The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 1
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
CONTENTS
1. Introductory.
2. Antecedents.
3. Beginnings, to 1906
4. Building, 1906
5. Struggle, 1907 to 1935.
6. Advance, 1936 to 1938.
7. War and Peace, 1939 to 1949
8. Jubilee, 1950 to 1954
9. Expansion, 1955 to 1964.
10. Tidying up', 1965 to 1978.
11. On the Move, 1979 to 1982.
12. Resurrection.
Postscript.
Ministers
Acknowledgments
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 2
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
1. INTRODUCTORY
On 16 December 1906 a Methodist church was opened and dedicated in Hinemoa
Street, Rotorua. It was named after a young man who died in the Tarawera eruption.
On 30 May 1982 the closing service of the church, now much enlarged, was held, over
300 people attending. The following day the demolition of the church, to make way
for the erection of shops, was begun. Thus ended over 76 years of continual Methodist
worship on this site.
During that period the original membership of the church had been increased eleven
fold, while the value of church and site had increased over a hundred fold. Rotorua
Methodist Circuit retained a large supermarket building with offices, including the
Church Office, overhead and an adjoining car park. These had been acquired and
added to the original site.
The following Sunday the congregation gathered for worship in borrowed school
premises. Thus began its 'wilderness year' while the new Church Centre was being
planned and erected on a site off Old Taupo Road. The value of this building will be
twice that of the former one.
'Bainbridge' became over the years the central shrine of Methodist witness over a large
area in the region. Other Methodist churches were erected at Mamaku, Ngongotaha
and Clayton Road. Services were held also at Reporoa, Kaharoa, Rotorua and many
other places. Bainbridge saw them come and go. None proved permanently viable for
Methodist witness. The central plateau is not Methodist country. Only at Taupo was it
possible for the circuit to establish a further Methodist church which grew into a
circuit itself and became a partner in a strong Union Parish.
Through the years a vigorous cause was centred on Bainbridge, rich in its ministry to a
growing town, city and district. It ministered also to a steady stream of visitors in war
and peace times from all over the world.
This is an attempt to sketch the story of Bainbridge church. Only side glances will be
made to other ventures in the life of the circuit.
Buildings of course are not the essence of the Church's life. This the Bainbridge folk
are discovering afresh first hand in their homeless year.
It is comparatively easy to trace the history of church buildings and some of the
activities that take place within and about their walls. The story of the church's deepest
life and work cannot be recorded. It has to do with the impact of preaching, teaching
and conversation and service touching countless people. It includes untold pastoral
and community contacts made over the years.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 3
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
The Church is what God does with people. The full story of Bainbridge Church would
include the record of countless people who down the years have enriched its life. But
space is limited and the record is uneven.
Ministers for obvious reasons get most mention. Their wives receive minimal
remembrance. Both in the days when the church expected them to be unpaid curatereceptionists and in later years when they were rather more free to choose their service
their work goes largely undocumented.
Rotorua Methodism has been richly blessed in the succession of gifted and devoted
men and women. Often father was followed by son and daughter succeeded mother in
service and leadership. Not to mention any by name would be to make the story
utterly unreal. To mention all the most prominent would be to make it a catalogue. A
few names have been included here and there to personalise the record. They must
represent the others.
Many are still serving the church after long years of activity. There are younger folk
willing to carry on in these days when the church is more affluent but less popular.
Yet it must not be forgotten that church buildings too are important tools of the
Church. They help to make it visible and anchor it in a community. They provide a
physical setting in which folk meet at every level of life from a bazaar to a funeral.
Some church buildings survive the centuries. They witness, as do the great cathedrals,
to the faith of past generations who built them and the changeless realities of the
gospel that sustains them. Others, like Bainbridge, are less enduring.
Its shape and size were varied over the years to meet changing needs. Now its people
face a greater transition than ever before as they seek to replace church and half with a
Church Centre embodying the best insights they can gather as to spiritual and social
needs today and in the future years.
The seriousness with which this task is being faced is shown by the ten page 'brief’ (?)
presented by the church trustees to the architect of the new Centre.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 4
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
2. ANTECEDENTS.
Rotorua city, now incorporated in the Rotorua District Council area of approaching
60,000 people, is situated on the southern shore of Rotorua the lake. This occupies a
caldera or deep cauldron like cavity which was once the summit of a volcano. The city
is the centre of the principal thermal area of New Zealand, with twenty lakes within
twenty miles of it and hot and cold springs, geysers and bubbling pools within its
central area. It is today the main North Island tourist resort, the centre also of the
North Island timber industry and an important show place for Maori art and culture.
Since the discovery of cobalt treatment of the land it has also become an important
farming centre.
Among the Maoris who came to New Zealand in 1350 AD., the people of the Arawa
canoe settled in the Bay of Plenty after landing at Maketu. That same year one of
them, Ihanga, is said to have named the lake Rotorua. The main settlement of the area
probably took place about 1440 as the main Arawa tribes moved inland. The centuries
following saw much intertribal warfare and cannibalism.
Ngapuhi from the north raided the Arawa in 1823 but it was one of their warriors,
Pita, who married an Arawa slave girl, worked in a northern mission station became a
Christian and later went south with his wife to tell the Christian story for the first time
at Rotorua.
The Dutch pakeha-Maori, Philip Tapsell, trading at Maketu, was probably the first
white man to see Rotorua, in 1830. The pioneer Anglican missionaries Henry
Williams and Thomas Chapman, with a Maori missionary Taiwhanga, visited Rotorua
the following year. Williams had been urged to do so by an Arawa chief and tohunga,
rango, whose life he had saved at Paihia. Williams led the first Christian service at
Rotorua near where St. Faith's church now stands, speaking to 500 people. He
promised a mission station.
Chapman, with initial help from two other missionaries Knight and Pilley, began the
Koutu mission station in 1831. However the area was raided by the Waikato chief, Te
Waharoa, intent on revenge for the murder of a relative. There was terror and
cannibalism and on Christmas day the mission station was burnt, Pilley and Knight
being wounded.
Chapman and his wife re-established the mission in 1838 on Mokoia Island on
Rotorua, living in a raupo hut. Chapman travelled widely and by 1840 recorded a total
of 2000 regular worshippers in the district. At that time the mission was moved to Te
Ngae on the shore of the lake.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 5
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
During these years Tapsell, for purposes of trade no doubt, opposed an extension of
mission work among the Arawa. He was of course very much frowned upon by the
Church Missionary Society.
The first known Methodist contact with the area appears to be that of Rev. J. Buller.
While at Kaipara he was instructed by the Methodist District Meeting in 1839 to
proceed to Port Nicholson to finalise arrangements for a mission station there which
had been initiated by Bumby and Hobbs. This involved for Buller a journey by foot of
500 miles by native tracks and over unbridged rivers. It took three months.
Buller it seems walked past Rotorua and Lake Taupo. Morley the Methodist historian
does not give details about Rotorua but says that, in his journal and report to the
London Committee, Buller notes that after leaving the shores of Rotorua he and his
party travelled for nearly five days without meeting a single individual of seeing the
vestige of a dwelling. He was told at Taupo that those living thereabouts formerly had
been killed and eaten or driven away and enslaved.
The Te Ngae Anglican station was closed in 1850 when Chapman retired in bad health
and Rev. Seymour Spender directed the mission trom his station above Te Wairoa
village. This in turn was closed at the time of the Te Kooti raids. In 1867 Waikato
Hauhaus attacked Ohinemutu and in 1870 Te Kooti raided Rotorua. In both cases the
Arawa drove out their enemies with the help of government troops under Gilbert Mair.
It was in 1870 also that the Duke of Edinburgh visited the thermal area and the first
telegraph service was installed. Until then Rotorua had been little known Maon
territory but it now became known to the world at large.
The present central city area was chosen as a site for settlement for purely tourist
purposes. With boiling springs right on hand it was within easy distance of the thermal
activity and scenic beauty of the whole Lakes district. It was also at the junction of
ancient paths, the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh brought invaluable publicity. By the
early eighties visitors were coming in increasing numbers to 'take the waters.'
The Thermal Springs District Act of 1881 made available 125 of the 600 acres of the
original township for European settlement. The centre of activity began to shift from
Ohinemutu to the adjacent Rotorua village proper Actual settlement began in earnest
in 1882.
The great setback to tourist prospects occurred only four years later. In 1886 the
Tarawera eruption, one of New Zealand's greatest natural disasters, took place.
Situated twenty miles from Rotorua Mt. Tarawera, a volcanic pile nine miles long,
blew up on 10 June. The eruption lasted six hours and with the accompanying
earthquakes wiped out three villages, killed 153 people, submerged the major tourist
attraction of the district, the Pink and White Terraces, forever, dried up a 284 acre
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 6
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
lake, greatly damaged countryside and communications and covered some 6000
square miles of land and sea with poisonous ash and debris.
Among the six Europeans who died the night of the eruption was Edwin Bainbridge.
Edwin Armstrong Bainbridge was born on 5 May 1866. His story has been told in
“Edwin Bainbridge. A Memoir." by T. Darlington and retold in print a number of
times including a notable account recently in "Tarawera” by Eugene and Valerie
Grayland. A worthy summary of his life appears in the Jubilee Souvenir "Rotorua
Methodism 1904-1954." by Rev. John Silvester The history of his family was privately
published in 1979, entitled "The Bambndges of Newcastle” by Angela and John Airey.
Edwin's father was a prominent Newcastle-on-Tyne Methodist but he died when
Edwin was seven. Shortly afterwards the boy's mother died also and he and his
brothers and sisters were brought up by their grandmother. In 1885 Edwin's elder
brother died from a gunshot accident only two months after his younger sister had also
died. Edwin was sent on an overseas trip partly for his health, which had never been
robust, and partly to help him recover from these tragic bereavements.
Though deeply religious he seems to have been a well rounded youth enjoying a
football match in Auckland and some shooting at Te Wairoa the day before he died.
He had indeed arranged for further shooting next day. He had already visited the
famous terraces and heard the Maori story of a phantom canoe seen a .week earlier,
boding no good. He had also talked with Guide Sophia who was worried about
unusual thermal activity.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 7
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
When the eruption and earthquakes began shortly after midnight Bainbridge
accompanied others up the hill to the old mission station to view the sight. Later in
McRae's hotel he asked his companions if they would like him to pray. This he did,
his last words being "O God, be with us now. Our lives are in thy hand. And should
we meet thee at this time, have mercy and forgive."
With increasingly frightening noises from falling mud and stones on the hotel and
sulphurous fumes increasing Bainbridge read aloud the story of Christ and the dying
thief. He spoke to the group reminding them they might be ushered into God's
presence at any time, telling of God's power to deliver and save and suggesting that
the brief respite given to them might be a gracious opportunity to give their lives to
God.
He then wrote down his own last record:
"This is the most awful moment of my life. I cannot tell when I may be called
upon to meet my God. I am thankful that I find His strength sufficient for me.
We are under heavy falls of volcano...."
Clad in the evangelical terminology of nineteenth century Methodism, these words are
surely worthy to be included in the annals of the Christian Church which speak so
often in every age of the triumph of faith over fear and of serenity in the face of
tragedy.
The position in the hotel was now
becoming intolerable although the
mud was mercifully cold when it
landed at Te Wairoa. The company
set out for the shelter of Guide
Sophia's house. It had a steeply
pitched roof. Edwin did not make
it.
Perhaps delayed by his solicitude
for others he was killed by the
falling balcony of the hotel,
overloaded with volcanic mud and
stones. His grave and tombstone are
in Ngongotaha cemetery. His
memorial is Rotorua Methodist
church.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 8
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
3. BEGINNINGS - 1906
Bainbridge by his heroic death gave Methodist faith a place in the story of Rotorua. It
was fitting therefore that when a Methodist church was built there twenty years later it
should bear his name. But Methodism was the last of the major denominations to
establish a presence in the town. This is partly because of the old missionary
agreement which delegated separate spheres of work to Anglicans and Methodists
among the Maori people.
After the establishment of the Anglican Mission to the Arawa people services were
held in the growing township. By the early 1880s services were conducted in
Morrison's or other Ohinemutu hotels, mainly for visitors. In 1885 the first St. Faiths
Church was built at Ohinemutu and in 1899 St. Luke's Anglican Church was built in
Haupapa Street in Rotorua township itself.
The Roman Catholic Church also had historic roots in the area Bishop Pompalier and
a party visited Rotorua on foot from Maketu in 1841 and promised priests. When they
came they too lived in raupo huts. It is believed that the Manst Father Euloge Reignier
built the first Catholic church on Pukeroa Hill. In 1888 St. Michael's church was built
at Ohinemutu.
The first Presbyterian minister came in 1894 and St. John's Church was built two
years later. There were Salvation Army barracks at Ohinemutu by 1897.
It was the growth of Rotorua township and the tourist trade in the years following the
disastrous setback of the Tarawera eruption which finally resulted in Methodist
activity. The fact that Methodism seems deliberately to have abstained from
missionary activity may go far to explain two features of that Church s witness in later
years.
Firstly, the Church seems to have had only sporadic involvement with the Maori
people and their culture. Rev. Jack Silvester who was minister 1950-53 recalls
fellowship with Maori Methodists in the surrounding districts as a very happy part of
his ministry. He mentions the Waaka family at Mourea and Napi Waaka, later a
Methodist minister and well known Maori leader as a then shy schoolboy training to
be a plumber. He also remembers the Clarke and other families farming land owned
by Princess Te Puea at Tikitere. Rev Mahana Winiata also taught for a period at
Tikitere School. He assisted in the circuit and the present writer remembers sharing in
services at that time for Maori folk at Tikitere. Rev. Tom Carr held services at Rotoma
School and Kev Allon Carr at a pa near Rotoma. He and Napi Waaka shared in
services for Maori folk in Bainbridge Church in Maori and English on a Sunday
afternoon.
None of these activities however was sustained.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 9
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
One wishes that the first minister, Rev. A.J. Seamer, later a most successful Methodist
leader among the Maori people, had been able to stay longer in this centre of Maori
life. An attempt in 1946 by the church leaders to have a deaconess appointed to work
among the Maori people in the district was also unsuccessful.
No doubt the old missionary agreement had a lingering psychological effect It is worth
noting however that at one stage the Anglican Church begged the Methodists to
appoint a Maori minister to care for the hundreds of Methodist Maoris it claimed to be
in the district. This approach also was unsuccessful.
Secondly it is of note that Methodism was unsuccessful, as we have mentioned, in
establishing strong permanent causes in the surrounding area. As elsewhere this may
have been the result of our relative weakness in numbers in New Zealand and our lack
of national affiliations which provided nominal adherence to the larger churches. But
one suspects we came on the scene too late and failed to minister to the total
community.
Officially the area came within the bounds of the Upper Thames Circuit of the
Methodist Church of Australasia. John B. Beeche’s brochure "The Upper Thames
Circuit 1881—1916" is a valuable source of information. The Circuit was centred on
Te Aroha but extended its witness throughout a large part of the Waikato and adjacent
areas.
Mamaku, a timber town, was at this time larger than Rotorua. In April 1902 the
Superintendent Minister of the Circuit, Rev. C. Abernethy, was requested "to
reconnoitre the new district between Morrinsville and Mamaku.” Later Rev. J. Belton
spent two weeks in the Mamaku district.
Mamaku was later to become a part of the Putaruru Circuit and at other times was
within the Rotorua Circuit before becoming a Presbyterian cause attached finally to
the Ngongotaha Parish.
The attention of the Circuit had now been directed southward. In 1903 on two
occasions "concern was expressed to the connexional authorities" says Beeche "for the
need of establishing Methodism in the town of Rotorua, which had become New
Zealand's chief thermal tourist centre."
