75 YEARS OF CHURCH WORK

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 141, 1 July 1937, Page 10

75 YEARS OF CHURCH WORK

In Waipawa

ANGLICAN JUBILEE Links With The Early Missionary Days CANDLE-LIT SERVICES To commeinorate the 75 th annivorsary of the Church of England in ,tho Waipawa district, epecial services wore held on Sunday in St. Peter's Church, Waipawa. At tho afternoon service the Et. Eev. F. A. Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa, preached an appropriate sermon from tho text "My Father's House." He traced the progress of the church from the earliest days to the present time, and congratulated the people of Waipawa on their keautiful church, which he described as ona of the finest for its size that he had seen in New Zealand. There were large congregations at all services, extra eeating accommodation having to be provided. A number of students from the Te Aute College were present and assisted in the einging. Archdeacon Maclean was the preacher at the evening service. A generous re* sponse was made to the warden*s appeal for financial assistance. The BishOp of Waiapu, the Bt. Bev. H. Williams, was unfortunately indisposed and was unable to attend. The firet Anglican Church in Hawke 's Bay was built in Waipawa 75 years ago, and this church was one of the first six to be built between Auckland and Wellington. Some of the story woven into this historic building was recalled by the H. Bibby in an dnterview with the Herald-Tribune this morning. "When the Eev. W. Williams (afterwards first Bishop of Waiapu) and the Eev. W. Colenso arrived at Ahuriri in 1843, they found that the natives had already begun to buiTd a church at Waitangi (Clive) and had given several acres of land for a miesion atatu)^" said Mr. Bibby. "Mr. Colenso took up permanent residenee there in the following year, when a native church had already been built at Waipukurau and another at Porangahau. "Mr. Colenso informed the Church Missionary Society in 1845 that 11 places of worship had been built and that eight others were in course of erection. He had a congregation of 150 to 200 at Waitangi and by 1848 his combined congregations numbered 2175, with 1570 Gcholars. His district extended as far south as the Manawatu Tiver and entailed much travelling, all on foot. Links With Bay of Islands. "On one oocasion Mr. Colenso visited Liland Patea, crossing the Euahine ranges via Tikokino and the Makaroro river. Eeturning by way of Tarawera to Waitangi^ the party had a trying time food being short. One of Mr. Colenso 's companions on the journey was Matui Meke, a tohunga wjUo hau embraced Christianity and to whose memory a window was later given to St. Peter's Church, Waipawa, by his relatives. Mr. Colenso settled in Napier upon his retirement in 1852. "The church. in Hawke ;s Bay owns a close relationship with the Bay ot: Islands, the nursery of Christianity and civilisation in this country. From there eamo Mr. Colenso and Bishop Willinin Williams, our first Bishop. From Paihia came Bishop Leonard W. Williams, who was baptised with the first Maori converts and later becamo the first Archdeacon of Waiapu and o.ur third Bishop. From the same sourco came Archdeacon Samuel Williams, Hawke 's Bay's ' Grand Old Man. ' He was appointed first Archdeacon of Hawke 's Bay and in 18G3 rural dean of Ahuriri. In a more inddreet way came our present Bishop, the Et. Eev. Herbert Williams. "The Church Missionary Society was maintaining responsibility for financiing the Maori work for upwards of 40 years, having spent, according to one authority, about £250,000 in civilising the natives. In 1852 Bishop Selwyn visited Napier, then a small village, after which work among European settlers began to assume definite shape. The Bishop appointed Mr. William Maishall to act as lay reader. Mr. Marshall held his first service in a raupo building dn Domett 's Gully, when the congregation consisted of Mr. T. Tanneij Mr. T. K. Newton^ and a few othors. "As tho +Offn grew and population increased, a desire ivas manifested for a suitable church. In 1859 the Eev. H. Woodful St. Hill was appointed in charge . of Napier district, and about the same time the Eev. Peter Barclay arrived to minister to the members of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. St. Hill and Mr. Barclay holding services alternatively in tho school-room until their respective churches were erected. Con* temporary with them was the Eev. Father Eeinier, of the Eoman Catholic Church. In 1861 St. John's Church, Napier, was in course of construction and whs consecrated by the Bishop of Wellington in 1863.

Memories of the Opemug, "In 1854," ALr. Bibby added, "the Eev. Samuel Williams oame froru Otaki and settled at Te Aute and until 1S59 he was the only clergyman in Hawke 's Kuy. During tlio Maori troubles' the late Archdeacon S. Williams helpeti the early settlers. For years he stood between the two raoes at a time when a collision was imminent. His intimate acquaintance with the Maoris, their lauguage, habits and policy enabled him on several oceasions to prevont u stniggle. "In 1S59 the Eev. Edwin E. Wheeler was appointed to the Waipawa-Waipu-kurau district, where he iaboured for about four years. In 1860 the late Mr. F. S. Abbot gavo a site for a church and vicarage at Waipawa, consisting of about four acres. Immediate steps were taken for the erection of a church. and by April, 1862, it was completed and consecrated by the Bishop of Wol lington. | ' ' U i Robcrt Holt, of Napier, was thc • :n r. '>» Fmior- was pit-sawn.

