Church marks 75 years

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 515, 7 December 1993, Page 5

Church marks 75 years

Thanks to a £95 start, the building of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, was started 75 years ago this week. On Sunday 12 December at 10.30am the Waimarino Parish will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the building of the church at 56 Miro St. Ohakune. The church building was funded by the £75 church building fund plus money from the Ladies Guild and a loan from the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand of £300 to be paid back at £30 per year.

The Reverend J. Chalmers Mill was the first ordained minister to the charge of Raetihi-Ohakune Parish 1917-1919 the previous ministers being Home Missioners. The next minister was Mr James Baird B.A. whocame out from Northern Irland to the Waimarino, and preached at the 1957 Jubilee celebrations, and was the Very Reverend James Baird B.A. aprevious moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. The theme of his sermon was 'The city of God' and

he urged the young people especially to be sure that they were among those who would carry on building the city here in the Waimarino. Among the many visitors to the 75th anniversary celebrations will be the Reverend Dr. Colin Sheriff BA PhD who was minister of the Waimarino from 1953-58 and really enjoyed his ministry here. His children were born in the Waimarino Hospital. The Wanganui Presbytery moderator Mrs Jocelyn Labrum worked in the Railway Station office

in Ohakune and her late husband Owen was a teacher at Ohakune. Members of the Parish and visitors will discuss old times over luncheon in the hall after the service.