Parish Magazine excerpts - 1922-mid 1925

Last Updated on Friday, 24 September 2010 21:37 Tuesday, 21 September 2010 20:43

From St Matthew's Parish Magazines 1920- 1922

Rutherfurd Window  [St Matthew's]

Memorial to Herbert Spencer Rutherfurd, formerly layreader, dedicated during Choral Eucharist, 1 August 1920. It was the work of Messrs Heaton, Butler and Bayne, London.


Organ, July 1921 [St Matthew's]
We were glad to have the organ in use again for the first time since Easter. The repairs were found to be extensive and costly, involving an expenditure of £52, with the prospect of further heavy demands upon our finance in the course of a year or two, to secure permanently satisfactory results.

The parochial funds are not strong enough for us to regard this as ordinary expenditure, and it will be a great help to the Vestry if someone will undertake a special effort to meet this expense.

Vestry Minutes, 29 August 1922
A letter was received from the Secretary of the Fernridge School Committee giving permission to the use of the School for church purposes on Sundays.

Parish News, August 1922    [Service held presumably at Fernridge School]
After a round of visits among residents of Fernridge and Upper Plain, we felt certain that our opening service would not go altogether neglected. In spite of the rain and general atmospheric unpleasantness, we were not disappointed. The schoolroom was nearly full of young and old, and the singing was hearty and unrestrained. The young folk found the school desks quite comfortable, but we older ones, with longer legs, had some difficulty with edges, corners and extremities, but we settled down somehow, and looked quite as dignified as a Scotchman on a bannock.

We do not mean to let Fernridge go without regular services while there is such a response, so we are arranging to have services there twice a month, that is, on the second and fourth Sundays, at 2.30 pm.   On the remaining Sunday we will hold Sunday School, which will commence on August 20th.  The next service will be August 13th.

The following have given their names as helpers in the Sunday School: Mrs Trimble, Miss Hubbard, Mrs A H Graham and Miss Graham.  Mrs Andrew has consented to act as Organist for the services.


Parish News, September 1922
We have to congratulate the Upper Plain on a forward step which has recently been taken there.  Mrs W Andrew has generously donated a piece of land for a church building site and an anonymous donor has given a sum of £125 towards the erection of a Church Hall, to be used for Sunday School and church services.
;
Upper Plain is a district which will rapidly advance in the near future and it is most encouraging to know that we are  ? ready. For that advance thanks of the parish are due to Mrs Andrew and an anonymous gentleman who has given such a good start to the Upper Plain Building fund.

By the time that our next number appears we hope that other residents of Upper Plain and Fernridge will have made the immediate erection of the church possible.

In case some of you think we are previous in this venture, it should be stated that the Sunday School at Fernridge now numbers 23 scholars and is rapidly growing. Miss Hubbard and others are carrying on the work and other teachers are urgently needed.


Fernridge, October 1922
The building at Fernridge is going ahead.

By the time the Bishop comes to hold the confirmation we hope the building will be finished and ready for use, so he can be with us at the official opening.

--

Will Fernridge make a note of Saturday, October 21st. On that day the garden party in aid of the Upper Plain building will be held at Mrs Gawith's residence.

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.


November 1922
The Opening of the new Church Hall, Fernridge
The Bishop, in addition to administering the rite of confirmation on November 3rd, also opened the Church Hall at Upper Plain. About 150 people were present and heard a very interesting address from the Bishop on the purposes for which the hall should be used, namely, Religious Services, Sunday School, and Social Meetings.  [would have been Bishop Sprott

All present appreciated the fine appearance of the building which, when it is finished, will be worthy of the efforts made by the residents of the Upper Plain.

The builder we think is to be congratulated, as also are Mrs Andrew and Mrs Gawith, with their many friends, who have come forward to help. Let us follow the Bishop's advice and use the Hall.


December 1922
Fernridge
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.

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?


Bideford
We have made a start with the services hear again and have met with encouragement. Mrs Falloon kindly acts as organist and the singing so far has been most hearty.  The next service at Bideford will be on December 24th, at 11 am, when we hope to be able to say our prayers and sing our hymns in some shady place outside.  Christmas hymns, please!

