An Historic Kirk

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 32, 30 April 1927, Page 8

An Historic Kirk

St. Andrew’s Celebrates Eightieth Anniversary

QIR GEORGE GREY, the great k Pro-Consul, was among the worshippers at St. Andrew’s Church at the corner of Symonds Street when the building was first opened for divine service on Sunday, April 7, 1850. Auckland Presbyterians are celebrating to-morrow the 80th anniversary of the mother church of Presbyterianism in this province. A demonstrational rally will also be held under the convenorship of the Rev. J. Lamb Harvey, St. Andrew’s minister, in the presence of the Mod-erator-elect of the General Assembly, Rev. James Aitken, of Gisborne, in honour of the 84th anniversary of the founding of the Presbyterian Church in the Province of Auckland. Since the days of the far-seeing Grey, to whose vision Auckland in particular, and New Zealand in general, owes so much, St. Andrew’s has been a familiar city landmark. DIGNIFIED EXTERIOR The tower which THE SUN photographer reveals in an intimate glimpse from the Supreme Court building, was not added however, until 1882. Despite the dignified front which the effect of its Corinthian pillared facade presents to-day the history of St. Andrew’s in the early days of settlement was- not altogether harmonious. At one period, following the ministry of the Rev. A. G. Panton, the appeal was almost abandoned. But the love of the Scot for his kirk even exceeds his delight in a religious controversy. Better counsels prevailed, and the splendid heritage of to-day at St: Andrew’s is a tribute to the wisdom of her first elders. Mr. Panton, the initial minister, was a school master. An attempt to bring the methods of the schoolroom into the colonial settlement was not successful. His training as a tutor in the household of a Scottish nobleman had perhaps increased Mr. Panton’s dogmatic tendency. At any rate, his path in Auckland was certainly not flower-strewn.

Eventually he returned to Scotland, after acrimonious discussion with his Auckland flock.

Much feeling was displayed on both sides. On one. occasion Mr. Panton was so upset that he could not deliver his usual sermon at St. Andrew’s. He dismissed his congregation after reading Psalm cii, II King’s, xxiii.—

“PELICAN IN WILDERNESS’ “Aft/ heart is smitten, and withered like grass, so that I forget to eat my bread. lam like a pelican of the wilderness. I ant like an owl of the dese?t. I u'atch . a fid am as a sparrow upon the housetop. Mine enemies reproach me all the day and they that are mad against me are sworn against me. For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink t cith weeping .” Now, the congregation—to quote a writer of this period—thought this “just a little rough” of Mr. Panton. They objected to David being brought into the controversy. Some indication of the religious tolerance of those days is afforded by the fact that the Rev. Walter La wry, general superintendent of Wesleyan missions, took over St. Andrew’s the Sunday after Mr. Panton’s departure. The Rev. J. Inglis, of Wellington, “furnished supply” subsequently for a year. The year 1552 was most eventful in the history of the church, as it marked the arrival of the Rev. David Bruce. He became the “grand old man” of St. Andrew’s. His memory is loved and honoured unto this day. The Rev. A. C. Soutar and the Rev. James Cosh also assisted during Dr. Bruce’s ministry, which terminated in 1877. His successor was the Rev. A. Carrick, who. in turn, was succeeded by the Rev. James Milne, M.A. Another well-known minister at St. Andrew’s was the Rev. A. A. Murray. The Rev. J. Lamb Harvey commenced his ministry in 1921. A vigorous and capable speaker, Mr. Harvey had made an impression in Presbyterianism both in London and in Aberdeen before he was called to Auckland’s historic church. STOOD TEST OF TIME It is interesting to recall that when St. Andrew’s was erected very little was known about the quarrying of scoria or the making of lime. Never-

theless, like the majority of Auckland buildings erected then, the church has stood the test of time. Auckland scoria, presumably, has that “rock-like” quality so beloved of Peter, which makes it admirable for ecclesiastical construction. The lime was brought from Mahurangi. Whangarei supplied the stone facings for the chureh. It is curious to note that as far as can be discovered St. Andrew’s never witnessed a foundation stone ceremony. So deep was the water in the foundations of the church soon after construction was commenced, that a child was drowned there. —E.R.