SEMI-JUBILEE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 74, 1 September 1947, Page 4

SEMI-JUBILEE

RANGITAIKI PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH INTERESTING BOOKLET % Apart from the story it tells of the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in the Rangitaiki Plains district a small booklet prepared in Whakatane, a copy of which has been received by the Beacon, is rich in incidents which occurred in the early days of the district. The purpose of the booklet cannot be better described than in the opening paragraph of the preface, 'written by Br Geo. J. Murray. “The writing of this history is the outcome of a desire that, when celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Rangitaiki Presbyterian Church Session, which will take place during 1947, there should be on hand some record of the commencement and growth of the Presbyterian Church on the Rangitaiki Plains.” ■ Following a. ! foreword by the,Rev. J; H. Starnes which commences “As Dr. James Moffat says, ‘the story of a Christian enterprise has far more than a sentimental value, especially to those living in its wake. It recalls the spirit of fresh activity and vision which is as vital to us at the present day as it was to the pioneers of our Church and cause,” the story is unfolded under six separate headings and illustrated with photos.

The first chapter, “Early Days,” commences, “About the year 1894 two riders drew rein on the top of the heights above Whakatane (now known as Hillcrest) and viewed the extensive area of level country extending to the Matata hills 14 miles away which was then known as the Rangitaiki swamp but is now the Rangitaiki Plains. Excepting a few small farms at Whakatane itself, and some settlement at Matata and Te Teko, the land before them was swamp, but to the riders’ minds there came a vision of what might be in the future, and one of them said, ‘There will be plenty of work here for me and Mr Worboys’.” Commencing with the work leading up to the construction of the first Presbyterian Church, a diminutive building at Awakeri, the story covers the developments which have taken place over the period of the 25 years to the present day. It is tribute to the scarifices of the early pioneers as well as .an interesting and inspiring work to the present and future generations.#