"Hitherto" says Beeche "the few Methodists at Rotorua had been neglected, except for
occasional services conducted in the homes of Mr. J. Wylie and Mr. J. Rosser, either
by themselves or by a visitor, or a Local Preacher from Upper Thames. The
Conference of 1904, recognising the urgency, created the Rotorua Circuit, and
appointed Rev. A.J. Seamer as the first minister."
Seamer came to a church of eight members.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 10
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
This move by the Conference was not before time. Morley's massive "History of
Methodism in New Zealand" was published too early to include the inception of the
Rotorua Circuit. However in tracing the history of the Tauranga Circuit Morley points
out that it was the smallest of all Auckland provincial circuits. He states that it had
been of some size formerly as the departure point for coaches to Rotorua "and the
streams of tourists gave the place a factitious importance, while the amount expended
furnished considerable employment.' He cites the opening of the railway from
Waikato to the Lakes as having changed all this and inflicting a blow from which at
that date Tauranga had hardly recovered.
The railway had opened at the end of 1894. The timber trade was developing. In 1897
the population of Rotorua was 500.
Seamer, who was later to become the distinguished General Superintendent of
Methodist Home and Maori Missions, was then a young probationer who had
commenced his ministry the previous year at Weedons in the Springston Circuit in
Canterbury.
Rev. A. J. Seamer
The first Quarterly Meeting of the newly formed Circuit was held on 19 July 1904 in
No. 55 Bathgate House at 7pm. It was presided over by the Chairman of the District,
Rev. C.H. Garland and also present were Rev. A.J. Seamer and Messrs Wylie, Senior,
and J. Rosser who was appointed secretary to the meeting. The minutes of the meeting
state that "it was decided that the following entry be made in the minutes of the
meeting as it would probably be useful information for future reference: 'Our services
were first started here in the Assembly Hall on Nov. 8th. 1903, the Rev. C.C. Harrison
preaching on that occasion and the services being continued by visiting ministers until
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 11
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
the Conference of 1904 when the Rev. A.J. Seamer was appointed as the first Circuit
Minister.
The meeting proceeded to make the necessary appointments. "Bro. Wylie was
nominated by the Chairman for the position of Circuit Steward and duly appointed.
Bros. J. Rosser and R. Smith were nominated by the Chairman as Society Stewards
and were duly appointed."
The minister's stipend was fixed at £120 for the year. It was recorded that since the
minister's arrival the collection of eleven Sundays had totalled £14/14/10d. A Home
Missions grant of £10 had been received. Payments included £30 to the minister,
£1/3/10d for advertising, £6/11/- for removal expenses, 9/6d for lighting. Connexional
Charges were £2/17/6d and a Debit Balance of £16/ 7/- was recorded.
This last was a shadow of things to come. Very rarely did the Circuit Fund show a
credit and even more rarely the Trust Account until the days of Rev Tom Carr during
World War II. Only with the advent of the Wells Organisation canvasses and the
acquisition of revenue producing property were finances on anything but a hand to
mouth basis.
The meeting decided that one evening's collection during the quarter should go to
Foreign Missions. The Chairman promised to do what he could to procure a special
Home Missions grant. Mr Wylie promised a subsidy of five shillings to every pound
granted. The meeting closed with the benediction at 8.15pm, in its duration at least a
model that later meetings might well have tried to emulate.
On many occasions over the years the Methodist Church of New Zealand was
rcrnmded that Rotorua as the principal tourist resort was a front window for
Methodism and merited connexional support. On the whole it seems to have received
worthy treatment by the Stationing Committee of Conference But while a few
individuals responded to the needs of the Rotorua church with generous assistance on
the whole the message was not heard, the circuit at best receiving small Home
Missions grants. The appeal to the connexion for building funds seems to have evoked
only a modest response.
The second Quarterly Meeting, held at Mr. Smith's residence in Eruera Street on 12
October 1904, was chaired by Mr. Seamer and also included Messrs Wylie, Rosser
and R. Smith. It adopted a balance sheet showing a 'deficit balance’ of £23/ 2/11d. It
was decided to give an evening service collection to each of Home and Foreign
Missions. The following motion was then passed unanimously: "That this meeting
respectfully remind the District Synod of the urgent need for the immediate erection of
a Church at Rotorua, and in view of the peculiar characteristics of the work request the
Synod to recommend to Conference of 1905 to take steps to formulate and
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 12
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
immediately launch a Connexional scheme for the erecting of a suitable building on
this site which has already been procured."
The minutes note that the connexional authorities had already decided that the Rotorua
Building Scheme should be a connexional matter. It was noted that there was strong
support for this from the Connexional Secretary It was further recorded that the results
of the past six months more than justified the existence of the church fellowship but
that the erection of a church would greatly increase its efficiency. The local people
would give their utmost support to such a venture but were not strong enough
numerically or financially to bear the burden alone. "Furthermore" states the minutes,
"as the need of a Church is due to the large visiting population we have no hesitation
in appealing to New Zealand Methodism for assistance."
The meeting also decided to ask for a Home Missions grant of £50 — they were given
£45 — and to convey thanks for financial assistance to Mr. W.S. Allen.
W. Shepherd Allen, an Oxford M.A., was a prominent Staffordshire Methodist of
independent means. He was a British member of Parliament from 1865 to 1886. A
keen Liberal in politics he was also an evangelical Local Preacher who served the
church generously both personally and financially. He first visited New Zealand in
1885 and after his retirement settled at Allendale' near Morrmsville. His two sons
became the youngest Local Preachers in New Zealand, beginning to preach at 14 years
of age. Allen was appointed with Joseph Wylie as one of the first Circuit Stewards at
Rotorua. He and his son John head the list of original Trustees there. It was Allen who
paid the rent — £26 for the use of the Assembly Hall for the first services and he
advanced part of the money for the purchase of the church site. Later he became
treasurer of the connexional fund to aid the Rotorua venture.
On 22 March 1905 Seamer chaired a meeting to form a local board of Trustees. The
Allens are listed first plus Joseph Wylie, Joseph Rosser and George Henderson.
The 1905 Conference duly responded to the appeal of the Rotorua Methodists and
passed the following resolution: "That this Conference sanctions the President and
Chairman of the Auckland District making an appeal to the Connexion generally on
behalf of the erection of a church building at Rotorua, suitable not only for the
requirements of the residents but also for the tourists who, in increasing numbers, visit
this resort of worldwide fame. The Conference heartily commends this appeal to the
Methodists of New Zealand, and advise the promoters to lay the case before
Methodists of other lands. The Conference learns with pleasure that Mr W. Shepherd
Allen, M.A. is willing to act as Treasurer in this enterprise, and appoints him to that
office."
The site which had been described as 'procured' the previous year was now legally
'acquired'. It was of area one rood and contained a cottage and was held on Crown
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 13
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
Lease. The cost price was £400. The annual rental to the Crown was fixed at £3. Allen
advanced £170 which was repaid by October. The first subscription list recorded a
total of £30. £100 was loaned by the Church Building and Loan Fund and £100 was
borrowed on a short mortgage at 8% interest to be repaid later that year.
The cottage was rented to a Miss Cunningham for eight shillings weekly.
Conference 1905 also appointed Rev. E.P. Blamires as Probationary Minister. He
visited Shepherd Allen on 3 May with Wylie and again on 18 May with the District
Chairman. It was decided to produce 2000 circulars commending the new church
scheme "to the Methodist people throughout the colony and elsewhere." Blamires
himself travelled widely furthering the appeal as later he was to travel New Zealand
furthering the work of Methodist Sunday Schools.
At the end of June membership of the church was reported as 11 with 1 'on trial' as
probationary membership was then described. There was a Bible Class of 10 and a
Junior Class of 10, the average attendance being 'good in proportion.' A Weeknight
Fellowship meeting was being held uniting on alternate weeks with the Presbyterians
in their church, most Methodist members attending. By October there were 18
members, six junior members and a Sunday School of 25, attendance being good.
A Mr Johnson was appointed the first choirmaster in October, the first of a long and
able line of men and women who led the music of the church. In January 1906 it was
decided to ask Mr Allen to "use his endeavours" to acquire the freehold of the church
site. However this was not achieved until 56 years later. The cost — £4,574/7/10d —
would have staggered the original trustees.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 14
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
4. BUILDING. 1906.
Conference 1906 gave formal sanction for the erection of the church and appointed
Alexander Reed as Probationary Minister. Reed, described by John Beeche as "one of
the saintliest as well as one of the most practical of men" was 26 when he came to
Rotorua.
Rev. A. J. Reed
He later served at Paeroa and Te Aroha and died in 1912 at the age of 32. The church
was built during his year at Rotorua. It was Alexander Reed who wrote the words of a
Visitors' Hymn sung to the tune Toulon which was used frequently especially at
evening services in Bainbridge until World War II and later. It came to have a special
place in the church's life and is worthy of inclusion here:
Eternal Father, let Thy glory shine
Irradiant in this Temple built with hands,
To cheer the hearts of all who turn aside
To worship Thee from near and distant lands.
Here many a one shall come but for a day,
Nor one familiar human face shall see;
Dear Saviour, make Thy gracious face to shine,
And let their hearts rejoice, beholding Thee.
Most Holy Spirit who Thy home dost make
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 15
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
In every heart that seeks Thee for a guest,
Teach every transient pilgrim in this house
Sweet fellowship to find with all the blest.
Dear Trinity beloved, power supreme
Make this Thy house a place of prayer for all,
Where suppliants numberless shall cry to Thee,
And Thou shaft answer every heart-felt call.
To hearts unblessed let here Thy pardon come;
Let every sin from every heart be cast:
Lead us on earth to seek Thy perfect will,
And serve Thee sinless round Thy throne at last.
The effect of this hymn upon successive congregations that sang it must have varied.
The writer remembers how it spoke to our condition when sung at evening services
during World War 11 attended by service personnel and visitors even in wartime from
many parts of the world as well as anxious local folk.
Preparations for financing and erecting the church went on apace during 1906. A
Trustees meeting of 3 September notes that the trustees met in "The Parsonage,
Hinemoa Street." Accounts were passed for moving the parsonage and rebuilding the
chimney. The same minutes refer to "Shifting of cottage etc". — the same building. It
was divided into two small flats, one occupied by the single minister and the other let
to a tenant. This cottage, shifted to make way for the church, was on the east side of
the site and later used for church purposes until demolished to make way for additions
in 1954.
Plans were adopted on 6 June. They were the work of Mr A.H. White an Auckland
architect and were donated to the church. A minute of the following year records a
vote of thanks and appreciation to Mr White. Tenders were advertised for and required
by 30 June. In November the architect was instructed to inform the contractor "that the
church must be finished by 8 December or penalties would be enforced.
The church was opened on 16 December. The preacher at the opening was Rev.
George Bond, Chairman of the District, then ministering at Pitt Street Auckland. The
following Quarterly Meeting resolved "that an expression of thankfulness to Almighty
God for the success that has attended the efforts in Rotorua and for the consummation
of many hopes in the erection of a Church Building be recorded."
The Foundation Stone had been laid on 3 October at 3 pm, less than three months
before the opening. Those taking part then included Captain Henson of the Salvation
Army, Rev. F. Stubbs, Presbyterian, Rev. F.A. Bennett later the first Bishop of
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 16
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
Aotearoa, and Rev. Thomas Fee, Methodist who with Shepherd Allen gave addresses.
The Choir sang two "Old Methodist Tunes" -Nativity and Diadem.
The building was typical of the period, built of wooden weather boards. It had a small
front porch, gothic windows, a round window over the porch a tower and side
pinnacles. Minor leaks from the tower and porch seem to have been a bother
periodically during their life.
The building cost £680 and the debt on completion was £471/ 17/6d. The connexion
had obviously not come to the party m any major way.
It was decided to purchase 150 hymnbooks (new edition) - quite an act of faith for a
church of 20 members. It was also decided to provide seats instead of chairs. They
were made by a local tradesman and cost £69/10/- to seat 200. The church was 45 feet
by 30 feet.
Two foundation stones, which will be set either side of the entrance to the new church
complex, bear the inscriptions "Memorial stone laid by Mrs J Wylie October 3rd
1906" and a similar stone laid by Mrs W.S. Allen.
1906
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 17
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
5. STRUGGLE. 1907-1935
Scanning the records of the next thirty years of the church's life one is impressed
mostly by the ceaseless struggle of a dedicated group of men and women to maintain
and extend the witness of the church, especially in years of war and depression.
Most of the church's resources had to come from its own membership and the
offerings of occasional visitors. A few individuals helped substantially. They gave
gifts and free of interest loans. Early donors included Shepherd Allen and A.C.
Caughey. Much later Eric Winstone was to prove a generous and practical friend.
The promise of the original connexional appeal and the call to the connexion for
continuing support were not fully endorsed. After the church had been standing for
forty years the Home Missions grant was just 50 pound per annum. Not until the later
years of World War 11 was the Circuit Fund generally in credit.
Every possible effort was made by the members to pay the church's way. Bazaars,
money trees, rose shows, entertainments were all used to raise meagre funds, the
Ladies Guild was very active in this regard. In later years the Church Anniversary was
used each year as occasion for a special financial appeal. The membership was
exhorted by letter to clear off debts, special guests were invited to speak at Saturday
socials and Sunday services. They included Bernard Chrystall, Rita Snowden and Dr.
David Williams.
The Envelope System was commended to the people many times but with a very
limited response. Regular substantial support had to await the days of Stewardship
Missions. Later on the acquisition of revenue producing property and the
establishment of an Opportunity Shop transformed the situation.
Appeals for a wide variety of causes beyond the circuit were constantly received. The
usual response was a retiring offering or an evening service collection.
Membership of the church and its Sunday School and Bible Class grew steadily but
very slowly, perhaps reflecting the slow development of the town and its
preoccupation with attracting and serving the tourists.
An early yearning of the leaders was for a fully ordained minister. This would seem
justified in view of the recognition by the connexion of the nature of the church.
Financially however this proved impossible for many years. The circuit had to ask to
be relieved of its obligation to provide for a married man year after year. The church
waited fourteen years for their first married ordained minister.
Throughout the years constant attempts were made to establish and maintain outlying
causes in the district. None of them except Taupo became strong or permanent.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 18
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
The trustees gave meticulous attention to the practicalities of maintaining the church
At their meeting of 1 May 1907 for example, they asked the painter who had carried
out 'extras' in painting the church to be present and after discussion succeeded in
getting him to reduce his account to £8, which was then passed for payment the
secretary to send for cheque." They then adjourned till 19 May when the account for
scrubbing the church – 12/10d - was passed for payment. Joseph Johnson, Overseer
and Richard Thomas, contractor' were elected trustees and it was decided that “the
WC be moved and fixed up, front fence be put up and Pulpit be raised 15 inches.”
This no doubt brought it nearer to the desired "six feet above contradiction.” Six
hymnbooks with tunes were to be bought costing £1/9/8d the lot - this may be
compared to the new 'With One Voice’ hymnbook which costs $24.95 per music
edition.
From its inception till World War I the circuit was served by eight probationary
ministers. Revs A.J. Seamer, E.P. Blamires, A.J. Reed and G F Stockwell each served
one year only. They were followed by Rev H.A.G. Keck, J.D. McArthur and C.B.
Jordan who stayed two years each.
Rev. Harold Peat served the circuit from 1914 to 1916. After war service he became
the first active ordained married minister for one year.
In 1909 it was decided to add a leanto social room, thereafter referred to as the hall, at
the back of the church. This was done and by October the hall was offered to the
I.O.G.T. Lodge for weekly meetings free of charge for the three months. Many other
community organisations availed themselves of the use of the hall. The trustees got
quotes for fifty chairs from Auckland Methodist firms but decided not to procure
linoleum for the hall for the present.
