first of its kind that came to Christchurch. Something happened, but I don’t want you to tell everybody It was this. I paid my bob and passed in. There were weird strains of music coming from no one knew where- (not like a oiurcn). Just inside the door, behind railings, was a group of figures supposed to be engaged in some crime. Clo-je by stood an old gentleman with hio hands on the raii, steadfastiv gazing at the figures. I edged up to the old man and remarked how natural they all appeared, but he made no reply. Thinking the music had drowned mv voice, I edged up a little nearer and spoke louder. Just then he turned his head partly round ard fix. d his eyes on me, but said nothj : y.-n . air. to he conclusion that he was a crabby oid i row ar.i turned away from him and ran up against some friends and related to them my experience with he old fellow. I said I was quite sure he heard me, for he turned round and looked at me! Then they all had a good laugh at my expense. I didn’t know why they laughed until one of them, more sympathetic than the rest, whispered to me that “the old man was a mechanical figure. ’ I then realised 1

cover saints and sinners alike without respect to persons. There were no front windows for the display of goods, but there was ample room inside, and it soon became noted for great bargains (?) and drew crowds of ladies with their three-wheeled prams. Some of the prams, were double-breasted. “ The Hall,’’ as a drapery was not a

success. Mothers and others of large proportions found it somewhat distressing climbing up and down a flight ol eight or ten steps before they could reach the goal of their ambition to get some of the bargains (?) and their troubles were much aggravated should they have come with their double-seat-ed perambulators filled with their offspring ; so business fell off-

Up to this time the old chapel hat withstood much humiliation, but tin drapery business proved to be tin

“ last straw.” It had to come down from its lofty mound after standing there for upwards of thirty years and give place to another building. I think it was early in the eighties when the late Mr W. B. Scott (a piomineni hat iod entered into a contract to pull the oid chapel down and erect a new brick building in a line, and level with the footpath. The old name, “The Hall,” was handed down to the new shop. Here Mr May continued to carry on the same line of business for some time, but he, like many others, has passed on. But the same building is there to-day, although it has undergone some internal alterations. The upper front is the same