A GREYTOWN JUBILEE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 September 1938, Page 7

A GREYTOWN JUBILEE

;♦ PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. FURTHER EARLY HISTORY. (Contributed.) In September, 1899, the minister of the Greytown Presbyterian Church (the Rev Ritchie) reported that under the new division of the district, Featherston, Greytown, and Morison’s Bush were to be a combined district, the former agreeing to contribute £5O per annum to the Stipend Fund, the latter £3O, and Grey town £45. Up till that .period services had been conducted by the Revs A. Whyte (1888), Chas. Murray (1889-1898), Robt. Wood (1898-99), Wm. Ritchie (1899). The Rev J. A. Brown took up his work here in 1900 and left in 1908. In 1901 steps were taken to raise Featherston, Greytown, and Morison’s Bush from mission station to a full charge, the Rev D. Martin, then at Martinborough, presiding over the congregational meeting. Grey town added £2O to the amount promised to the Stipend fund. The Rev G. R. Stowell was in charge of the district in the latter part of 1908 till 1915. Services were held at Greytown in the morning and Feathston in the evening one Sunday, and vice versa. The Morison’s Bush service was always held in the afternoon. There were also services at outlying parts of Featherston at intervals, and the minister in charge applied for an assistant. Then it was that Greytown and Morison’s Bush residents decided to secede from Featherston and in 1916 the Rev W. Grundy (who had seen service as a missionary overseas) was appointed. He was stationed here till 1920. Then followed Mr P. G. McMurray till early in 1922, he being relieved by the Rev J. Mackie (of Auckland). Following his death at Carterton, Mr D. McKenzie (who had retired from missionary work) was appointed and he was followed by Mr Wm. Kearney, who laboured for three years in the parish and in 1925 the Rev A. H. Norrie succeeded him. In the early part of 1928 Mr Norrie received a call to Westmere and Mr F. A. Taylor followed, he being transferred to Stewart Island in 1935. The Rev G. B. Jardine came from the South Island to take up the work but only put in about a year’s service. Mr Lilly (the present minister) has occupied the position since. In addition to Morison’s Bush, services are also held at the hospital, Matarawa and Waihakeke. The church has had only seven secretaries during the past fifty years, these being:—Mr R. C. Black (18881894), Mr A. L. Webster (1895), AlexMurray (1896-98), Mr S. G. Stanton (1899-1901), Mr H. Haigh (190217), Mr J. F. Wallis (1917-1933), Mr J. Allan (1934), Mr J. F. Wallis (193538). Two years ago efforts were made to have the electric light installed in the church and Sunday school, and early this year the interior of the church was made beautiful at a cost of £lO4. The Ladies’ Guild is a strong body of workers who have helped the church considerably financially. They find the amount annually for the interest on the manse loan, and assist in many other ways. The Greytown congregation looks forward with confidence to the progress of the church in the years to come.