Mr. Wheeler and later the Eev. G. M. D'Arcy Invine conducted the services. lt was probably the only European church between Napier and Wellington. Some parishioners may reinember the first evening service held in the old church. when it was lighted by numerous candles in chandeliers and round the walls. It has been related that during one of the services a well-known preacher, when gesticulating with his fusual vigorous etyle, put his fist through the near-by window. e The only trace left in the vicinity is a path across the gully leading up to where the historic building once stood. ' ' Upon the resignation of Mr. D 'Arcy Irvine the Eov. J. C. Eccles was ordained and appointed in 1874 to tho charge of Southern Hawke 's Bay, in- 1 cluding Waipawa- Waipukurau district which extended from Pakipaki in the ndrth to the Manawatu river in the south, and from the mountains to the sea. Mr Eccles throw himself vigorously into the work The roads were few, and there were no bridges, but Mr Eccles, who had acted as chaplain to the troops in Waikato during the Maori war, was a good horseman. "The subdivision of this huge district in 1876 and the appointment of Mr. Eccles to Waipawa and the northern part oi the parish, the Eev. J. Shearman to Waipukurau and the southern end, and the Eev. E. Simeox to Porangahau district, was one oi tJ»o l&st matters to engage the attention of Ihe venerable bishop. "The building of a more commodious church for Waipawa was begun in 1876. Mr. Cooper, of Napier, was the architect and the builder was Mr. Eichard Phillips, of Waipawa. The contract priee was £850, and all the inaterial used was heart totara. The church was completed and opened on January 4 1877 by the Yen. Archdeacon Leonard Williams, and consecrated by Bishop Cowie, of Auckland, on May 21 of the same year (Bishop Williams being too ill to undertake episcopal dutie's). The First Baptlsm, "The first child baptised in the new church was Isabella -Grenside, and the firet marriage took place on July J, 1877, between Josepn Bell and Eliza Harriet Collins. The first confirmation service held in Waipawa was conducted by Bishop Stuart on January 25, 1880. The first- Church of England Sunday School was started on Advent Sunday in 1875. "A debt on the church remained for several years but, by self-denial and sacrifice on the part of the parishioners, this was ulrimately paid oif. The present Sunday School was opened on Becember 1, 1890. "For the year 1892 Canon Eccles (as he was then) removed to Woodville, the Eev. A- F. Gardiner copiing to Waipawa in 1893. During his ministry St. James's Church, Otane, was built and St. Peter's, Waipawa, was remodelled and beautified. A great impetus was also given to the missions. In* 1898 Mr. Gardiner resigned to take charge of the Havelock parish, and the Eev. W. Swinburn was appointed to Waipawa. The Tamumu church was built and consecrated by Bishop W. L. Williams during Mr. Swinburn 's term of office. "In 1902 Mr. Swinburn removed to Invercargill and the Eev H. P. Cowx was appointed to Waipawa on September 25t 1902. During his ministry a church was built at Elsthorpe, and consecrated by Bishop Averill. . A new vicarage was also built and another church erected at Blackburn, thus completing a chain of churches from the Euahines to the sea. A division of the parish took placo. "Tho Eev. H. P. Cowx resigned and proceeded to England. A new district was formed consisting of Te Aute, Otane, Patangata and coastal districts, now known as the Otane parochial district, the Eev. Mr. Davidson being tho first vicar. The Eev. Marsden Cockorill (who was aceidentally killnd) and the Eev. F. W. Whibley temporarily filled a vacancy in the parish. The Eev. W. H. Bawden and the Eev. H. Collier were assistant curates to the Eev. W. Swinburn and the Eev. H. P. Cowx respeetively. The Eev. Canon Arthur Williams and the late Mr. John Thornton rendered -assistance from timo to time. Abbotsford Home Established. "The Eev. Canon T. O. Cullwick was appointed to Waipawa on February 18, 1914. During the Great War the Canon threw himself whole-heartedly into parish eft'orts for the relief ot wounded and disabled soldiers. In 1917 an exchauge took place whereby Canon Cullwick was appointed to Puketapu and The Eev. Cano'n M. W. Butterfiolf to Waipawa. "An event of great importanee took place during Canon Butterfield'e ministry. Tho Eathbone Trustees made it possible for the Diocesan authoritics to establish at Waipawa the Abbotsford Home, which has proved a real boon to the diocese and a wonderful help to the attendance at both church and school. A much-needed infant deparcment was also added to the Sunday school about this time. Canon Butter-li-eld resigned in 1927 and was appointed to Wairoa, when he became Archdeacon. The Eev. J. Pigott, of Waipiro Bay, suceeeded Archdeacon Butterlield, eventnally leaving for England in August, 1931. ' The Eev. W. T. Drake followed and immediately took steps to restoro the vicarage damaged by the earthquake and at the same time to improve the interior. The vestry took in hanrt the renovation and enlargement of St. Peter's Church, a considerable silm of money being available for the purpose through a bequest made by ihe trustees of the late JUrs. Lissio Eathbone some years previously. "The Waipawa parish has bccn fortunate in having had such generous bcnefactors as the late Ven. Archdeacon' S. Williams and the trustees of the iate Mrs. Li i?Ae Eathbone," Mr. Bibby concluded.