Calendar includes
Dec 3, Advent Sunday, Fernridge, 2.30 pm, Service and Sermon.
Dec 17, 3rd Sunday in Advent, Fernridge, 2.30 pm, Service and Sermon
Jan 7, 1st Sunday after Epiphany, Fernridge, 2.30 pm, Service and Sermon


Parish News, March 1923
Bideford
The services at Bideford are going ahead well, and our thanks are due largely to Mrs Falloon for playing and other small duties, such as letting others know when the hour of a service is altered for unavoidable reasons. At Christmas time we had the Church decorated, a little bit of work and kindly thought which was greatly appreciated.

Parish News, April 1923
Letter from the Vicar - (W M Bullock)
We may be grateful that our first Harvest Festival in the present Church passed off so happily. The ladies who made themselves responsible for the decorations both then at at Easter deserve our best thanks. Kuripuni and Fernridge were in no way behind St Matthew's, and by their tasteful arrangement of flowers and fruit showed that love for the House of God which must be a part of all true religion. You will find in another column the letter of thanks sent by the Matron of the St. Mary's Home, Karori, for the boxes of fruit and vegetables which were sent from St Matthew's and the Church of the Epiphany.

St Matthew's Parish Annual Reports, 1922-23
Upper Plain Church
Owing to the generosity of Mrs. W. Andrew, who donated a section of land for a Church building, and to the contributors to the building fund among the residents of the Upper Plain and Fernridge, it has been possible to erect a bright and substantial hall for Church services and Sunday school.  The Hall was opened by the Bishop of the Diocese on November 3rd, 1922, and has already more than justified its existence. At present the property is held by two trustees for the use of the Church at Upper Plain and Fernridge, but as soon as it is free from encumbrance, it is provided that it be handed over to the Wellington Diocesan Board of Trustees in the usual way. We congratulate Fernridge upon the vigorous opening, to what we trust will be an era of progress.

Country services
Fernridge, which is nearer to the town than most of our places, has made a good start since the Church Hall was built, and the growth of interest there has been one of our most encouraging experiences.  Through the kindness of anonymous friends, the Hall is now well furnished and can boast a lectern, a prayer desk and an altar table. A Committee has been formed, and we trust that it has some useful years of working in front of it.  Our thanks are due to Miss Andrew for acting as organist in a most capable manner.

Other services have been held at Bideford, MikiMiki, Taueru, and Te Whiti, and we have to thank Mrs Falloon, Miss Reader, Miss Loder and Mrs Warner who have been constant in their attendance as organists, and upon whose help we could always rely.

In connection with the country work, I would like to say how valuable has been the help of Mr R Bond. Without him the clergy would have been absent from many country services. He has dealth with the vagaries of that ancient and uncertain vehicle known as the Parish Car, and has rendered great service to the clergy and the parish.

Parish News July 1923
District Notes
Miki Miki
We are glad to know that after a very uncertain period the services at Miki Miki are picking up again. This is cheering, as we thought that the change of service from the 1st to the 3rd Sunday of the month might permanently affect attendance.

Bideford
The services here keep up well in spite of the wintry weather of the last few months. If only we could get the Church Room moved into an accessible place when the school is moved!

Fernridge
The ladies of Upper Plain and Fernridge have formed themselves into a working party and will be building up stocks for a sale of work later in the year.


Parish News August 1923
Fernridge
A bit of work which is much appreciated has been carried out in this part of the parish by several of the interested workers. Some have supplied material, others labour, and the result is a good metalled pathway from the main road to the Church door. In this slushy weather we cannot forget such "good works"

The congregations retain their strength and much quiet work is going on. All we need is light - and sometimes a little warmth. All in good time!

Bideford
We were sorry that the very bad weather on July 22nd broke the sequence of services at Bideford. It was impossible for both parson and people. We trust that on August 26th, our next Sunday service at Bideford, we shall resume with a good must of worshippers.

Parish News September 1923
Black Sheep
We are on the lookout for black sheep. Four-legged ones this time. Nearly every farmer has one or two. Last year in Hawke's Bay black fleeces were collected by the Church Army representative, who had them sold. Out of the proceeds a thousand poor children in London were given a New Zealand dinner and Christmas fare.

Bideford
We were sorry that, owing to shortage of staff, Bideford had to go without another monthly service. The next service will be held on Sept. 30th, the last not the fourth Sunday in the month.

