JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 968, 10 May 1930, Page 5

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

PROGRESS OF BIRKENHEAD CHURCH INTERESTING HISTORY The Methodist Church, Birkenhead, will commence its 50 years’ jubilee celebrations on Sunday. The history of the church in Birkenhead and in surrounding districts is traced in “The Witness,” a quarterly paper issued by the circuit In that district. An extract reads:— BIRKENHEAD The erection, in 1880, of the first church in Birkenhead was an event of much importance. It was a direct evidence of progress in the development ! of the district. The establishment of the Sugar Re- j finery at Chelsea about this time gave 1 a decided impetus to the district, with j the result that the little church was j

overcroAvded and, being of a design not easy of enlargement, a new building of larger dimensions was decided on. Thus in 1885 the present church was built and the original building became the schoolroom. ACQUISITION TO DISTRICT In 1902 it had to give place to the present lax'ge schoolroom and was moved back to its present position. The new schoolroom proved a splendid acquisition to the district, providing not only better accommodation for our Sunday scholars, but also for district requirements, until the erection later of the Foresters’ and the Victoria Malls. Again about 1920 the addition of two large classrooms made the building more complete, while more recent improvements in the shape of class cubicles, infant room and kitchen have brought it nearer to the ••ideal” modern schoolroom. NORTHCOTE Methodist services were commenced in 1593 in a tent with a wooden floor. Late in 1894 a wooden building was erected and services were held there until the acquisition of the present site and the removal of the building to that position. Services were continued until about 1900 when the Rev. (\ EJ. Beecroft launched a scheme for its removal farther back and the erection of the first portion of the present church. BIRKDALE About 40 years ago the residents of this outlying portion of Birkenhead arranged cottage meetings in the need for some form of public worship. When the public school was built, about 1892, this became the general meeting place of the district and here divine worship was conducted regularly by preachers representing the Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist and Church of Christ denominations. In 1907 it was decided that a Methodist Church be erected at Birkdale. The foundation stone was laid by the late James Trounson, and the opening serA'ice AA’as held in February, 1908. The whole property is now free of debt and the Sunday School continues to provide spiritual instruction to a large number of Birkdale children. GLENFI ELD

The work has been of an interdenominational character. Sunday services and Sunday School were started in 1891, different denominations holding their services on different Sundays. The present mission hall, although the property of Methodism, is still the meeting place of Anglicans and Presbyterians as well as Methodists, and a happy spirit of unity and harmony exists among them. The erection of the hall Itself in one day is a matter of well-known history/ Opened free of debt in 1915, it lias ever since so -remained: and the little band of consistent workers still labour bravely on. ALBANY One of the oldest settlements on these northern shores of the Waite - mata. its connection with church affairs dates back to very early times. Its first connection with Methodism seems to have been about 1882, when North Shore was made a circuit, and from that time until Birkenhead became a separate circuit it was worked from Devonport. Since it became a portion of the Birkenhead circuit services have been regularly maintained. GREENHITHE Soon after Birkenhead became a circuit the total lack of religious services at Greenhithe exercised the minds of the circuit minister and his officials. Acquisition of a circuit horse and gig making possible such missionary work it was decided to make the attempt. At first a monthly service was held, this being increased later to two a month, and later still to seven each quarter. The Jubilee services of the Zion Hill Church and Sunday School will be celebrated on Sundays May 11 and IS. Week night services will be held on Tuesday. May 13, Thursday, May 15. and Saturday, May 17, while ah afternoon meeting for infant scholars and mothers, will be held on the afternoon of Saturday, May 17.