Mr Keck told the Quarterly Meeting members in June that a service had been started
at Kaharoa and that "although the Methodists were the last to start in Rotorua, yet we
were the first to start in Kaharoa, which was very gratifying.
In January 1910 the Quarterly Meeting was told that the Bible Class was “not being
too satisfactory.” It was decided to take steps to improve it or start a Christian
Endeavour Society! This step proved unnecessary. Two years later the Class was
reported as being in a very encouraging condition. There was also a Sunday School
roll of 35 with average attendance of 30.
That year a hearty vote of thanks was passed to W.S. Allen for past services as
Senior.Circuit Steward "and this meeting expressed regret at the steps taken by the
Rev. T.G. Brooke in the matter.”
Brooke was then Home Missions Organising Secretary. One wonders whether he had
expressed disapproval of an absentee Circuit Steward or prohibited his reappointment.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 19
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
Mr Kibblewhite was re-elected as Junior Circuit Steward. Joseph Wylie Senior, had
died the previous year. The position of Senior Circuit Steward was allowed to remain
vacant for the time being.
The same meeting recommended that the choir sing at the sanitorium on Sunday
afternoons. The government had built a sanitorium in what is now the Government
Gardens. It opened in December 1886, the year of the Tarawera eruption. The church
has been associated with services and singing at local hospitals and homes ever since.
Records of these years are full of trivia concerning the church buildings and activities
which give an insight into the times. In 1911 the first of many leaks in the church roof
was noted, the first mention is made of the Tennis Club - it was given permission "to
move the double gates and to confer with Messrs Smith and Tuck re the corner" - and
it was decided to rail in the choir platform - hardly necessary in a day of full length
skirts.
The following year Miss Hames was thanked for donating communion linen, the
appointment of Miss Wallace as organist was confirmed and it was decided by the
trustees to write to a brother asking for an explanation of non-attendance at meetings
or resignation. He duly resigned. It was decided to leave the matter of the communion
rail and battening the choir chairs together "in the hands of the minister." No doubt
J.D. McArthur or C.S. Jordan, M.A. did their duty.
McArthur was granted on leaving, a bonus of £6 on his salary of £120 per annum "in
recognition of the satisfactory state he was leaving the finances of the Circuit." He had
seen the usual debit balance turn into a credit of £17/14/2d. Payment by results! For
the time being the Home Missions grant had been made unnecessary. Mamaku Church
had been added to the Circuit also.
Monthly church socials were commenced also in 1912 and there are reports of
services at Ngongotaha and Kaharoa. Two officials spoke briefly against dancing.
In 1913 the Methodist Church of New Zealand was inaugurated. The Wesleyans had
separated from the Australasian church and amalgamated with the Primitive Methodist
Church. The nine Rotorua officials voted for the union. A visiting committee of 19
members was appointed with power to add. It was however resolved "that this meeting
is of the opinion that the Conference has been misinformed as to the financial position
of the Rotorua Circuit. "It was decided that the rent of the minister's room at the
cottage should be paid from the Circuit Fund from 1 April. Membership in July 1913
was 49 with 10 Juniors. Mr Jordan offered to see Rev. and Mrs. Bennett "re magic
lantern for Foreign Missions meeting."
The Quarterly Meeting members passed a resolution deploring the evils of the drink
traffic, believing it should be destroyed by the vote of the people. It affirmed that the
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 20
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
decision of the question by any majority other than a simple majority was "neither
democracy nor fair play."
Members also deplored the tendency towards Sunday desecration "in this country
generally and in this town particularly." Local Methodists and those visiting Rotorua
were called on to set an example to the community by carefully refraining from
games, picnics, and excursions on the Sunday.
The Methodist social crusading conscience was alive and well. The Methodists were
good 'deplorers' but usually counselled positive steps as well.
By October 1913 membership was 56 with 10 Juniors and a Sunday School of 56.
Rev. E.P. Blamires returned to his former church to conduct a Mission of which we
have no record.
It is interesting to read the records of the year 1914 as the world trembled at the end of
an era. The church was concerned to get a satisfactory organ. A deputation to Mr
Kelly to get help for the Organ Fund from Lyric Pictures was unsuccessful. It was
decided however to write to the N.Z. Express Company to find out the cost of freight,
duty etc. on an organ from America to Auckland, value about £20 and weight 400
pounds. The organ fund venture was not a success. The following year it was decided
to divide the balance of the fund, £6/19/1d, by giving 19/1d to the Trust, £3 to the
choir and £3 as nucleus for a Piano Fund.
As war loomed the idea of building a parsonage was also explored. Mr Kibblewhite
was thanked for building an approach to the front porch of the church for invalid
chairs - concern for the disabled is not new.
There is no record of any trustee meeting from January 1915 until October 1917. The
war had turned attention no doubt to other things.
The Quarterly Meeting of July 1914 decided to recommend to the trustees that the
name of the church be The Methodist Church. However Bainbridge it remained to the
end. Fresh cards were to be printed advertising the services in boarding houses, a
practice carried out down the years often in co-operation with other churches.
The minister was allowed two guineas (£2/2/-) horse hire for the previous quarter.
Records do little to show the impact of the first World War. However in July 1915
officials recorded their sympathy with Mr and Mrs H. Kibblewhite "in the loss of their
gallant son Leonard, who valiantly laid down his life at the Dardanelles while fighting
for his King and Country in the cause of righteousness and international integrity."
In 1916 it was decided to take up the collection before the choir anthem but this was
done for one quarter only after which it was decided to return to the old form. One
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 21
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
wonders what positive or negative effects upon the offertory the anthem may have
had.
More importantly, that year Rev. Harold Peat was offered a "Y.M.C.A. Chaplaincy."
However a special Quarterly Meeting resolved to ask him to withdraw his application.
He replied that having accepted the offer under the hand of the President of
Conference as an honourable man he could not withdraw. The meeting however
decided to send a telegram to the President pointing out than an extraordinary meeting
had unanimously upheld their recent letter to him. "Rotorua church and soldiers here
require him."
Membership by now was 82 and the Circuit Fund showed a small but consistent
credit.
Mr Peat was retained for the time being.
The October Quarterly Meeting decided it was advisable to build a parsonage as soon
as possible but in the meantime to rent a house. Harold Peat was due for ordination
and permission to marry early the following year and it appears had been invited to the
Tauranga Circuit.
It was resolved "that this Quarterly Meeting is prepared to fulfil its obligation to take a
married minister in full connexion providing Conference gives us a grant of 100
pounds a year, the Q.M. feeling it is impossible to do it for less For the following
reasons:- first, the Rotorua pulpit ministers not only to the residents of Rotorua but
also to Methodists all over New Zealand, therefore we think it should be assisted by
the Connexional funds and, second, owing to the isolated position of Rotorua,
practically all finances must be met by the Rotorua Church." It was unamimously
decided to invite Mr Peat for another year, a letter to be sent to the Tauranga Circuit
explaining the position.
The following meeting decided the matter of the parsonage and furniture be left to the
Circuit Stewards and on receipt of news from Conference the Quarterly Meeting "be
called together and fix it up."
It was not to be yet. Harold Peat was ordained, duly married, and served overseas as a
Chaplain to the Forces, his wife living in Rotorua. During his absence Rev. John
Nixon, a supernumary, was supply minister.
Nixon may have been past his most active years for it was decided in July 1917 "to
sell the bike and put the money to the Piano Fund." Mr Kibblewhite offered the church
the first refusal on a house of his for a parsonage but this was declined. It was not the
time for property ventures — but new concrete steps were provided for the church.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 22
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
The hall continued to be used for a wide variety of community activities but each
application was considered carefully. The Rotorua Drum and Fife Band for example
was refused permission.
In September 1918 a unanimous invitation was given to Chaplain Peat to serve in the
circuit again the following year, the Home Missions grant of £60 being re-applied for.
Peat returned to Rotorua the following April.
The matter of a parsonage had now become urgent. An offer was received from Mr
Kemster and on 13 May a six roomed house, a typical wooden house of the period,
was obtained. Situated at 45 Haupapa Street in the heart of the town and two blocks
from the church, it cost £900. The section was of 20 perches and was Crown Lease
land like much of Rotorua. There was an initial debt of £700, £300 of which was to
the Church Building and Loan Fund. The house served successive ministers and their
families until 1952. It was by no means new at time of purchase but at time of writing
still exists as a storeroom.
The church buildings were not neglected. The old cottage/parsonage remained let but
the piano there was shifted to the parsonage. Votes of thanks were passed in August
"to Mr Dixon for choir platform, varnishing etc., Mrs Clempson for pulpit chair,
Dixon and Rosser for repairing books, Clempson and Dixon for work done on the
section, Wickett for copper, Clempson for building copper in and Mr Peat for moving
pulpit."
Rev. Percy Battey was minister from 1920 until April 1923. He had been wounded
and ill in France where he served as a Y.M.C.A. Secretary and Chaplain.
He died three months after leaving Rotorua, aged 36. A foot injury and his ill health
on active service had undermined his constitution.
He is said to have been a man of commendable devotion and personal charm who had
a magnetic personality, full of transparent honesty and integrity.
Sunday School work was reported as satisfactory at this time and much appreciation
was expressed officially of the work of the teachers. In 1921 however it was reported
that there were plenty of male teachers but rather a "shortness" of female teachers.
The Sunday School met on Sunday afternoons and there was concern for attendance of
the children at church services. It was decided to have a quarterly Children's Service
and to donate £4 towards the Young Worshippers' League prizes. To induce children
to attend church a sticky stamp with a Bible scene was awarded for each attendance.
This was to be mounted in a small album supplied. There were prizes for those
gaining most stamps each year. Naturally children with parents who regularly attended
church usually won.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 23
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
The Sunday School teachers meeting asked in July 1921 that classrooms be erected at
the rear of the hall. They offered to wholly meet the cost themselves. The classrooms
were erected the following year. In the end the Sunday School, the choir and the
trustees each undertook to find one third of the cost of the materials and the work
appears to have been done by voluntary labour.
At this time free of interest loans owing on the church building to the estate of
Shepherd Allen and to A.C. Caughey were written off by those concerned much to the
satisfaction of the trustees. In view of the circuit credit balance it was decided to pay
that year's telephone charges for the parsonage, £7. Membership was now 68 with 21
juniors.
It was decided to hold the Harvest Festival after the local Show and to send all above
average collections on March 19, 1922 to the Methodist Centennial Fund. A united
open air service was to be held on Sunday evenings in conjunction with other
churches. In view of the success of the Val Trigge Mission Conference was to be
urged to appoint a Connexional Evangelist. The evangelical emphasis having been
made the social passion of Methodism was equally stressed. It was resolved that "this
meeting strongly disapproves of an increase of Racing permits being granted." A
resolution re "Football Match on Sunday" was left with the minister to deal with. One
wishes that more positive causes of social righteousness could also have been found.
The church had a lot of difficulty over heating the buildings and a number of schemes
were tried before thermal heating was finally adopted after the erection of the State
Insurance Office next door in the 1950s. Even then there were troubles at times with
blocked pipes and the inconsistencies of the thermal flow. In 1922, £1 a quarter was
paid "for attending to heaters during winter months." At the same time the payment
for church cleaning was raised by one shilling a week. A morning Communion service
was to be held once a quarter.
By January 1923 there were 92 on the Sunday School roll with an average attendance
of 70. A Wesley Guild had been established with a membership of 40. This was a
youth organisation.
The title 'father of the church' might well be claimed for Mr J. Rosser. A minute of
1923 places on record the sense of indebtedness of the church to him as circuit
secretary, trust secretary and trustee since 1904. It was recorded that he was not
resigning his office but was willing to hand on to others a part of his responsibilities.
During the final quarter of Percy Battey's ministry, when already it must have been
evident that he was in poor health, the leaders became concerned that his successor
might be under just as much strain. The following resolution was sent to Conference
from a Special Quarterly Meeting held on 14 February 1923: "That this meeting
having considered the possibility of a senior minister being appointed to Rotorua,
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 24
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
strongly urges the (Stationing) Committee to honour our invitation Rev. Percy Cooke,
pointing out that this circuit of bad roads and distant outposts requires the services of a
young man for its efficient working." Cooke was then 38 years old.
The Conference response was the appointment of Rev. James Wrigley. He had lost his
wife in 1917 and was 66 years old when he came to Rotorua, having already
ministered for 37 years. He superannuated at the end of the year and died in 1937.
The appointment can hardly have seemed to the Rotorua folk in keeping with the high
professions of the Conference as to the importance of the cause.
Rev. J.H. Allen was minister in 1924-25. He was a married probationer aged 33. His
first Quarterly Meeting recorded good and bad news. The meeting rejoiced to hear of
the fact that the Bissett Mission had brought 19 of the young people to decision for
Christ. However the financial statement was not encouraging, the debit balance now
being £44/16/5d, an increase of £32/18/3d for the quarter.
At this meeting the new minister asked for an expression of opinion from the meeting
as to the advisability of his re-opening Mamaku services and staffing the Rotorua
pulpit on such occasions "with what little preaching talent is at present available."
Harry Allen, even when President of Conference many years later, was renowned for
his bluntness! Local Preachers present must have squirmed.
Members were thanked from the pulpit early the following year for wiping off the
circuit debt.
The meeting backed the judgement of the minister. Services were not recommenced at
Mamaku. Indeed in a rather dog-in-the-manger mood the minister was asked to write
to the Presbyterian Home Missionary at Mamaku pointing out that his action in
planning a Presbyterian service in the Methodist Church every Sunday was an
infringement of a Quarterly Meeting resolution of 1917, and further "that we as a
church shall at the earnest date possible reopen services at Mamaku."
A congregational meeting to elect officers the following year saw only twelve
members remaining after the service for this purpose. Annual Meetings were no more
popular then than now.
Circuit Stewards at this time were Messrs Pethybridge and Callingham. Other names
appearing among the leaders include Miss Jolly, Miss and Mrs Carter and Messrs Ball,
Rosser, Dixon, England, Luxton, and Pethybridge Junior. The resignation of J.T.
Dixon as choirmaster was accepted with regret in April 1926. Mr and Mrs Allen left
the circuit after his year and Allen was ordained at Conference.
Rev. Colin Harrison, a married ordained minister, served at Rotorua 1926-28.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 25
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
In July 1926 the tenant of the cottage was given a month's notice in order that it might
be used as an Infant's Sunday School. Mr Pethybridge promised 20 pounds to make up
the income.
The church was feeling the pressure of increasing use of the premises by its own
growing organisations. Not long after it was decided that "after full consideration of
the matter of letting the School room and Class rooms to outside organisations the
Trustees resolve unanimously to discontinue letting and request those now using the
same to vacate the rooms at the earliest date." The young people were to be asked to
arrange for socials "to liquidate the piano debt."Young men of the Bible Class were to
be approached to read the lessons in church.
The steward at Mamaku services when held was O.E. Hailwood. When discussing 'the
work of God' in October 1926 the leaders decided to engage Student Hailwood to
assist in Mamaku district from December to February at 30/- per week. Mr Hailwood,
the father of the future President, had promised to find "time and Home"(?). Mr
Pethybridge "kindly offered to meet any loss, between the cost and the extra revenue
from collections."
Permission was given the Young Men's Bible Class in July 1927 to hold a jumble sale
to raise funds to enlarge a classroom. The youth were outgrowing the accommodation
once more.
The financial depression however was beginning to bite. In 1928 with an increasing
debit balance and more and more connexional appeals the circuit stewards were asked
to consider establishing the duplex system of giving or some similar way of cutting
down on continual appeals to members. The duplex system probably consisted in a
small double envelope for each Sunday marked ‘for ourselves' and 'for others' thus
providing a fund to be used for special appeals. Harvest Festivals and Church
Anniversaries it would seem were becoming less and less occasions for thanksgiving
and celebration and more and more attempts to balance the budget.
