THE NEW KENT-TERRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue VI, 6 February 1897, Page 148

THE NEW KENT-TERRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WELLINGTON.

IN the present issue will be found both exterior and interior views of the newly-erected Kent-Terrace Presbyterian Church, Wellington, also portraits of the pastor and several prominent officials connected therewith. We now append some interesting particulars :— The congregation dates from the year 1886. when a largely-signed requisition was presented to the Rev. J. Kennedy Elliott, B.A , requesting him to conduct religious services with a view to forming a new congregation to keep pace with the increasing population of Wellington. Mr Elliott had arrived about a year previously, and had given proof of fitness for such work. Mr Elliott is a graduate of the Royal University, Ireland, and was pastor of three charges in that country. The first was near his native town, Belfast, the second at Randalstown near the shores of Lough Neagh, and lastly at Magherafelt, a town in the southern portion of County Londonderry. Mr Elliott was also about to be called to Greenock in connection with the Established Church of Scotland, but declined the invitation. The Lyceum, Tory-street, was hired, and here Mr Elliott preached each Lord’s Day, commencing on the 9th May, 1886. A Sabbath-school was started in the Mount Cook Infant State Schoolroom, and on the day it opened 30 children attended. The Lyceum was occupied for the last time on the 19th September, about five months after it had been engaged. A corner section in Kent terrace and Pirie street had been purchased at a cost of and on it a plain but commodious hall was erected at a cost of about /'6OO. Application was made to the Presbytery for recognition and reception, and the induction of Mr Elliott took place on the sth October, 1886. The dedicatory and opening services were held on the 29th September, 1886, and were conducted by the Rev. C. S. Ogg, M.A. The collections and previous subscriptions at this date amounted to ,£650. Since its formation in ISB6 the congregation has so steadily increased that the erection of a larger and more comfortable building became absolutely necessary. There are now two Sabbath-schools, of which Mr W. M. Hannay is the superintendent, and the number of pupils on the rolls is 360. The minister’s stipend has been increased from Z3OO per annum to £4OO. The number of communicants is 230. The sum raised for all purposes during these years till 31st December, 1896, has been about ,£9,000, of which nearly ,£7OO has been contributed to Home and Foreign Missions. The church is 73ft 6in in depth (exclusive of porch and vestry), and 48ft 6in wide. The height is 25ft 6in to the centre of the coned roof. Staircases rising out of the spacious vestibule give access to the gallery over it, and provision is made so that side galleries can be added when required. There is seating accommodation for about 550. The style of architecture is that known as Romanesque. The windows are filled in with stained and cathedral glass, and the seats are arranged in segments of a semi-circle, leaving two aisles, while the floor slopes towards the pulpit, so that the whole congregation is in full view of

the minister. The organ and choir seats are in front of the pulpit, the space for the organist and choristers being within a railed enclosure handsomely ornamented with pedestals of varnished kauri. There is a handsomely furnished vestry for the minister, the furniture being the gift of the ladies of the congregation. Above the pulpit is the historical symbol of the Presbyterian denomination with the motto underneath, * Nec tamen consumebatur.’ The building rests on concrete foundations, and is well ventilated, the artificial lighting

being with electric light. The plans and specifications were prepared and the erection superintended by Mr T. Turnbull, architect. The contract price was /'2,i00, and the extras and furnishings make the sum actually expended ,£2,500 On Wednesday afternoon, the 20th May, 1896, the ceremony of laying the memorial stone took place in

the presence of a large gathering of the members and their friends. After Mr P. Thomson, Clerk of Deacons’ Court, had read a historical statement, the memorial stone was laid by Mr John M'Lean, one of the elders, who highly deserved the honour, having been strongly and warmly attached to the pastor ever since Mr Elliott arrived in the colony. He was present at and presided over the meeting convened by Mr David Robertson (who has also been an elder all these years) when it was decided to initiate the proceedings which have resulted in the erection of such a well planned, comfortably arranged, and well ventilated place of worship.

The amount subscribed on the ground towards the building fund was /"6z izs yd. The ornamental trowel used by Mr M’Lean, and presented to him as a memento of the occasion, bore the following inscription :—‘To John M’Lean, Esq., on the occasion of laying the memorial stone of Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church, Wellington, 20th May, 1896 Presented by Messrs Clark and Thompson, builders.’ The trowel was procured from Mr F. Grady’s establishment, and was a very handsome piece of workmanship beautifully finished. The mallet used was turned out of black maire byMessrs M’Carrison and Son, who presented it to Mr M’Lean. On it was a silver plate, presented and inscribed as follows by Mr Keane : —‘To John M’Lean, Esq., on the occasion of laying the memorial stone of Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church, Wellington, 20th May, 1896.’ The cavity in the stone in which the records, etc., were placed was covered by a copper plate bearing the following inscription :—‘ Kent Terrace Presbyterian CLurch, Wellington. This memorial stone was laid by John M’Lean, Esq., on zoth May, 1896. Rev. J. K. Elliott, 8.A., Minister ; R. Strang, Session’s Clerk ; P. Thomson, Clerk Deacons’Court. Building Committee : J. M’Lean, D. Robertson, A. Scoullar, A. H. Riggs. J Robinson, J. H. Mentiplay, W, M. Hannay (convener). Thos. Turnbull, F.R.1.8.A., architect. Clark and Thompson, builders.’

The opening and dedicatory- services were held on Sunday, the 29th November, 1896, and were conducted by the Rev. Wm. Hewitson, 8.A., of Knox Church, Dunedin. A special meeting was held in the afternoon for children. Very large congregations were present at all the services. The offerings for the day amounted to /~60. On the following Tuesday night a social meeting was held, the ladies of the congregation providing and superintending the tea, and after clearing all expenses handed over to the Building Fund The debt now due by the congregation is /'i.ooo, and the terms of the loan are so advantageously arranged, that it is confidently anticipated that before long this liability will be cleared off. Altogether the church and schoolroom with ground has costabout /'4,000, the debt, as already stated, only amounting to /'i,ooo. There is a very large population in the immediate vicinity, and with a fully-equipped church and so earnest and able a pastor it is probable that further sitting accommodation will be required before very long. Rev. Mr Elliott is thoroughly evangelical in his preaching, and well-known for his kindly visitations and ministrations amongst the sick and necessitous. He is a great favourite amongst the young, and his election as President for the current year of the Christian Endeavour Union at the annual convention held in Wellington in October last was very popular. The portraits given in our present issue are those of the Rev. J. Kennedy Elliott, 8.A., Minister ; Mr John M’Lean, the Senior Elder; Mr David Robertson, the Ruling Elder; Captain Robert Strang, the Sessions Clerk ; Mr Peter Thomson, the clerk of the deacons’ court ; Mr William Mowat Hannay, General Manager of the Well-ington-Manawatu Railway Company and the convener of the Building Committee.