Presbyterians mark 125 years with final service

PARISHIONERS will gather for a final Presbyterian service at Papakaio Presbyterian Church in the Waitaki district today.

It marks the end of 125 years of Presbyterian worship at the church, which was constructed in 1893 and opened in 1894. Increasingly, over about five years, it has been used for services by the Church of God, which is in the process of purchasing the church building.

Eveline Presbyterian Church elder Colin Harvey said the decision to cease services at the church was the result of a gradual decline in parishioners that started about a decade ago and had continued since.

‘‘The Presbyterians, probably about 10 years ago, dropped back to two services a month so Esther and Eugen Dupu [Church of God] started picking up the two Sundays the Presbyterians weren’t having worship. A few years after that we dropped back to having one service a month and they picked up the extra day. About 18 months ago, the Presbyterians ceased to have any services there.’’

Parishioners now worship at Eveline Presbyterian Church in Oamaru.

He said it was a shame services had ceased, but it was not entirely unexpected.

‘‘I’m rather disappointed it’s had to come to that. It’s one of those things that’s gone by the way . . . the insufficient local support. You have got a number of other denominations and those folk go and worship elsewhere.’’

Today’s worship service will start at 2.30pm, before a symbolic handing over of the church communion cup will take place.

A plaque will also be laid on the church grounds to mark the 125 years of services.

The church, originally part of the Lower Waitaki Parish, was formally opened on June 10, 1894, after it was decided to build a church on the site that borders State Highway 83 on August 24, 1893, at an approximate cost of £670.

On June 11, 1894, the Oamaru Mail reported on the opening.

‘‘Despite the threatening weather yesterday a very large congregation assembled at the church, when the dedicatory service was taken by the Rev Mr Todd, of Oamaru.’’

The attached hall was built in 1967 and has housed the Lower Waitaki Playcentre for about 50 years, Mr Harvey said.

PHOTO: DANIEL BIRCHFIELD Men of faith . . . Eveline Presbyterian Church elder Colin Harvey (left), Church of God pastor Eugen Dupu and the Rev Andrew Scott, of the Waitaki Presbyterian Parish, at Papakaio Presbyterian Church yesterday. The final presbyterian service, after 125 years of worship there, will be held today.

PHOTO: WAITAKI DISTRICT ARCHIVE Historic . . . Papakaio Presbyterian Church inland from Oamaru, taken on an unknown date shortly after it was opened in 1894.