Rev. and Mrs W.H. Speer came to the circuit in 1929 and served for four years. Speer
was in his mid ministry and he and Mrs Speer later retired in Rotorua and continued to
serve the church generously. At his first Quarterly Meeting and minister indicated he
hoped to work Mamaku and Ngongotaha districts and offered to provide his own car
travel.
These were the great days of Bible Class camps. A letter of congratulation was sent to
the Young Men s Class in 1929. They had gained the coveted banner at the district
Easter Camp.
This was no time for building projects. The trustees have left no record of any meeting
between October 1929 and April 1932, when J. Rosser finally resigned as secretary
and treasurer. Two months later a special trust meeting was held to put the trust affairs
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 26
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
in order. Fifteen names were removed from the legal register of trustees, including
both Shepherd Allen and his son, and five new names of trustees were added.
The heating of the church was still causing problems. Former heaters had given up the
ghost. The Quarterly Meeting in April 1930 decided to urge the trustees to "get the
church heated as soon as possible." Since the trustees do not appear to have met till
two years later it is doubtful whether the worshippers were warmed. Rotorua is over
900 feet above sea level and subject to cold winter winds.
The children however were attending church. It was noted that thanks to the interest of
Miss Gandy quite a number of children were attending services regularly and there
was a flourishing Young Worshippers' League.
Adult membership hovered in the sixties for some years but had reached 78 by the end
of Speer's term.
The Ladies Guild in those days was responsible, actually if not formally, for
maintaining the furnishings of the parsonage which then included linen, crockery and
cutlery. The Guild was also the first port of call when the circuit or trustees got into
financial trouble. The ladies ran many a bazaar and other money raising efforts.
Their services were appreciated. In October 1932 the Quarterly Meeting resolved to
thank the Guild members by letter for a recent bazaar and the trustees "tendered a
social to them."
No doubt some of the proceeds from the bazaar went to fix the church roof which
once again was leaking!
Mamaku church continued to cause problems for the Bainbridge leaders. The building
was in bad repair. The local school wished to use it and a citizens' committee
approached the trustees for its use. They were given permission to use it provided they
put it in repair, maintained it and allowed it to be used for services. This fell through
for soon after it was decided to offer the building for sale to the Presbyterians for £25,
later amended to £50 provided they repaired it, maintained it and granted the
Methodists equal rights for services. Protracted negotiations went on. Regular services
were again discontinued, the minister being directed to take what services he could
work in. A minute of April 1935 noted that it was decided "not to hold any services
and to lock the church."
The leadership of Bainbridge was maintained as always by a succession of faithful
men and women, too numerous to list. Mr Ball was present at the October 1932
meeting but had passed away by the next meeting when appreciation for his long
service was expressed. Mr Pethybridge ended long service as Sunday School
superintendent in 1930. His successor left the district after brief service and in 1932
George Davidson was appointed. His name appears as a Society steward the previous
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 27
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
year. He and Mrs Davidson served the church for many years in many ways. Their
daughters Beryl and Audrey were still actively serving the church at the time of its
demolition fifty years later.
As Speer's term drew towards an end the financial strain of the depression years were
becoming painful. In October 1932 a congregational meeting passed a resolution "that
the Quarterly Meeting approach Synod with regard to altering the status of the church
and inviting a Single Minister. "This was discussed but the motion lost. It was then
decided by the leaders "that Synod recommend, in view of the difficult financial
position of the circuit, to Conference, the appointment of a married Home Missionary
or a Single Minister for one year.'
Conference wisely refused the request. Rev. Frank Bateup, married and ordained and
of nine years standing was appointed and served from 1933-35.
In his first year the parsonage deeds were deposited at the Bank of New Zealand as
security for a £200 overdraft. Circuit and Trust funds were placed in one bank
account. The trustees decided to try to renovate the school rooms - at no cost to the
trust. The heating problem raised its head again and a kerosene stove was installed in
the hail. Connexional dues were held back "until such time as the Circuit is in funds."
The wider Church was feeling the pinch and connexional appeals for special help
came from both Home and Foreign Missions Boards and other agencies. The Rotorua
leaders decided they could not commit themselves to any allocated figure.
The celebrated Maori Concert Party was to visit Rotorua on 12 October 1934. Since
this, it was hoped, would result in more than usual funds for Home and Maori
Missions it was decided to try to hire the Majestic Hall and to print 300 tickets, half
for 1/6d and half for 1/-. The usual approach to individuals for the Missions would
then be unnecessary. However the Misses White were asked to collect as usual, the
proceeds that year to go to the circuit fund.
Times were tough but the church struggled on with courage and faith Mr Hardie, a
very practical trustee, made a report and produced plans for the future alteration of the
school rooms. He suggested a sinking fund for debt reduction be established and a
collector for it appointed. At the end of 1934 the trustees advised that they would soon
be paying back the first £100 from this fund.
Youth work continued to expand. At this period there were Sunday Schools and Bible
Classes not only at Bainbridge but also at Oturoa and Ngongotaha and a Maori
Sunday School also at Ngongotaha. The Rotorua young people asked for the use of the
church grounds to make a tennis court and this was granted.
The minister was granted £1 a month benzine money to enable him to visit the
outstations. Rev J.H. Edmondson, a retired Home Missionary, acted as supply minister
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 28
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
for some months during 1935, Mr Bateup's final year. On 10 July he chaired a
Quarterly Meeting. Members passed a resolution endorsing the action of the Paerata
College authorities re. the 'unmilitarising' of the school cadet corps. They then went on
to consider the support of the ministry for the following year. The record shows that
"the matter of Minister's Stipend was decided on the motion of Mr Hardie, seconded
Mr Pethybridge, viz. £160 (current ordained minister's stipend being a minimum of
£225) a letter embodying this to be drafted by Mr Edmondson and the secretary and
sent to the Synod. The letter said: "After most careful consideration of the whole
financial position of the circuit, both Circuit and Trust, we find it absolutely
impossible to pay the Stipend suggested by Conference. Our financial position is
becoming worse each quarter and we find ourselves unable to meet the demands made
upon us, with the result our debts are increasing without any hope of meeting them. In
view of these facts we will endeavour to pay a stipend of £160 and will do our utmost
to meet all liabilities including connexional charges. If the financial position improves
we will augment the stipend with a bonus, such bonus not to exceed £20 the first year.
This resolution to take effect from the first day of April 1936."
Whatever happened to the idea of a connexional church, a showcase for Methodism,
supported by the whole connexion? Things looked a little brighter at the October
meeting, chaired by Bateup. A donation of £50 enabled the treasurer to cancel the
overdraft. In March it was decided to pay off the loan to the trust and also the amount
owing to the Sunday School.
Mrs H. King was appointed Sunday School superintendent. She was later to give
splendid service leading the Girls Life Brigade which she started in 1938. She was to
serve as G.L.B. Dominion President. She had to grapple with the constant physical
handicap of lameness. Her husband Harry was not strong and served as church
caretaker - the Kings lived opposite the church. Max their son also served in the Boys
Brigade.
At this time it was decided to start a Song Service before the evening worship but
reports of this were "not encouraging." The trustees decided to have the piano repaired
"if not more than 30/- !" They also decided to get a builder's report on the church
tower and porch and to find out how much it would cost to make them "safe and
watertight." Better things were to come in the life of the church even though they
would be against a background of gathering war clouds in Europe. There is no
evidence in the records of any awareness of the forces then shaping up to engulf the
world.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 29
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
6. ADVANCE 1936-38
During the ministry of Rev. John L. Mitchell from April 1936 till April 1939 two
visible improvements were made at Bainbridge. The church building was given a
major facelift and the Skene Dixon Memorial Organ — one of the best in New
Zealand Methodism — was to be installed. In the new church centre it will be the
major asset bequeathed from the old Bainbridge church.
John Mitchell was 44 years old when he came to Bainbridge. He was a remarkable
man. The present writer can testify to this. Mitchell was his first superintendent, in the
Moirinsville circuit, and was responsible later for the writer's coming to minister
briefly in Rotorua. Mitchell served the Methodist District also as Synod Secretary.
He was born in Kent, England and served as a trooper in Palestine during World War
I, later coming to New Zealand. He entered the Home Mission ranks in 1927 and
served through the worst depression years in some scattered country circuits, still
riding a horse. In 1933 he offered for the full ministry and was commencing his final
year of probationary studies when he came to Rotorua.
Mitchell had known personal tragedy and also lack of academic opportunity.
Supported by his wife and family no man gave himself more completely to the
Christian ministry. He gathered a splendid library and by hard reading and study overcompensated for his lack of theological college or university training. He became an
able preacher, pastor and administrator and died in active work as superintendent of
the Hutt circuit in 1950.
He was a humble man of great compassion, undervaluing his own gifts, of robust faith
that scorned cant and humbug.
When he arrived the Sunday School roll was down to 36 with an average attendance
of 18. It was decided at his first Quarterly Meeting to try to change it from afternoon
to a morning school and to revive the Young Worshippers' League in the hope that
both children and parents would attend church together. At the same meeting it was
decided to rearrange services at Oturoa Road with a regular monthly service and to
call a meeting of the men to seek to form a Men's Fellowship. The Men's Fellowship
was a vigorous part of Bainbridge life for a number of years.
At the same meeting the new minister suggested the formation of a weeknight
fellowship meeting. This was left in his hands but he was advised not to try and start it
till the warm weather — the leaders knew their people and the Rotorua climate.
The offer of ten shillings a week and board and lodging for a theological college
student in the long vacation was accepted from a Mamaku lady and it was decided to
try once more to work up a Methodist cause at Mamaku.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 30
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
In October a unanimous invitation was extended to John Mitchell to remain at Rotorua
as an ordained minister. The invitation was sealed with a £5 bonus to the minister for
his good work. Negotiations over Mamaku were still hanging fire at the end of the
year. The leaders were keen to make a forward move and decided to ask Conference
to consider making a special grant for renovations to the Bainbridge church. They also
decided to write to the Methodist Times setting out the claims of the church to be
regarded as a connexional concern.
Mitchell was ordained at Auckland in February 1937. He sensed that Rotorua was
developing towards being an important centre with both land development and the
forestry industry becoming centred on the town. He was anxious that the church
should worthily represent Methodism both for local residents and also to the growing
numbers of visitors from all over the world. He quietly communicated his vision to
others, encouraging donations towards debt reduction and for renovations.
He contacted the Bainbridge family in England and received a £250 donation from
them. He also took lessons in chess from Mrs Skene Dixon. He spent many late hours
playing the game with her and she appreciated the genuine friendship of her minister.
Mrs. Skene Dixon lived on her own in a large house opposite the Presbyterian Church
which she sometimes attended. A rather reserved and lonely Meth— dist she had lost
her husband by death in 1932. To those who did not get to know her she may have
seemed austere but those who spent time with her discovered a lady of cultivated mind
and shrewd understanding of the world and the church, with a deep dedication to her
Lord.
In 1937 she decided that a worthy memorial to her late husband would be a pipe organ
in Bainbridge church, especially since the church would be completely renovated and
modernised to receive it.
The renovation fund was now established and plans being considered. In April the
minister, the trust secretary, H.J. Hardie, and George Davidson were asked to compose
a letter, as authorised by Conference, to be sent to all New Zealand Methodist
churches asking for contributions towards the project. At the same meeting at which
this request was made the Misses A. and E. White, already well known in the church
and inseparable as usual, were welcomed to their first Quarterly Meeting. They also
were to be generous benefactors to Bainbridge.
There were warm comments expressed at this meeting about the Sunday services and
how much they were appreciated. It was tactfully suggested however that "during the
winter months the services could be shortened a little owing to insufficient heating
available at present, and by so doing may result in a larger attendance." It is ironical
that thermal steam was under pressure just below the church but was not yet
harnessed. Keeping warm was a continuing problem.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 31
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
Mitchell was asked to bring forward a report as to what he considered were the
prospects for future work in the circuit. He was greatly handicapped through lack of
transport. A roster of laymen was available to get him to country services only. His
salary was £212 in his first year, £196 in the second and £202 in the third. However
membership increased from 74 to 87 during those years. Mitchell's report has not
survived — it would make interesting reading today.
In July 1937 Gordon Rosser and Noel Pachoud were given permission to form a Boys
Brigade Company, the first in the town. It has remained till the present an active part
of the church's life. Shortly afterwards the Girls' Life Brigade Company was formed
and was active for many years. A Girls Club was also functioning. They asked
permission to use the tennis court for basketball.
The new organ was dedicated on Thursday 14 April 1938 by the President of
Conference, Rev. Percy Paris. It was installed by the well known Auckland organ
builders George Croft and Son, it having previously graced an Auckland residence.
The building was altered to accommodate it, taking a little space from the Sunday
School. The cost was £685. Forty four years later the cost of placing it in the new
Church Centre after storage was estimated to be something like 40 times its original
cost, its present value of course being much more still.
The instrument was built with two manuals and pedal board and had originally 8
stops, 4 pistons and a tremulant, with couplers and a total of 457 pines. It had
pneumatic action throughout. The keys are ivory and ebony. It is installed in a
handsome oak case, but the console is not detached.
On the Good Friday following a communion service was held in the morning and a
cantata and organ recital by the Hamilton organist H.G. Cook later. He gave a further
recital the following year with Rev. John Churchill as soloist.
A detailed set of rules was drawn up for the control and use of the organ. It was
strictly administered over the years. The organist at that time was Mrs J.T. Dixon and
her husband was choirmaster for 28 years. He also served as caretaker for many years
prior to Mr King doing so. The deputy organist was Miss Beryl Davidson, later Mrs
Beryl Thomas. She was appointed organist on the resignation of Mrs Dixon is 1938.
She was still serving as organist when the church was closed 44 years later, a
remarkable record. Deputy organist for many years was Miss Rita Leech. Mr Dixon
died in 1939.
It was in 1938 also that extensive renovations were carried out to the buildings as
planned. These included alterations to accommodate the new organ, a new vestry,
choir platform and rail, the removal of the turret which had caused so much trouble
with its leaks, the remodelling of the front porch, stucco sheathing of the church
exterior, the reversing of the circular window in front and the fitting of diamond
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 32
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
shaped paned memorial windows dedicated to former members. The interior was
completely redecorated and new carpets laid.
This work was hardly completed before plans were under way for a new church hall.
Further donations and promises of support were coming in including a gift of £500
from Mrs C.M. Chandler, £25 from Pitt Street Church Trustees and a few donations
from churches throughout the country. A loan of £50 was obtained from the Church
Building and Loan Fund after some delay.
The leaders however were also concerned about the main tasks of the church. They
resolved that in the coming spring some definite effort should be made to increase
attendance at worship. A church magazine was considered but the cost of £19 a year
was regarded as too high.
Attempts were made to retain John Mitchell for a fourth year but were unsuccessful.
By the time he left the circuit in April 1939 the new hall was under way. A
schoolroom, classroom and kitchen were added at a cost of £755.
Mitchell had at least one further achievement to his credit. Ngongotaha church and
Sunday School seeming promising. Both met in the Anglican Church. Methodists had
contributed to the cost of it. Mrs Stembridge was the indefatiguable leader at
Ngongotaha. She organised the ladies to sell refreshments at the saleyards to raise
funds for a church. A section was obtained for £100 in January 1938. The proposed
sale of the Mamaku church to the Presbyterians and to a Waikato Methodist farmer
had fallen through. Finally the church was removed at a cost of £130 and dedicated in
1939 on its new site at Ngongotaha.
