Parish News - June 1926 - Dec 1932

Last Updated on Friday, 24 September 2010 21:33 Friday, 24 September 2010 21:29

Parish News, June 1926
Te Whiti
Last month a visit was made to the Returned Soldiers' Settlement at Te Whiti, with the object of re-opening the monthly services there. One found that all the Anglican families - about seven in number - were in favour of the suggestion, and their support assured. Arrangements are in hand for the re-establishment of the services. [calendar shows monthly service 4th Sunday in month, 2.30 pm, Service and Sermon.]

Rangitumau
A Sunday School has been opened at Rangitumau with a goodly number of scholars. The services are brightening up, and are a source of encouragement. Mr Blachford has been appointed the Anglican representative on the Board of Trustees.
[calendar shows monthly service 3rd Sunday in month at Rangitumau, 2.30 pm, Service and Sermon]

Parish News July 1926
Te Whiti
Services have been re-established at Te Whiti. On Sunday last a service was held in the school room and encouraging prospects are in view for the new venture. We are glad to note the revival of interest in this district, and we hope that the Church's ministrations may be of real service to those who are living in and around this important settlement. Services will be held every fourth Sunday in the month.

Taueru
The Sunday School has gone into recess until the first Sunday in August, when it is hoped that conditions will be more favourable for its continuance. The response made to the efforts of the teachers has afforded both pleasure and encouragement, and it is to be regretted that circumstances have made a temporary recess necessary.

it is hoped to in the near future to hold a social and dance in the local hall.

Confirmation Classes will commence in the first week in August.

Bideford
Services have been arranged for the fifth Sunday in the month. Will friends kindly make a note of the new arrangement and intimate the same to any who possibly have not been notified.

Parish News, October 1926
Departures
We shall be sorry to lose the Tylees, who are leaving their residence, "Llandaff," on the Upper Plain. Miss Tylee has done good work in the Upper Plain Sunday School, for which the residents who have children should be grateful. We wish to thank her now and express the hope that the family will not be lost permanently to the Parish.

Parish Magazine, May 1927
Annual Report notes thanks to Miss Jessie Perry, Upper Plain Sunday School and Mrs W Andrew as organist at Upper Plain.

Parish Magazine , June, 1927
Records Sunday School at Fernridge, every Sunday, 2.30 pm

The Diocesan Synod
The Synod this year opens on Tuesday 5 July and matters of great importance to the Church in New Zealand will be debated. The measure by which an Act of Parliament will we hope be framed, will come up for consideration. It may not be generally known that our Church in this country is somewhat tied and bound by the dead hand of the past. It cannot, for instance, adopt the New Prayer Book of necessity until certain of the fundamental clauses in its constitution are altered. Whether to gain freedom by altering what some people consider very important foundations of the Church in New Zealand is the question which must be weighed carefully. The prayers of all Church folk should be for the Synod in its grave deliberations.

Parish Magazine, February 1928
The Vicar's Letter
I would like to thank Mr and Mrs W Andrew, on behalf of the Church, for their generosity in having the roof of the Upper Plain Church painted. This I omitted to do last month owing to pressure of work. The church is now looking complete and snug and all will appreciate this act of kindness.

Parish Magazine, May 1929
Vicar's Annual report notes Miss Perry as Sunday School teacher.

Parish Magazine, October 1929
Thanks
We would like to express our thanks to Mrs W Andrew for the gift of a crystal jug for use at the Upper Plain Communion Service. This gift supplies a long felt want.

Parish Magazine, December 1929
Permission given by Diocesan Trustees to have the old Church removed.
For a long time we have been desirous of removing the venerable structure owing to the almost disgraceful state into which it had fallen.

Now that permission has been given, we trust that we shall soon miss what has become a painful sight for those who care and who could do nothing to remedy matters.

Not many will remember the time before 1864, when the Rev. W Ronaldson was ministering to the whole of the Wairarapa, and held service in a day school at Masterton, though more will recollect the building of a small structure on the old Church site in 1864, when the Rev. Dan Desbois was appointed first Vicar in charge of Masterton.

The building erected in 1864 served for ten years, until 1874, when it was cut in halves and placed half on each side of the present structure. I understand that the gentleman who cut the timber for the larger portion of the old Church is still with us and remembers also the erection of the Ruamahanga Bridge on the Te Ore Ore Road during the same year. So the old Church and the old bridge which started life together cease their period of usefulness at the same time.

A choir vestry was added, in 1909, to the old Church which remained until 1913 the house of God for our people, when the new church was consecrated.

Some will regret the removal of the old structure hallowed as it must be with many memories, and they will regret more perhaps the probable permanent loss of the site as a position for the chuch in Masterton.

What we have lost in dignity of position we have perhaps made up in the quietness and spaciousness of Church Street.

Parish News, June 1930
Vicar, who has been appointed to St Peter's Willis Street, announces appointment of the Rev. E J Rich as Vicar-designate

Annual Report (undated) perhaps April 1930 - probably W M Bullock's annual report - cover missing from Parish News
Six years ago a Church Hall for services was built at Upper Plain, with the generous help of local residents, at a cost of £500 approximately, on land given by Mr W. Andrew.

The old church has at last been demolished and removed, and the proceeds divided betwen the Parish Fund and the Magazine Fund.

Parish Magazine, August 1930
Rev E J Rich to be instituted on 12 August 1930

Vicar's Farewell Services
In the afternoon there was a very large congregation at the Upper Plain

[Parish News checked for news items about Fernridge or Bideford to end December 1932 - 04-42/11-8]