CHURCH JUBILEE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19165, 23 November 1927, Page 7

CHURCH JUBILEE.

PRESBYTERIAN CHARGE AT . CUST. The jubilee of St. David,'s Presbyterian Church was celebrated on Saturday and Sunday, and attracted very large gatherings. On Saturday afternoon nearly 300 people attended a garden party held at "Grassdale," the residence of Mr and Mrs 11. Gardner. Until late in tho afternoon the weather conditions were ideal, and old acquaintances' were renewed and reminiscences exchanged in the glorious sunshine. Afternoon tea. provided by the ladies of the congregation was served, after which congratulatory speeches were made by the Rev. Dr. Erwin and the Revs. D. D. and 1< • Rule, representing the Chnstchurch Presbvtery, and the Rev. H. O. l. Hanby (Anglican). Mr George Ruddenklau (Oamaru), a former member of the congregation, made a happy SDC6CD On Sunday, morning and evening services were held in the church, about 200 people being present at each service The devotional part of each service was conducted by the Kev. \\ Marshall (Tinwald). The morning preacher was the Rev. H. G. Gilbert (Hamilton), who also gave the address to the children. The Key. J. D. Webster (Sydenham) preached m the evenin<r. The musical portion of the services was of an excellent character and reflected the greatest credit on Mrs Simmonds, who trained the choir. Ihe anthems were "0 Praise the Lord, "The Lord Jehovah Praise,-' and -Lead, Kindly Light" Two solos, 'The Promise of Life" and Sun or mv Soul," were sung by Mrs Holloway. Miss A. Wayland was at the organ. History of the Church. \s far back as the year 1873 and perhaps a little earlier the Presbyterians living iu the neighbourhood or the' Cust were meeting on occasions for public worship, securing as ttie opportunity offered- the services of the ministers of Kaiapoi and Rangiora It was felt, however, that steps should be taken to organise a regular congregation, and a meeting with that end in ?iew was held on August 2nd VZiS. Regular services were afterwards held, at first in a little meeting room on the Mill road, then in the Public School, and later in the Institute Hall.. Services were also held in Oxford in the office of the Road Board, The work made such progress that it was decided to make a call to a minister, and ?he Rev. N. McCallum, late of Patea was inducted as first minister of the charge on April sth. 18?/. A «e«on was formed on December 12th, lbsu, Messrs McClinton and Webster being members. Mention should be made ot the splendid work done for the charge bv Mr R. Luke Higgins. a distmrruished pioneer of the district, who, though standing out of the. session until IS9O, did much for minister and congregation. The people neyer lost sight of the fact that suitable buildings were essential to the effective working of the charge, and they gave generously to provide churches and manses. The first .building w be erected was the church in Oxford, on

a site given by Mr H. B. Johnstone. Two years later, in 1882, the manse, at Cust was built at a cost of £3OO. The Cust Church, being built by public subscriptions and gratuitous lahour, only cost £250, and was opened on December 13th, 1885. Mr McCallum, desirous of paying a visit to the Old Country, resigned on March 9th, 1886. During his* ministry the congregation increased, and an enlargement of the church was found necessary. The Rev. D. D. Rodger, of Lower Hu-tt, was inducted to the Cust and Oxford charge on May 17th, 1888. He exercised a fruitful ministry in the parish for'ten s years. Ho was followed by- the R«v. F Stubbs, whose induction took place on October 27th, 1898. He, also wishing to pay a visit to the Old Land, relinquished the pastoral care of the charge on July 15th, 1902. A *call was extended to and accepted by the Rev. William Spence, his induction taking place on October 30th, 1902. During his ministry, of three years considerable improvements were made .to the church building. He was succeeded by the Rev. R. Francis, who was inducted early in 1906. He also served the charge.Jor three years, resigning in 1909. After a vacancy of several months the Rev. G. G. Howes received and accepted a call, and was inducted in 1910. He ministered for, a term of fifteen years. On (the resignation of the Rev. G. G. Howes in 1925 it was decided to reduce the charge to the status of a home mission station. The present ordained home missioner. Mr A. Simmonds, was appointed in April, 192 G. It is gratifying to record that the congregation has given three men to the ministry of the Church, viz., the Revs. J. D. Webster, H. G. Gilbert, and W. Marshall. Miss Bessie Webster, for so many years a missionary in China under the C.1.M., is a daughter of a member of the first kirk session.