At Mitchell's final Quarterly Meeting in March 1939 appreciation was expressed for
all that had been achieved in three years. It was decided to place on record "his
consecrated efforts to advance the spiritual work of the Church in this circuit, his
vision and organising ability which enabled a scheme for completely renovating the
church free of debt, his efforts in securing the gift of the Skene Dixon Pipe Organ, his
initiating the investigations and planning which resulted in the commencement of the
building of the S.S. hall and also the collection of a large portion of the required
finance and his efforts in connection with the purchase of a section for a church at
Ngongotaha and arrangements for transfer of the church building from Mamaku to
Ngogotaha.
The same meeting received the resignation of J. Rosser as secretary after 33 years'
service and appointed his son Gordon in his place.
The building ventures were well timed. Before the year was out the World War 11 had
started and such matters gave way to deeper concerns.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 33
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
1938
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 34
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
7. WAR AND PEACE
The new minister was Rev. Frank Hayman. He had commenced his ministry eleven
years before. He served at Bainbridge for two years and in 1941 spent a year without
pastoral charge, leaving the ministry the following year.
As war broke out Frank Hayman, together with some 70 of his brother Methodist
ministers, was a convinced Christian pacifist. He had to make it plain that he was
strongly opposed to war and war service.
The church, like other churches, was divided over the issue. The division was deeper
than any previously experienced by the Church. In at least one other Rotorua church
the war was being passionately proclaimed from the pulpit as a fight against evil to
which God was calling his people. At the end of his first year at Rotorua, Hayman
received an invitation to remain another year which he accepted. The following year
he informed his officials he would not be remaining in 1941.
There is little reference to the war in the records. Parcels were sent to soldiers
overseas and collections were taken up for the Chaplaincy Fund. The Local Youth
Council, then an important body in the life of the church, asked that song services be
held after evening worship and that these be followed by refreshments. These were
held monthly and collections were received in aid of a new piano. Such gatherings
would help to meet the needs also of the increasing numbers of visitors to Rotorua
brought by the war.
As in other churches finances became strained and many special efforts were held to
raise funds. At one period the stipend fell into arrears. Connexional dues were held
over. Membership showed some decline but Frank Hayman received five young
people into membership during the last month of his ministry.
In April 1940 the minister was asked to present a report at the next meeting on the
reasons for the lack of church attendance. A Special Quarterly Meeting was held in
August to discuss the Work of God. The minister gave his report and there was much
discussion. The minister and Messrs Tester and Pethybridge were asked to prepare a
further report to be presented to the church members.
The church was grappling with the issues of the day in the light of its understanding of
the Gospel. As in other ages church leaders were given grace to choose faithfulness as
they conceived it before popularity. Under the dry records of meetings one senses the
shadow of the cross falling on Christians of differing persuasions and the inevitable
struggles and offences inseparable from Christian responsibility.
In May 1939 the new schoolroom at the rear of the church was opened. Mitchell with
the Chairman of the District, Rev. R.B. Tinsley, shared with the minister the opening
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 35
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
celebrations. The Bible Class provided a radiator. The Debt Reduction Fund was
transformed into a Hall Maintenance Fund.
There was still room for the tennis court and the Rotorua Methodist Church Tennis
Club was allowed to continue playing provided they gave adequate protection to the
church windows and promised to make good any damage which might be caused to
the buildings.
One catches glimpses only from the records of the life of the church. The Youth
Council members were concerned about the appearance of the church grounds and
willing to do something practical about it. At their request the trustees agreed to make
the area between the footpath and the fence available as a parking area and the ground
from the hall steps to the back fence. The ground between the footpath and the church
was to be cleared and planted as a garden and the Boys Brigade was asked to maintain
it.
Rev. W.B. Pickering came to the church in 1941 and remained for two years. He was
sixty years of age. He had entered the ministry in 1920 and died five years after
leaving Rotorua. He was buried at Rotorua.
William Pickering as the writer remembers him was a gentle devoted little man much
beloved by his people. When welcomed to his first trustee meeting he urged all to
work together in love and harmony with God's will and purpose. Then he said there
would be progress in the "spiritual and necessary" side of our church life. His presence
was a holding healing influence but while at Rotorua the death of his beloved wife
took something of the energy and buoyancy out of his work. Bainbridge at this time
seemed to him as just a little tourist church as he struggled manfully to lead it through
the difficulties of wartime.
At this time Rotorua was taking on temporarily a new function. It had become a
recreation and leave centre for American troops from the Pacific and the present
Queen Elizabeth hospital, now an orthopaedic hospital of note was built as a
temporary' American military hospital. There was also a redeployment of New
Zealand army officers into the Air Force and the retraining was at Rotorua where there
was also an Air Force unit In spite of the war there were still some overseas visitors
also. Near Reporoa a detention centre was established where those whose appeals
against military service on conscientious grounds had been dismissed were confined
for the duration they lived under prison camp conditions and laboured to break in the
surrounding country for postwar farming. Wives and relatives of armed service
personel and detainees were frequent visitors to the town or temporary residents in
what accommodation they could find. Accommodation of all sorts was at a premium.
It took the churches a while to discover their mission and implement it in these
circumstances.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 36
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
The trustees had been aware of their obligation to provide facilities for the many
church organisations using the buildings at Bainbridge and on three occasions had
drawn up regulations limiting the use of the buildings by outside organisations except
under very special circumstances sanctioned by a full trustees meeting.
The war however had made building difficult for the community as well as as well as
the church and Rotorua was becoming a crowded town. At the beginning of 1943 the
trustees decided that "considering the extraordinary conditions that now exist, through
the war, and the Government taking over all Public Halls etc., we recognise our
responsibility in trying to help where needed We rescind resolutions passed at
meetings in 1928, 1933 and 1941 only for this special purpose and agree to let the
church hall to Rotorua Primary School committee for Infant Class." Stringent
conditions for letting were drawn up Ihe trustees were to receive a pound a week for
use ofhafi, kitchen room and lavatory. They must not be put to any additional expense.
The hall was to be made available for school hours only.
Pickering was given transport for circuit work by Mr Fraser one of the officials, who
received ten shillings a month reimbursement.
In July 1942 members of the Quarterly Meeting affirmed unanimously their agreement
with the principles of Church Union but also voted unanimously against the then Basis
of Union as they felt that Methodist principles of administration were entirely absent
from it. They would not have believed that a further forty years of agonising and
frustration over the issue lay ahead, without
success.
The present writer served as minister from
April 1943 till June 1944, an interim period
between a territorial forces chaplaincy at
Tauranga and overseas chaplaincy. My
appointment was due I believe to the
suggestion of Rev. J.L. Mitchell, then
Secretary of the District, who felt that the
circumstances warranted an appointment of
someone with chaplaincy experience.
Rotorua had the appearance of a garrison
town during this period. It ceased to be both
an Air Force training centre and a leave
centre for American servicemen in mid
1944. During my stay it remained full of
uniformed men and women. Wives of
servicemen and conscientious detainees also
stayed in the town for long or short periods.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Rev. J. B. Dawson
Page 37
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
I was involved in final year's probationary studies during 1943 and ordained in 1944.
Being a married probationer and because the circuit was receiving a small Home
Missions grant, only 200 pounds annual stipend was permitted but this made possible
the grant of 50 pounds annually for travel. A good deal of this was involved. It
included visiting the detainees forty miles south, often taking wives and families who
had no petrol ration available or cars. There one was allowed to conduct a monthly
communion service but no preaching was permitted. However much prayer addressed
to God could be overheard by the detainees and "spiritual converse with individuals"
was permitted.
Services and Sunday School were also held at the Rotoehu timber mill where Mr and
Mrs Parkinson gave enthusiastic leadership and there were services and a youth club
and Bible class to be led at Ngongotaha, a Sunday School at Rut land Street and the
attempt to start one at Koutu. Maori services were held for a time with Maharia
Winiata in the Tikitere area.
There was also much activity at Bainbridge. A Women's Social Circle of younger
women organised by Mrs Dawson as additional to the existing Ladies Guild and
Women's Missionary Auxiliary.
A Sunday evening after church social hour was held each week in the hall. This was
always well attended by a very varied group including American and New Zealand
servicemen, the occasional merchant seaman on leave, overseas and New Zealand
visitors and local folk. Many American boys in particular came from Methodist homes
and took a full part in the life of the church while on leave from combat in the Pacific.
The Harvest sale was attended by a number of such who purchased much produce at
fancy prices and presented it afterwards to my wife at the parsonage, at home with our
first infant. Many seemed to value the brief dose of home life in church homes.
I was informed on arrival that the minister was ex officio the choirmaster. The choir
practised each week and bravely persisted during the war years.
Membership showed an increase, 16 being received on confession of faith so that the
roll stood at 99 in 1944.
A not untypical Sunday programme for the minister commenced at 9am with a church
parade of Air Force units in the church. This was followed by a Young Men's Bible
Class and morning service. In the afternoon there was a service at the detention camp,
wives and parcels being packed into the Ford Eight. Early evening service was held at
hospital or sanitorium assisted by the choir, followed by evening service and social
hour.
Building being impossible the trustees were mainly concerned with minor
maintenance. The old cottage at Bainbridge was renovated and redecorated and the
ageing parsonage kept in repair. Much voluntary maintenance work was done by L.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 38
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
Tester who served as Circuit Steward and was also a valuable handy man when not
managing the small boarding house he and his wife owned. The other Circuit Steward
was S.A. Bethybridge a father in God. As a young minister of 28 I appreciated the
guidance and help also of Rev W H Speer and Rev. Walter Oxbrow, both retired in the
circuit, as well as Rev. Mahana Wimata at Tikitere.
In order to publicise the church's work a cinema slide showing the church interior and
organ with an invitation to services was screened at a local cinema.
Church Visitors' Books are often largely unused. Not so at Bainbridge. In the fifteen
months I was there over 500 folk signed the book.
Rev. Tom Carr, just returned from chaplaincy service with the New Zealand forces on
Guadalcanal then aged 39, became minister in July 1944 He and his talented wife
Phyllis served in Rotorua for nearly six years. Their son and his family are very active
today in the life of the Rotorua church.
In any voting for the most beloved ministers of Methodism Tom Carr's name would be
near the top of the list. "His main interest lay with people" says the Conference record
after his death in 1977 "in whose lives he saw endless possibilities, and to whom he
gave himself unselfishly and lovingly. He so endeared himself to all to whom he
ministered, his own family included, that he is remembered with deep love and
devotion." "He was a man entirely without ambition" said his friend Dr. Dave
Williams at Tom's funeral. Tom Carr never held any high administrative office in the
church, nor wished it probably, but in a succession of churches he left a memory of a
man of God who made the faith attractive and exciting for many.
In the years when Rotorua was passing out of wartime into the postwar world Torn
and Phyl Carr exercised a ministry which reached far beyond the Bainbridge family.
"My first thought of our early days in Rotorua" writes Phyllis Carr "keep saying
‘Rehabilitation'. The church was very involved there, and Tom spent many long hours
at the different hospitals and among civilian casualties of war - widowhood and
broken marriages. Then we had our succession of unmarried mothers, and it meant
something those days. Tom and I up all hours taking off for the Maternity Annexe.
Beryl Thomas was a great help to us here. Now such a tiny peep at the ceaseless
unknown ministry of the church can be given without breaching confidentiality.
Before the Carrs arrived a Quarterly Meeting chaired by Rev. William Speer
considered a possible ending of the weekly social hours, in view of the departure of
the Air Force and American servicemen. (Floss Dawson and her small daughter
moved into the flat vacated by American Red Cross workers ) It was decided to
continue the social hours as they still served a useful purpose for visitors, members
and young people."
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 39
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
By September church membership had climbed to 102, passing the century for the
first time. Finances were adequate. "I remember Torn coming home from synod” says
Mrs Carr "when he was able to say Rotorua did not need any Home Missions grant." another first.
Dancing, which Methodists had traditionally frowned upon, had been strictly
prohibited at Bainbridge. However rather grudgingly the Conference was prepared to
allow "acts of dancing" to be incorporated into social programmes subject to local
trustee approval. This matter was discussed at Quarterly Meeting in April 1945 and
referred to the Bainbridge trustees.
They duly deliberated. They decided to allow certain dances to be included in
Bainbridge youth social programmes provided that this be for an experimental period
of three months after which further permission must be sought the words 'a Dance'
must not be substituted for Social in announcements. "We are not giving permission to
hold a dance but a social at which some of the activity may be dancing," they said.
Attendance must be by invitation and three responsible senior women who were
members of the church must be in attendance "to ensure decorum The hall must be
evacuated and left in order by 11.30pm. Socials could be held not more frequently
than once a fortnight. No written public notices or descriptions were to be issued
unless sanctioned by the minister.
Bainbridge youth and their leaders must have felt really trusted and encouraged by
their church leaders!
It is one of the ironies of church history that after much headshaking over dancing in
the church at the end of the war there was a serious and steady decline in youth
activity in the church thereafter from which the church has not yet recovered. The
church dance as a regular youth activity ended almost before it was begun in many
places.
Youth leadership was still a problem owing to the war and the Girls Life Brigade went
into recess temporarily for want of a leader.
Membership in January 1946 was 111. Noel Pachoud, just returned from Egypt was
appointed superintendent of the Junior Church - the new name for Sunday School. He
and Ron Williams were appointed Circuit Stewards, S.A. Pethybridge having retired
after serving during the war years.
In April 1946 the matter of the weekly social hour was again raised.
The Ladies Guild, on whose shoulders fell most of the work involved, suggested
social hours be held monthly. The leaders however felt the gatherings were too
important to be curtailed, expressed their warm gratitude to the committee and asked
them to carry on each week as before.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 40
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
Giving up the Home Missions grant may have been premature. At this time the leaders
asked a number of local church organisations for five pounds each extra donation
annually to balance the budget. Mr Wishnowski was also asked to assemble a concert
party to put on shows at Rotorua, Ngongotaha, Mamaku and the State Mill for funds.
It was in 1946 that an approach was made to the Home Missions Department asking
that a Miss Richards be appointed as a deaconess among the Maori people at Rotorua.
Members pointed out in their application that there was a dire need for work of this
sort in a large number of Maori settlements adjacent to Rotorua. In spite of strong
pleas the matter was allowed to lapse.
It was decided that 1947 should be a Thanksgiving Year in the circuit. After due
committee work it was decided the main objectives should be the extension of the
facilities in the Sunday School Hall, the establishing of a parsonage fund, extension
work throughout the circuit and trust debt extinction.
The year would begin with the visit of the President General of the Australasian
Methodist Church.
N. Parkinson presented a report on behalf of the Preachers' Meeting, then an important
meeting of the church. It was decided to have a devotional week-night service each
month as a training ground for "Youth and Local Preachers." These were the days of
Mission Bands when a group of aspiring preachers would conduct a service under the
guidance of a more experienced preacher.
At the end of 1946 it was discovered that there was a likelihood of Tom Carr being
transferred to Dunedin Central Mission, which he visited. Strong representations were
made to Conference that he be left at Rotorua. The church had suffered too often from
effective ministries being ended too soon. Tom Carr remained a further three years
and good years they were.
The Methodist Peace Thanksgiving Fund was established by the Conference in 1947.
Rotorua decided to support the appeal but to point out that the rapid expansion taking
place and the peculiar opportunities of the church justified a request that the bulk of
the money raised locally should be retained for extension work within the circuit.
The names of Ron Alley and Haydn Lichtwark appear in the records at this time and
Mr Cater took over as choirmaster from Mr Woolcock. "The church music at this
time" says Phyllis Carr "was a high standard and we excelled at times. This is
understatement. Not only the church but also the community benefited from the talent
and enthusiasm of the Carrs. Both had fine singing voices and an ability to involve
others. The choir platform had to be extended.
