St Andrew's turns 88

Last Updated on Thursday, 03 November 2011 20:34 Friday, 29 October 2010 13:15

St Andrew's in the early evening, February 2010

Tuesday, 3 November 2010, marks 88 years since St Andrew's was opened by Bishop Sprott.

Worship starts at Fernridge

In July 1922 St Matthew's Vestry identified a need for services at Fernridge and they sought permission from the Fernridge School Committee to hold the services in the schoolroom.

The first service was held in August 1922, despite 'rain and general atmospheric unpleasantness,' and was 'nearly full of young and old.'

Some of the adults found the small school desks a little uncomfortable, but with an air of stoicism, 'we settled down somehow, and looked quite as dignified as a Scotchman on a bannock.'

Services got off to a fine start at Fernridge School with two services a month - interestingly on the second and fourth Sundays - alternating with Sunday School on the other Sundays. In line with other country churches, and to fit round the exhausting schedule of St Matthew's clergy, services started at 2.30 pm in the afternoon.

Fernridge School Reunion, 1966.  These people attended school from 1921 to 1930, and would have been at the school when St Andrew's was built.

Speedy gestation

In 1922 Upper Plain parishioners were quick off the mark.  A month after services started at Fernridge, Mrs W Andrew donated the land for a church building and 'an anonymous parishioner' gave £125 towards the building.

By September, with no Resource Management Act or Diocesan authority to worry about (the land and building was at that stage owned by a trust) building was under way.

A fundraising garden party was held in Mrs Gawith's garden on 21 October.

We trust that friends will arrive in good numbers and thereby encourage those who are preparing the effort and arranging stalls. The little Church Room to be erected will simply repay the effort.

Church opens

This photo was taken in 1956. The spire was added at a later stage.

On 3 November 1922, Bishop Sprott opened the Church Hall at Upper Plain. Because the building was not owned by the Diocese it was not dedicated at this time, although there is some anecdotal evidence to suggest the sanctuary was dedicated at some stage.

In his address to the 150 gathered for the opening, Bishop Sprott outlined the purposes to which the "hall" was to be put, namely 'Religious Services, Sunday School and Social Meetings.'

The December 1922 Parish News reported -

The new Church Hall is much appreciated.  Seating accommodation is not yet finished, but we have secured a piano to lead the singing. The money for the latter has been advanced by a good friend until such time as we can repay it.  We hope to have chairs of a comfortable pattern for the Hall as soon as they can be secured.

Then, as now, children were an important focus for the new church building -

What about the children at Christmas? Can we give them a bit of a treat somewhere on the Upper Plain?  They were patient and good at the opening of the Hall and the thought then struck us - why not have a children's party at Christmas?

By the time of the 1923 Parish Annual General Meeting the church had its own prayer desk, altar and lectern and Miss Andrew was commended for her services as organist.

Driveway formed

The August 1923 Parish News reports that a metalled driveway was now in place from the main road to the church door. 'In this slushy weather we cannot forget such "good works."

Parallels with 2010 continued. 'The congregation retains their strength and much quiet work is going on.'

Handed over to Diocese

The Annual Report to the Parish Annual General Meeting, in May 1925, reports

We are glad to note that owing to the generosity of an anonymous giver, the whole of the debentures on the building fund has been cleared off. The Building is now being handed over to the Diocesan Trustees, and the Vestry becomes responsible for its upkeep and maintenance. Our thanks are due to the generous donor, and to all others who have helped to achieve the result.

At this point the St Matthew's Vestry became responsible for the upkeep and management of the church.