Fernridge
Fernridge is busy preparing for its sale of work on September 12th. The sale will be in the Parish Hall, and we trust that many supporters will rally round to help the sale and the Fernridge Church Building Fund.

Parish News October 1923
Fernridge
The Sale in aid of the Building Fund and necessary furniture for the Hall, has already been reported, and it will be sufficient to say here that the band of helpers of the Upper Plain, under Mrs Andrews and Mrs Tylee, worked very hard and very successfully.  A sum of £36 10s 7d was raised - a result which is most satisfactory.

We hear rumours of a Children's Cantata in preparation, and we are looking forward to hearing how the Upper Plain can acquit itself.

Bideford
The services at Bideford have commenced again after the break due to bad weather. Mrs Falloon has again been instrumental - in more than one way - in keeping up the service.

Parish News December 1923
A Stained Window
Worshippers at St Matthew's will be glad to know that the stained glass window intended as a memorial to the late Lieut. Gerald Mawley has arrived from England and will be dedicated at the morning service on Sunday, December 16th. The window, which is a very good one, will enrich the church and give encouragement to those who would like to see all the windos of the Nave altered in the same way.

Parish News January 1924
At Bideford on the Sunday before Christmas we had an unusual Christmas service. The weather being so hot we chose the kindly shade of a big native tree near the river and there sang our Christmas hymns and joined in the worship heartily. Some people imagine that unaccompanied singing is wanting in heartiness. They should have heard us at BIDEFORD and at WESTMERE where we had to sing without an instrument.

The service at Westmere was held in the schoolroom and was very well attended.

At Fernridge and Kuripuni the celebrations were well attended, Fernridge turning out well for the six o'clock service.

Parish News February 1924
Letter from the Vicar
.. Oh! the organ! the dear grumpy, wheezy old organ. How we wish it could be transported to the islands of Peace, where the gentle zephyrs might play upon its pipes, until the birds had built their nests in every one of them. We do not wish it any harm, only a quiet and peaceful end. So we have been tempted to express ourselves during the spell of dry weather, while the organ has been either out of action or coming into action at the wrong time.

Experts have examined it and say there will not be much real improvement until a different blowing system is installed. Another expense needless, if the work had been properly done at the beginning.  W M Bullock

Parish News June 1924
Fernridge
We were sorry to have to drop the usual service on June 1st, owing to the Empire Service being held on that day. I trust that a good number wil be present on June 15th, as I am preparing a statement giving particulars of the Fernridge Building Fund, and hope to place it in the hands of all concerned at the next service.

Parish News August 1924
Announcement of opening of new Parish Hall by Her Excellency Lady Jellicoe, on Wednesday, August 27th, at 3pm.

Wairarapa Church News September 1924
(published for the Wairarapa, not just St Matthew's_

Wairarapa Church News October 1924
Fernridge Sunday School
Saturday, the 18th October, is to be a great day for the children.

Instead of practising for a play as they did last year, they have all been working hard for a bazaar, which they intend holding on the above date AT THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

The children will be in chage of the stalls - the Sweets and Cakes, Dolls' Stall, Novelty Stall, Fairy Well and Cocoanut shies - and hope you will all come along and buy some sweet and useful things to help along the Sunday School Funds.

Wairarapa Church News December 1924
Letter from the Vicar ( W M Bullock)
"You will see there are to be celebrations at 7 am, 8 am and 10 am on Christmas Day. I would draw your attention to the 10 o'clock, not 11 o'clock. Fernridge will have a celebration at 6 am and Kuripuni at 9 am.

Wairarapa Church News February 1925
Fernridge
The residents of Fernridge are asked to take part in a Harvest Festival on March 15th.  Will they bring something and help to decorate? I am sure we shall not ask without there being a good response both in attendance in gifts.

St Matthew's Parish News May 1925
From the Annual Report (AGM 29 April 1925)
Fernridge
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.

St Matthew's Parish News July 1925
Fernridge
It is with great regret that we record that we are soon to lose the valuable services of Miss Hubbard who for the past two and a half years has carried on the work of the Fernridge Sunday School. Miss Hubbard has spared herself in no way to carry out effectively the work for which there is never a rush of applicants. The children of Upper Plain will miss her greatly, and best wishes of everyone will go with her into her new and fuller sphere of life. her place will be taken at least for some months by Miss Celia Major who is already getting to know her pupils. We wish her every success and encouragement.