The choir was congratulated for winning at the local Competitions festival. Mrs Carr
had helped to establish the Competitions Society. Beryl Thomas was re-appointed
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 41
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
organist after her (then) long service and granted six months leave of absence. Mrs
Kendall was appointed co-organist and was to play alternate Sundays.
"Of course there was no building programme" says Phyllis Carr. "Even in 1950 one
begged for a pound of nails." However the physical assets of the church were greatly
enhanced in spite of this during those years. Youth and other activities were straining
the facilities. A shed was provided for storage of equipment and gymnastic equipment
was erected in the hall.
The Relf family of Rotoma donated over nine acres of land adjacent to the lake. This
was vested in the Boys Brigade New Zealand Council. An agreement was entered into
by the Bay of Plenty Methodist Youth Council to use the land and to erect buildings
on it and use those already there. This camp was used extensively by Bainbridge
youth.
The church fabric was not neglected. Heating the buildings continued a problem. It
was decided to "experiment" with the latest stoves. Noel Pachoud was asked to lay
down lawns and beautify the grounds on both sides of the church at a cost not
exceeding 35 pounds. The possibility of a new parsonage to replace the Haupapa
Street house was to be explored.
In 1945 Mrs Skene Dixon had offered to provide two more stops to complete the
organ. These were finally dedicated in 1948. The donor "came to the dedication"
writes Phyllis Carr "on Good Friday night and had passed away by Saturday
morning.”
It was found that in her will Mrs Skene Dixon's house and furniture in Pukuatua Street
would be available to the trust as residue of her estate. On certain payments and
conditions having been met building and contents would be available from the
following July. They were to be used for Bainbridge youth work.
The property comprised a quarter acre in a very central location in Rotorua with a
wooden house of ten rooms. A part of the house was let as a flat and there were also
an outside bach and two garages, all let to tenants.
After considerable negotiations with the Public Trustee and church authorities and
discussions as to the best use of the bequest the house was established as a hostel to be
used by Methodist visitors to Rotorua. A resident caretake was employed.
Considerable revenue came to the church and was used mainly for church buildings
principally used by Bainbridge youth, thus fulfilling the intention of the bequest. The
property was finally sold to the Rotorua City Council in 1961 for £8000. By that time
it had become difficult to maintain and the site is now part of a central city block of
buildings and car park.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 42
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
Writing of their stay in Rotorua Phyllis Carr says "I would say that the six years were
years of consolidation. Tom and I represented our church at all civic functions that
followed the war, witnessing for our beloved Bainbridge Church. I can't count the
number of generals and Lords I rubbed shoulders with. I sang for Lord Dobbie of
Malta, gave Sir Oliver Luce a stick jaw which stuck his dentures together. I outgeneralled him! He in turn pulled a face at me while I was singing. This at an R.S.A.
dinner. I have many memories of sadness and fun."
Thus the church and its ministry exercised a humanising and many sided influence
upon the growing town as war drew to an end and the adjustments of peace began.
In January 1950 a church and civic farewell was given the Carrs and fully reported in
the press. Farewell tributes included appreciation for Phyllis Can's contribution to the
women's organisations of the church and the choir. Her vital part in the founding and
maintaining of the Rotorua Competitions Society was mentioned. Tom Carr had also
been deeply involved in the life of the community in wartime and afterwards,
especially through the R.S.A. and as a rugby referee. His devotional broadcasts over
the local station were also appreciated. It was stated that there had not been a public
meeting called in Rotorua during his term for a worthwhile purpose at which he had
not been present and his advice of great service.
So the church took a new place in the life of the town during the ministry of its most
colourful minister and his wife. It must be remembered also that many other ministers
and their wives and Bainbridge members were also involved deeply in many strands
of the life of the community with perhaps less recognition publicly.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 43
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
8. JUBILEE. 1952-4.
Rev. John Silvester was minister at Bainbridge from 1950 to 1953. He had al-ready
served twelve years in the ministry and was later to become a tutor in theology at
Trinity and St. John's Colleges. During his term the period when, owing to war and
postwar needs, property matters had had to be neglected came to an end. A number of
important developments took place during these years.
John Silvester looks back on his time in Rotorua as a period when the Bay of Plenty
Methodists were becoming more aware of themselves as a church family. There was
an active District Youth Council, district youth camps were held, the Lake Rotoma
camp site though owned by the Boys Brigade was used by all church youth. Rotorua
district itself was undergoing a period of expansion. Forestry was being established on
a larger scale than hitherto. There was the development of large blocks of land up to
forty or fifty thousand acres at a time - "one month scrub three months later grass,
fences, stock." A future for the city to be was being prepared.
In 1950 it was considered that attention should now be given to expanding and
improving the Bainbridge buildings once more. However this was held in abeyance
owing to two other developments. The Pukuatua Street hostel property matters were
still being finalised and the house itself was beginning to fulfil its role as a place
where Methodists could stay both in family groups and in leadership schools and the
like. Fred Birch and his wife were in charge. Revenue was also just beginning to be
available from the hostel for youth work at Bainbridge.
Also in 1950 a six roomed house in Malfroy Road was bequeathed to the church as
residue of the estate of the late Miss Ada White. With her two sisters she had in earlier
years occupied the house and all were now passed on. There were legal and financial
matters to be dealt with including the need for loan finance at a time when this was
scarce.
The whole question of the Haupapa Street parsonage had also to be considered.
The parsonage was, like much of Rotorua town, on crown land. The trustees had to
decide whether to purchase the freehold or to lease the house should the Malfroy Road
house be used as a parsonage. The names of Vie Fletcher, Ron Alley, Ray Dine who
served as auditor, Alex Mills, G. Gilling, and Ron Williams and Mac Tasker who
served as Circuit Stewards, appear frequently in the records.
There was anxiety over finances still with special congregational meetings and
circular letters to alert the membership and special appeals at Anniversary and Harvest
Festival times. Once more attempts were made to make the 'envelope system' more
effective. These had limited success.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 44
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
The following year additions and renovations to Bainbridge buildings were again
considered but it was decided to postpone such work indefinitely on the grounds that
building costs were excessive, hostel income not yet sufficient to warrant the
expenditure and the matter of the parsonage and the White bequest still not finalised,
In 1952 there was a lengthy discussion by the officials on "the prospects of a full
Communion Service and the best time suitable.'" The principal sacrament of the
Christian Church was still at that time in New Zealand Methodism too often an
abbreviated extra following 'normal' services. In some places the communion was
attended by a select chosen few. On this occasion it was decided that "a full
communion be held at the next two communions and Rev. Silvester to report at the
next Quarterly Meeting. There is no record of any such report.
In June 1952 the trustees were ready to formulate a definite policy for the church
buildings. They decided to renovate the church using the sale of the Haupapa Street
parsonage and income from the Pukuatua Street hostel to provide the needed finance.
The hostel was by now in good order and well used.
It was also decided to investigate the possibility of purchasing a section near Old
Taupo Road and Devon Street for future expansion. This idea was finally abandoned
although it was prophetic in that the future site of the central church complex was to
be oft Old Taupo Road.
After some difficulty owing to the general tightness of finance the parsonage at
Haupapa Street was sold for £3000. The Malfroy Street property made available
through the White bequest was repaired and an extra room added to become the new
parsonage. A call was made for the men of the church to paint it "on the first fine
Saturday in November.
The interior of the church hall had been renovated "at small material cost at the hands
of a willing voluntary group."
Before the Church Anniversary celebrations, at which Dr. David Williams was to be
the drawcard, a two page letter was sent to church members explaining the whole
situation of the church finances and the property plans. We hope it said "that all
interested will rejoice that this circuit has been generously treated in regard to
property, and that it is now possible to proceed with substantial developments and
extensions. We have every reason to be thank ful... An envelope is enclosed for your
contribution. The target is £300 ...."
A few days after the anniversary the trustees received a report that there was severe
borer infestation and also deterioration of wooden piles supporting the church
buildings. Haydyn Litchwark, now choir master, reported that the piano was beyond
repair and a good one should be obtained - it would be an asset to the church by way
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 45
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
of hire of hall and also would encourage more getting together of church people. The
church foundations were later repaired and the matter of the piano postponed.
Early in 1953 the trustees gave much thought and planning to suitable renovations and
additions to the church. These were to be fully explained to a special congregational
meeting in June. A new wing was proposed to be added to the hall this would add
1450 square feet to the buildings and would provide for seven extra classrooms with
kitchen and toilets, a primary department, a stage with wings and storage beneath. The
members were asked for £300 by direct giving and church organisations were asked to
raise £200 by special efforts.
The people had a mind to work.
The project received special encouragement and help from Eric Winstone of
Auckland. Besides being a principal of the well known company he was also a keen
organist. He had been given permission to practice on the Bainbridge organ during
visits to Rotorua. "He rang from Auckland writes John Silvester "to say that he was
coming to Rotorua with the firm's architect and asked that the trust be convened to
meet him. This was done and after considerable discussion plans were drawn up for
re-roofing and extensions. The re-roofing was done by Winstones but extensions
involved a great amount of voluntary labour."
Contributions for the programme began to arrive. Minutes of a meeting of trustees in
July 1953 record the receipt of £25 from the Home Missions Department, £20 from
the Governor General and, from a Mamaku lady, "£1 - widow's mite."
The Governor General, Sir Willoughby Norrie, and Lady Norrie took considerable
interest in the project. The latter was a relative of Edwin Bainbridge. She is described
in one church record as his first cousin.
On a number of occasions during the period when renovations were taking place the
Norries visited Rotorua. Each time they called to watch progress. Lady Norrie,
accompanied by her husband, was to declare the new wing open the following year. It
was named after her.
One request from the Annual Church Members meeting in 1953 was for
"consideration for more comfort in the winter on seats." The trustees decided to write
to the present writer, then minister in Petone, asking that I try to obtain damaged
Feltex from the Hutt Valley factory for that purpose. When this proved unsuccessful it
was decided to ask Alex Mills to obtain prices of suitable materials so that families
might buy their own coverings for the comfort of their own posteriors.
George Davidson reported in November that a long search had ended in locating the
nature of a bank lodgement made the previous February of £253/4/3d. It was a
contribution from the Bainbridge family in England.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 46
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
The same month it was reported that a rather hastily arranged Church Anniversary and
Annual Effort had raised £475 and total cash in hand now exceeded £1800. It was
decided that a pulpit announcement be made expressing appreciation at the result. The
trustees put on record their satisfaction that there had been wonderful service, advice
and interest from Eric Winstone. He had offered a very generous deal over the
roofing. The building programme was to commence probably before Christmas. The
cost would be about £2 per square foot!
John Silvester, who had worked so hard for this project, had left the circuit before it
was completed. It was the following October before the new wing was officially
opened at the Jubilee Celebrations of the Church.
Rev. Gordon Thomas came as minister in 1954 and served until 1960. He had entered
the ministry in 1941. He came to a church of 153 members, a debit balance of £115, a
Men's Fellowship with an attendance of 50 men, 31 young people preparing for Easter
Camp and building additions and renovations proceeding apace.
The after church social hour was soon made a monthly event instead of being held
each Sunday, a fortnightly discussion group met but a prayer meeting was talked
about but left over. The reason given this time was the condition of the buildings
during alterations.
Laborare non orare!
Labour they did. The driving force behind the building programme, according to
Gordon Thomas, was Ron Alley. There were working bees most Saturday mornings
throughout most of Gordon Thomas's time in Rotorua and certainly in 1954.
He tells how at one working bee just before the opening there was much window
cleaning going on. The Governor General and his wife arrived unexpectedly and
chatted to the minister. After they had gone a Bible Class lass asked the minister who
the visitors were. On being told she said "Oh yes and I'm Lady Godiva!"
During this year new heating and lighting of the church buildings were installed.
Work on the alterations and additions continued in close liaison with Eric Winstone. It
was decided at his suggestion to paint the exterior arctic blue. Fifteen men painted the
hostel in a day. Choir members were busy raising funds for a new piano. This was
obtained in September.
A section was secured in Taupo for a future church. Further enquiries were made
about a possible site in the Rotorua suburbs for a further church building.
The Jubilee celebrations took place 2 to 10 October. The official opening of the new
wing was held on the Saturday afternoon with 400 to 500 present. The Governor
General inspected a Guard of Honour from the Boys Brigade under Captain Noel
Pachoud. Lady Norrie inspected a Guard from The Girls Life Brigade led by Marjorie
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 47
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
Tasker. The Dedication ceremony was conducted by the President of Conference,
Rev. H.L. Fiebig. John Silvester, Gordon Thomas, the Circuit Stewards Mac Tasker
and Ron Williams, the Trust Treasurer Ron Alley and the District Chairman Rev. S.E.
Werren, all took part.
The Viceregal visit and opening received full treatment in the local press. Lady
Norrie's speech was reported very fully. In it she recounted the Bainbridge story and
the continuing interest of the Bainbridge family in the church and its ministry to
people from all over the world.
Celebrations continued throughout the week and culminated in services on 10 October
conducted by John Silvester. Jubilee offerings of £1000 were received.
There is much mention in the records of those years of the work of the choirs. "The
Junior Choir, trained by Emmie Smith," writes Gordon Thomas, "gave much pleasure
in the morning services, while Haydn Litchwark built up a strong choir for the evening
service." There was much appreciation for the choir's singing at broadcast services
from Bainbridge.
An attempt was made to make contact with local Cook Islands people. This does not
appear to have had any permanent result.
1954
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 48
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
9. EXPANSION. 1955-64.
An important development during Gordon Thomas's ministry was the advent of the
Wells era of church financing. Some features of the Wells technique were not new the envelope system had been tried over the years at Bainbridge with indifferent
success. Other features did not transplant successfully to New Zealand so that Wells
itself soon withdrew. But its brief life in New Zealand left a lasting legacy built
around the simple transfer of emphasis from the Church's need to receive to the
member's need to give. "The Church" writes Gordon Thomas "was still financially
depressed but had a strong active membership. Largely through the prompting of Mr
N. Parkinson, who was then Circuit Steward, it was agreed to engage the Wells
Organisation for a Stewardship Programme."
Though lost on the casting vote of the chairman on the first attempt the matter was
taken up again in July 1956 by the Men's Fellowship and finally decided upon. After
the Programme grants could be given by the circuit to all organisations in the church
and in 1958 good credit balances were shown. This made possible greater boldness in
furthering the plans for expansion in the circuit. The Programme had met the mood of
a church ready to expand.
The church was not inward looking or absorbed by its own activities during this
period, and showed many signs of concern for the wider work of the Church. The
Quarterly Meeting recorded its concern that there was limited support for Foreign
Missions although there was a branch of the Women's Missionary Auxiliary
functioning regularly and an evening group of the Auxiliary was formed in 1956. The
official church meetings were more than business meetings and ended in brief prayer
meetings at times.
Dr. Williams and Trinity College Students conducted a Mission in 1957 in association
with the stewardship programme. Dr. Donald (now Lord) Soper held a public meeting
in Rotorua that year also.
In 1954 the minister organised Methodist services at Taupo where local Methodists
obtained two sections for a church building, a local trust being appointed. The minister
and local preachers conducted services at Taupo and 16 members were reported there
in April 1955. A hall was erected in 1957.
Pastor E. Downer was appointed to Rotorua circuit as second agent in 1959 and lived
and worked at Taupo. He was followed by Rev. R. James and then Rev. I. Robertson.
Bainbridge leaders gave guidance through the Quarterly Meeting which was held from
time to time at Taupo and attended by Taupo leaders when meeting at Rotorua also.
There was of course little opportunity for actual congregational fellowship between
the two churches owing to the distance between them.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 49
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
Taupo became a separate circuit in 1968 and a part of Taupo Union Parish in 1972.
Services were also held at Reporoa and Kaingaroa during this period and the
possibility of a cause at Murupara was also explored. In each case it was decided that
owing to the small number of Methodist families reciprocal membership with the
Presbyterian Church was appropriate.
Bainbridge folk were more cloesely associated with the establishment of a cause in
Clayton Road at Western Heights in Rotorua itself. The development was closely
linked with the appointment of a second minister resident in Rotorua itself.
A Sunday School was established in Glenholrne School in 1956 with 16 attending.
Negotiations continued for a site from a new subdivision in the Old Taupo Road
Devon Street area. This eventually proved unsuccessful and in any case a Presbyterian
Church was established in this area.
Attention then turned to the Western area of the town which was expanding from
Clayton Road. In July 1956 Vie Fletcher presented to the leadership the need for a
second minister and it was decided to apply for a single probationer, with a Home
Missions grant of 150 pounds a year. Since the circuit was in a position to provide
accommodation it was later decided to seek a married ordained minister appointment.
It was felt this move was more likely to succeed. Conference was to be asked to make
this a connexional responsibility at first.
In 1957 it was decided to establish a Sunday School at Western Heights. A temporary
building was placed on Derek Smith's property to serve Methodists in the area.
Permission to buy a section was granted in October that year and the following year
the building of a concrete church to be known as Wesley Church was commenced. It
cost £4000 and was worth at least a third more owing to extensive voluntary labour by
Bainbridge folk It was sold in December 1980 to the Church of Christ for $26,000.
The Rev. W. Isitt, a Home Missionary, was appointed to the circuit as second minister
in February 1958 and ministered at Western Heights, first in the temporary transit unit
and then in the church. He also worked at Ngongotaha. With the arrival of Pastor
Downer at Taupo the next year the circuit had three ministers until Taupo became a
separate circuit in 1968. No sooner had the Taupo minister left the circuit for the new
one than it was decided to unify the two causes of Bainbridge and Wesley and from
that time on the circuit has been ministered to by one ordained man.
In 1959 seventy laymen gathered at Rotorua for a conference on their part in the life
of the church. The stress on the responsible role of the laity was initiated by Athol
Crothall as Vice President. It was in step with a world reemphasis on the ministry of
the laos, the total people of God.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 50
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
Sister Nicholls visited the circuit and expressed concern that some Maori Methodists
might become Mormon if not cared for. Monthly services were commenced once
more among Maori folk at Tikitere. The Billy Graham Mission resulted in 18 Rotorua
Methodists responding and they were duly visited.
Gordon Thomas left Rotorua in 1960 when its membership was 175, there being 226
in the circuit. "The initial impetus of this period" he says "gave the church a strong
base on which to develop over the ensuing years."
Rev. Allon Carr was minister from 1960 to 1965. The same year in the ministry as
Rev. Tom Carr, though not related, he is well known as a top flight magician and has
used his talent for church money raising over the years. A warm hearted earnest
preacher and pastor, ably assisted by his wife, he worked hard as leader of a fine band
of keen Methodists. As a result there were important property expansion
developments during these years, strong church organisations among adults and youth
and a membership roll in the city of 245 at the end of the period.
At Allon Carr's first Quarterly Meeting Harry Moore reported strong youth work in all
departments with accommodation becoming a problem once more.
The minister also asked that discussions be held with a view to ways of co-operation
with the Presbyterian Church. The meeting was not hopeful in view of previous
attempts but it was decided to try again.
There was pressure on space in both church and hall now. The trustees sold the hostel
in Pukuatua Street late in 1960 for £8000 to the Borough Council. The money after a
substantial deposit was to be paid to the trustees over three years while the church had
continued use of the hostel for a nominal rental. The hostel had been useful but needed
constant repair and oversight. It was decided to use the money to make necessary
repairs to the Bainbridge buildings, to provide rooms upstairs over the hall stage, a
new organ blower, repairs and painting of the parsonage and the completion of a
basement and other finishing touches at Wesley Church, Western Heights. It was
hoped also to enlarge the church to accommodate the increasing congregations and to
seek a more suitable building for purchase as a family hostel. All these objectives
except the last one were realised within a short time.
Over these years trustees such as Charles Callendar, an electrician, Theo Penny, a
merchant, Cyril Leech, a joiner, and Ron Williams, a carpenter and Trust Secretary for
many years, and many more besides, gave many contributions of advice and work to
the many projects in hand. George Davidson, now retired, did many practical jobs
also. Nelson Parkinson, who had served the church in so many ways, passed away late
in 1960.
The possibility of moving from the Hinemoa Street site was first discussed by the
trustees on 7 March 1961. The matter was raised by the minister who pointed out that
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 51
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
future expansion on the site would involve either the acquisition of adjoining land or
building upwards on the present site. It was decided to explore the possibilities of
nearby land. By this time plans were shaping up for the expansion of the church to the
footpath with an added vestibule and car port.
A service was held in bright sunshine beside the grave of Edwin Bainbridge in 1961.
The church had undertaken in the beginning to maintain the grave in Ngongotaha
cemetery and it was tended from time to time.
In May 1961 the trustees had a full discussion about the future of Bainbridge Strong
reasons for moving from the present site were advanced but the final decision was to
make the most of the existing site for the coming ten years. The immediate steps were
to proceed with providing upstairs classrooms by voluntary labour and to add the
church extension.
The minister discovered at this time that the church stood on leasehold land with a
peppercorn rental and without right of renewal or compensation but with the existing
right to purchase the freehold by negotiation. The freehold was obtained in February
1962 at a cost of £4574/7/10d. "Ron Alley" says Allon Carr "was a moving spirit and
gave countless hours working on these matters and was backed by the trust." The
obtaining of the freehold was a farsighted move in view of the final disposal of the site
in 1982 for a large sum.
By this time the quarter acre next to the church had been purchased. The owner had
been approached many times over the years but did not want to sell. In the end the
minister was asked to make a personal approach which providentially was successful.
In addition to the increased finances made available through stewardship and the sale
of the hostel a valuable source of capital finance was made available through a special
loan plan among the membership by which monies could be loaned on call. Rev. W.H.
Speer had died in retirement in 1954 but his widow continued actively in the life of
the church, driving her car until over 80. She was in a position to loan a considerable
sum to the church and to encourage others to help in this way. £9000 was made
available.
Ray Dine was acting as treasurer during these rather involved financial transactions
and was still active in this way at the end of the church buildings' life.
The minister was busy in these practical affairs and on one occasion helped to mix
concrete from 9am till 6pm. Russell Kerse, although a polio victim, was also active at
working bees at both Bainbridge and Western Heights.
However the spiritual work of the church was not neglected. Allon Carr started
services and Sunday School at Reporoa, visited the Ngakuru district and prepared the
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 52
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
way for the Ngongotaha folk to become reciprocal members of the Presbyterian
parish.
Work among the Maori people was actively pursued at this time. It had the full
encouragement of Rev. Manu (later Bishop) Bennett. A special extension of the
Leaders Meeting included representative Maori members. The minister had the sad
task on one occasion of burying their leader, Mrs Hinemoa, who was standing by a
boiling pool with her small grandson and slipped in, dying as a result.
Allon Carr remembers especially the music of the church led by Beryl Thomas at the
organ, Haydn Litchwark and his family and Mrs Theo Penny and others in the choir.
Foster Blacklock, a highly qualified organist, helped greatly also.
Both church services and devotional services were broadcast and the broadcasting
authorities commissioned the recording of selected hymns by Bainbridge choir.
Rev. O. E. Burton conducted a teaching mission in March 1962.
Mrs G. Shiels became the first part time church secretary in 1962, giving her services
freely. This made possible better church records and an enhanced church bulletin.
Two collections of pieces gathered by her for the bulletin were made into booklets and
sold for church funds.
Possession of the property next to the church was obtained on 20 January 1962 at a
cost of £15,000. A dedication service was held on the site. The section had on it a
large two-storeyed house and a cottage including two flats.
The church leaders found themselves financially over committed in April and made a
special appeal to the membership. Pastor Issitt's ministry was corning to an end at
Western Heights and it was decided not to seek an immediate replacement but to plan
for a future second minister. Two local preachers were to provide oversight at Western
Heights in the meantime.
There was concern about the rising level of connexional budget allocations and in
August submissions were made to synod by the Quarterly Meeting outlining a
suggested scheme for a Methodist Investment Society — an idea whose time had not
yet come.
The official dedication of the extensions and interior improvements to Bainbridge took
place on Saturday 15 September 1962, led by the President of Conference, Rev. E.C.
Leadley, assisted by Rev. W.R. Laws, District Chairman. This was the year that
Rotorua became a city and the commemorative booklet issued at the dedication noted
that "in the past 58 years since the Kev. A.J Seamer, with a congregation of eight,
eastablished the Rotorua Circuit, the church has kept pace with the growth of what
was a small tourist town to a city with great potential." Membership was then 216.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 53
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
A feature of the new entrance foyer was some Maori carving, a gift from the
Methodist Maori people of Rotorua. It was carved by Taiapa, a famous carver who
delayed going to England to complete it. "It was dedicated in proper Maori etiquette,"
writes Allon Carr. "Naapi Waaka took part, and his father an Honorary Home
Missionary living at that time past Rotoiti. A Maori girl of twelve led the party, as was
proper."
Other features included sandblasted windows and glass doors with torch and gothic
designs, hearing aids, a ramp for the use of disabled folk new lighting purchased with
the proceeds of bulletin booklets, new heating -'still regarded as experimental, new
carpeting and the relocation of original foundation stones. Many of these features have
been retained in storage after the demolition of the church for incorporation where
possible in the new structure.
It was now anticipated that the church would seat up to 300. The cost of the
improvements was £4000.
One might have expected that the year 1963 would be one of rest after labour.
However it proved to be one of the most strenuous in the history of the church.
In January special thanks were recorded for the manysided work and ministry of
Charles Callendar who had died.
At a special Quarterly Meeting in March the financial position of the church was
presented and a long discussion took place. The Wells honeymoon was over. Pledging
had dropped off with removals and failure to follow up. The circuit needed seven
shillings per member income each week and was not getting it. There was further head
shaking and much discussion at subsequent meetings.
The two flats were vacated by tenants and for the time being used for Sunday School
accommodation. Progress was made in providing upstairs rooms in the Hall for the
expanding youth work and there was pressure to complete them since the cottage, flats
and house must soon be disposed of. This was to make room for the major project of
the erection of a commercial building on the newly acquired site Eventually this was
to have a major effect on the whole financial situation of the church.
After the many attempts at adequately heating the buildings arrangements were made
to receive bore hot water from the adjoining State Fire Office building and Bainbridge
became for the rest of its days New Zealand's only geothermally heated Methodist
church.
Cook Islands Methodists erected a display stand in the foyer and dedicated it with
visiting leaders taking part. However the church has never established an enduring
link with Polynesian people any more than with the Maori church.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 54
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
The Ngongotaha church building was made available free of charge to the Brethren
congregation. Methodists were now attending the Presbyterian Church. The building
was finally sold in 1976.
The major project of the year was the disposal of house and cottage next the church
and the planning, erecting, financing and leasing of a two storeyed commerical
building to be known as the Bainbridge Building. This was opened in November at a
cost of £19,000. It is a concrete building with a Supermarket on the ground floor
occupying 2200 square feet of floor space. There are offices upstairs. The church now
retains there a suite of offices for minister and church secretary and a meeting room.
With the demolition of the church building the church still has an effective presence in
the heart of the city and the name Bainbridge still has visibility. Parking space was
still available each side of the church on Sundays and on one side on weekdays.
There was some difficulty in obtaining finance and a loan was secured from the
Government Life Office, a policy being taken out on the lives of the sons of two of the
trustees.
The opening ceremony took the form of a social evening in the upstairs portion of the
building before partitions were installed. This was held on a Saturday and dedication
services followed the next day.
The trustees were also offered sections for purchase in the south of the town but
deferred action owing to limited finances.
A special Quarterly Meeting was held on 3 December since Conference had appointed
Rev. Nelson Stockbridge, a single probationer, to Taupo in place of Rev. Russell
James. Since it was considered unsuitable for a single man to be sent to Taupo the
final station sheet saw him appointed second minister in Rotorua itseff. He was to
serve Western Heights. A supernumary minister, Rev. E.B. Chambers, was appointed
as supply at Taupo. It was decided to go ahead in faith and give further consideration
to the added finances necessary for this added commitment.
The church had sought unsuccessfully throughout 1963 for someone to take direction
of the stewardship programme. Colin Hunt offered to do so and the treasurer reported
that all commitments could be met if a 12 per cent increase of regular giving could be
achieved. Membership had risen during the quarter to 244.
In 1964, 119 members of the Brigades Companies was recorded, a cradle roll of 43,
84 in the Sunday School and 58 in the Bible Classes. Ian Norwell was sent forward as
a candidate for the ministry. A member raised the question of unduly long Quarterly
Meetings owing to the amount of business accumulating! There was a good credit in
the circuit fund and 200 pounds in the 'second minister' fund towards a second
ordained minister appointment.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 55
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
Nelson Stockbridge was married on 26 September. He was living in a farm cottage
made available by Mr Russell at Paradise Valley - no paradise in winter. Its
furnishings were improved for the couple but it was by no means up to Methodist
parsonage standards.
Rev. E.P. Blamires was in Rotorua for Family Week that year and conducted 60th
Anniversary services of thanksgiving 59 years after his own Rotorua ministry —
surely a record. He had obtained from Mrs Keck in Australia the gavve used in laying
the foundation stone of the church and this was placed in a case made by George
Davidson.
The Rotorua leaders drew the attention of the Conference to the need for work at the
mushrooming town of Turangi - officially in Taumarunui Circuit.
The Church office and lounge facilities were organised largely by voluntary labour.
Further working bees were necessary to dig a big soak hole for the geothermal bore.
The occupation of the hostel came to an end in January 1965. The terms of the bequest
had been fulfilled in spirit and several thousand pounds had been provided and used
for extending youth work at Bainbridge.
A letter was sent to the supermarket owner asking that he avoid the meat truck
interfering with morning service!
At the end of the year a farewell was extended after evening service to both the Carrs
and Stockbridges. Allon Carr reviewed the events of the previous live years.
1962
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 56
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
10. "TIDYING UP."
The new ministers were Rev. W.W.H. Greenslade at Bainbridge, Rev. I.H. Robertson
at Taupo and Rev. G.B. Herbert at Western Heights Wesley Church.
Bill Greenslade had served the church with distinction for 34 years and he completed
his active ministry in Rotorua. During his ministry there he was awarded the MB.E.
for his services, especially to older people, in Wellington. There he had founded the
Methodist Eventide Homes.
Writing of his term in Rotorua he writes with undue modesty. "Our term" he says
"was concerned with a much needed tidying up preparatory to advance." There was a
consolidation of the work of the circuit on Bainbridge during his term of six years
except for Taupo which became a new circuit. A third successive Bainbridge
parsonage was acquired and a vision of possibilities for the future which are now
coming to fruition.
"This tidying up proceeded as by the way," says Bill Greenslade. "The real work of
the house of the Lord went on. Feeding, cleansing, strengthening, enheartening and
serving." This is a necessary reminder at every stage of a church's life history. It is so
much easier to chronicle changes in plant and personnel than to document the real
work of the church.
In 1965 the membership of the circuit was listed as 277 with 10 in reciprocal
membership at Ngongotaha. Bainbridge and Western Heights had 207 members, there
were 47 at Taupo, 2 at Tikitere, 1 at Waititi, 11 at Reporoa, 4 at Rerewhakaaitu, 2 at
Mamaku and 2 at Murupara. Those serving on the Quarterly Meeting at Rotorua
included Dr and Mrs C.J. Austin, the doctor having had a distinguished career in
Leper Medical Missionary service and his wife having been a missionary in China.
After brief practice in Rotorua the doctor retired and he and his wife served the church
in many ways for many years. Other officials included Dr and Mrs Glover, Mesdames
G. Shiels, T. Grove, C. Richardson, F.V. Nuttall and Messrs Ron Alley, R. Kerse, G.
Moyes, Ray Dine, Ron Williams, Percy Messam, George Davidson still serving, Alex
Mills, Cyril Leech, Colin Hunt, Theo Penny, Thomas Fairhurst, Walter Brown, Bill
Dawson, Bruce Down, Haydn Lichtwark, Jim Flaws and many more. Harry Moore,
Noel Pachoud and others had been freed to concentrate on youth work. Len Davis, a
distinguished Napier Methodist layman and ex Vice President of the Conference, was
now retired at Taupo. He and Mrs Davis were useful members of the Quarterly
Meeting until Taupo separated.
There were 69 children and youth at Western Heights, 97 in the Bainbridge Sunday
School, 70 on the Cradle Roll, strong Bible Classes and 92 children and youth at
Taupo.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 57
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
Bill Greenslade remembers leading worship at Bainbridge when the congregation
included members of the Boys and Girls Brigades then recognised by Dominion
Headquarters as second to none, Sunday school and Bible Class members and a Junior
Choir along with other morning worshippers filling every pew. The Bainbridge Senior
Choir, still of high standard, led the smaller evening congregation and cheered many a
sufferer in Rotorua hospitals.
The former Ladies Guild and Women's Missionary Auxiliary had by now been
merged into a new Methodist dominion women's movement called the Women's
Fellowship. It had 48 members at Bainbridge in 1965.
A stewardship mission conducted by the Stewardship Division of the Methodist
Education Department was held at Rotorua that year. The circuit was once more
feeling the financial strain. Taupo and Western Heights were not yet self-sufficient
and the latter never became so. In spite of a considerable connexional grant the
support of three ministers in the circuit was becoming difficult. The circuit fund was
over 700 pounds in debit but this was speedily reduced. The commercial building next
door to the church would not return any great income to the circuit for a number of
years.
In 1966 Bryce Herbert was followed at Western Heights by a Deaconess Probationer,
Miss Janet Wallace. Evening services there were discontinued. However after a few
short happy weeks' Miss Wallace resigned on health grounds.
A reduction of £300 in the Home Missions grant caused anxiety. Rotorua leaders felt
the connexion was not supporting Rotorua as it had a right to expect. The circuit had
been left to give undue support also to Taupo prior to it becoming self-supporting. It
was difficult to operate a circuit with 55 miles between churches. The leaders felt
Taupo must be separated from the circuit or the ministry of Rotorua itself be reduced
to one. In the meantime Rev. E.B. Chambers, a supernumary minister, was supplying
at Western Heights.
At the end of the year Mrs C.J. Austin relinguished her leadership as Missions
Secretary after lengthy and effective service. She had enabled the church to keep the
wider vision intelligently.
Rev. E.B. Chambers had been appointed by Conference to supply in the circuit again
in 1967 but died in February before commencing his second year. The circuit carried
on that year with temporary supply ministries at Western Heights. It was decided to
recommend that Taupo become a separate circuit the Following year and this decision
was supported by a triennial visitation team of the Synod in August. Rotorua was
commended also on its building programme by the visitation committee. It listed the
replacement of the Malfroy Road parsonage as a priority and encouraged the circuit to
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 58
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
reorganise lay visitation. The committee also suggested that relocation of Bainbridge
church might be considered — a further indication of things to come.
Taupo became a separate circuit in 1968 and Rev. Darell Curtis, fresh from
theological college, became probationary minister at Western Heights. An anonymous
donation to the circuit of £4000 was gratefully acknowledged, £500 being available
immediately for debt reduction, the rest to be invested as an annuity in perpetuity.
It was mentioned at the April Quarterly Meeting that although Rotorua was still
regarded as Anglican Maori territory there were about 700 Methodist Maoris within
the area served by the church. A suggestion had been made that the second minister
should be a Maori. Rev. Manu Bennett asked for the Methodists to appoint a minister
to care for the Maori Methodists. However no such move was made.
However a monthly Maori service was being held at Bainbridge at this time and the
annual district Maori meeting was held there in 1967.
It was decided in January 1969 that the ministries and pastorates of Bainbridge and
Wesley, Western Heights churches should be united, the superintendent minister
serving the whole circuit single-handed. Darrell Curtis left for Ashburton.
A special committee was set up to consider further any short or long term
developments which might result in the re-establishment of Bainbridge buildings and
parsonage on present or alternative sites. The committee was directed also to seek
immediate discussions with the neighbouring Anglican and Presbyterian churches
with regard to possible united or joint action.
That year also circuit committees were set up in accordance with a new Quarterly
Meeting constitution. These became active, especially in lay visitation and social
services. A joint Maori-pakeha service was conducted by Rev. John Pihama. A "study
and action" group was formed. The circuit finances were in credit again. The
consolidation of ministry seemed to be paying off. However ties with the outlying
areas had seriously contracted.
In 1969 also Rev. George Goodman and his wife Peggy came to live in Rotorua. An
experienced ex-Chairman of Districts and ex-President of the Conference, George
gave valuable service in many ways to church and community, as did Peggy who had
served the church well through its Education Department. Their service to Rotorua
came to an end in 1979 with Peggy's sudden death the George's subsequent removal.
Rev. Bob Thornley and his wife Dorothy retired to Rotorua in 1975. Bob had also
served the church with distinction in central pulpits and as President and Dorothy had
great teaching and writing gifts. At the time when the church was demolished they
were involved in activities for retired people centred on -Waiariki Community College
and a group of similar folk at the church.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 59
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
In 1979 the present writer and my wife Floss also retired in the circuit as did Sister
Betty Yearbury, and became involved in the life of the church.
A section of land for a possible new parsonage had been purchased in Rutland Street
in 1965 but was sold as unsuitable in 1970. A further section was then bought in Jervis
Street. The following year however this and the Malfroy Road parsonage were in turn
sold in order to help defray the cost of the present parsonage at 48 Hillcrest Avenue.
This cost $24,000.00. Although these moves were largely due to the activity of Bill
Greenslade he and his wife chose to remain in the old parsonage until their retirement
in February 1971.
Before their departure the church had been saddened by the death of Mrs. W.H. Speer.
An Opportunity Shop had also been established which has proved a most successful
venture for Bainbridge Church. Stocking and maintaining it involve many in the
church and the community. It is quite literally a valuable shop window for the church
where it meets the community it serves and both church and community receive very
considerable financial help from it.
Rev. Alan Newman became minister following Bill Greenslade and minister and wife
occupied the new parsonage. Alan had entered the ministry in 1953. He came to
Bainbridge at a time when the Methodist Church was becoming more and more
concerned about social issues and his preaching reflected this emphasis. He also
served the community as a Marriage Guidance Counsellor and an Industrial Chaplain.
He made effective use of an overhead projector in sermons and worship.
There were now 242 members in the circuit, 23 of them at Wesley. Discussions took
place at an early date with Anglican and Presbyterian representatives, especially with
regard to possible united work at Western Heights and Owhata. Islanders were
meeting each fourth Sunday in the month at Bainbridge. A Church Family Camp was
held at the end of July and became the first of many such camps. They have become
an important twice a year feature of Bainbridge Church Life and are held at the
magnificent site of an Educational Trust Camp in the Okataina forest.
In July 1971 it was decided that Methodists, Presbyterians and Anglicans should
conduct worship on successive Sundays each month at Western Heights with a Maori
minister leading the worship the fourth Sunday There were 120 Sunday School
children attending the combined Sunday School in February the following year.
Membership of the Circuit reached the 250 mark in July 1972.
A burglary at Bainbridge early in 1973 resulted in the loss of $237.00 There was some
reimbursement from insurance and the installation of a safer safe.
That year K.W. Duley was sent forward as a candidate for the ministry and received
some training but did not proceed to ordination.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 60
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
The imminent relocation of the neighbouring Anglican church to a site even closer to
Bainbridge led to the exploration of possible co-operative ventures but was not
pursued further. However an agreement among Rotorua churches on Church Action
was made and five Methodist representatives were appointed to a joint Council. Little
seems to have been achieved.
The withdrawal of the Anglican Church from combined work at Western Heights in
Wesley Church and the resignation of the Sunday School Superintendents there made
it necessary for Bainbridge leaders to decide the future of the cause there. Methodist
activity ceased there some time later.
Early in 1974 Revs. Keith Rowe and Richard Hendry led a Shalom weekend ending in
an act of commitment by those attending and the setting up of an ongoing service
group in the church. Training was also given in lay pastoral visitation. A number of
house groups were formed for Bible study Membership this year was recorded as 269.
In February 1975 it was reported that folk were serving in the Church Office in the
Bainbridge Building. This was arranged on a roster basis and considerable phone
visitation" was being carried out. Face to face visits were also being made as
necessary by the lay team.
The Sunday evening service was being held on informal lines with Holy Communion
about once a month. There were some discussions in official meetings about lack of
numbers and appropriate times and programmes to sustain it. As m so many churches
it was to fade into extinction though kerugma bible study groups were held of a
Sunday evening in the latter stages of the church's life. For Methodists the shadow of
decline had hung over the evening service since the introduction of television and the
steady development of more adequate Sunday morning programmes which included
more opportunities for participation and fellowship. A church which had often been
willing to explore new forms of activity was also showing itself willing to discard
those that had had their day.
A moderately successful stewardship mission was held that year while the
Opportunity Shop again showed a record profit.
The church was involved in these years, personally through its minister and members
or officially through organisation and funding, in establishing an ecumenical hospital
chaplaincy, a telephone and face to face community counselling service, a Citizen's
Advice Bureau and a Good Neighbour Service in Rotorua.
Ron Alley died in November 1975. He had served the church with great skill and
devotion and more than any other had supervised the property and finances of the
circuit.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 61
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
11. ON THE MOVE
Alan Newman's ministry in Rotorua ended in 1978 when Rev. Ivan Clucas was
transferred from Tauranga to Rotorua having served the church since 1947. He
became Chairman of the widespread Waikato-Bay of Plenty Methodist District in
1980 and this involved him in frequent travel and many duties beyond Rotorua. In
spite of this he continued to give friendly and able leadership to the parish. He is still
minister at the time of writing and so is the last minister to serve the Bainbridge
Memorial Church on its original site.
Partly because of this wider ministry of the superintendent there was in the final years
of the church's life a greater sharing in leadership. The retired ministers and deaconess
were able to help when required but effective continuity of leadership, especially in
the worship of the church, was provided conspicuously by Glen Anderson, a wife and
mother who was accepted by the Conference for professional training as a self
supporting presbyter.
Lay folk were formed into ad hoc teams under the leadership of the minister, Glen and
the Worship Committee. More folk participated in leading the worship of the
congregation than ever before.
This had a marked effect on the congregation itself. For the first time the seating of the
church was rearranged, within the limits of the building itself, in order to provide
more face-to-face eye contact rather than shoulder-to-shoulder and face-to-back
contiguity. This made for more informality, warmth and intimacy in worship. The
provision of a first class amplification system at a very favourable cost made it
possible for folk without trained voices to be readily heard. There was considerable
experiment in new forms of worship. A wider range of hymns and songs was
explored. The after church social hour and a cup of tea became firmly established.
In the 'wilderness year' following the demolition of Bainbridge and the building of the
new Church Centre this freeing up and sharing in worship and fellowship in
Bainbridge's closing years has paid off well. The congregation must of necessity meet
in borrowed premises with makeshift facilities. People however have been the more
able to adapt readily and profit from the experience with a sense of adventure and
anticipation.
There is the beginning of some real sharing in depth by some within the carefully
structured but warm personal services. More worshippers have become active
participants. Dialogical preaching has been facilitated.
The major property development in the final years of the church's life has of course
been the planning and negotiation for the church site to be sold to the New Zealand
Methodist Trust Association, the demolition of the Bainbridge buildings, the storage
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 62
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
of organ and other permanent church assets, and the erection of five shops on the site
by the Association.
A planning committee examined the whole future of the church witness at depth and
their report in August 1979 will be of great value for the future.
No less important has been the careful planning by minister and leaders for the
preservation and enhancement of the church's life and fellowship during the transition
period. This is being aided by social gatherings such as dinner parties and games
evenings in the homes of members and the formation of house groups of church
families which determine their own programmes. Many functions are linked to fund
raising for the new venture. Careful attention has also been given to lay visitation
during the period.
The relocation of Methodist witness in Rotorua had been under discussion for many
years, as has been recorded here. A new Chief Post Office was built almost directly
opposite the church in 1971 and other large city offices and emporiums are now all
around the Hinemoa Street site. What was an excellent site for a township of a few
hundred had become unsuitable for a church seeking through one unit to serve a city
and urban district approaching 60,000 in population. While the other major
denominations had opened new causes in many suburbs, and in some cases welcome
Methodist participation, in practice Methodists not attached to the central church had
been absorbed into congregations of a different denomination.
Many newer sects had been established over the years, mainly located strategically in
newer suburbs. Even after the decision to remove from the original site had been made
there were approaches and investigations with the aim of the Bainbridge congregation
participating in some united venture with an existing church of another denomination.
It became obvious that any such venture was likely to result in the end of any
distinctive Methodist presence in the city.
Two factors militated against any such decision. The discouraging lack of real
progress towards Church Union in New Zealand and the resurgence of denominational
loyalties made such a venture unpromising. The nature of the Rotorua community as
the principal centre of tourism in New Zealand with ' its constant procession of
visitors from all parts of the world — perhaps 2000 daily - made it clear that if
Methodism was to have a distinctive witness anywhere it should not be extinguished
here.
There are those who see Methodism in decline through lack of evangelistic fervour.
Others would see it paying the cost of upholding unpopular social and liberal witness
as it did at the beginning of its life. Bainbridge folk feel they have something
distinctive to contribute to the life of the city still. They do not see this as in any way
narrowly confessional.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 63
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
In 1978 the site for the new Church Centre was obtained. It consisted of a section of
land in Old Taupo Road 809 square metres in area with a house on it of some age and
a much larger area behind it consisting of 2423 square metres of open land with a right
of way into Konene Street. The house was given some renovation and furnished first
for church group use and then as a dwelling for a Vietnamese refugee family
sponsored on their arrival by the Bainbridge congregation. This has now been
demolished to provide ample access, parking and visibility for the large site adjoining
it at the rear. This will be almost fully occupied by the new church complex being
built.
The site is a short distance from the business heart of the city and a block or two either
way from boys and girls high schools. It is on the main route through the city from
north to south, and within the perimeter of the major residential area of the city.
The cost of the new site and the building on it was $37,500 and the cost of the erection
of the new Church Centre, as yet unnamed, will be some hundreds of thousands of
dollars. The venture is made possible by the foresight of Bainbridge folk and ministers
in past years and the stewardship of money, time and skill of present members. It is
also due to the continued success of the Opportunity Shop, now relocated in a new
situation opposite the Transport Depot, the income from the Bainbridge Building, now
a valuable revenue producing asset, and the proceeds of the sale of the Wesley church
building at Western Heights in 1980 and the sale of the original Bainbridge site in
1982.
The present giving of the congregation, boosted by regular stewardship reviews, is on
a generous scale. This is in spite of the inevitable financial stress of maintaining an
ongoing church through times of recession and dislocation. During its year without a
church building the congregation organised a Fair with a target of $3,000 regarded as
optimistic by some. It raised $5,000 in half a day!
While there was much sadness, especially among older members, at the closing and
demolition of a loved sanctuary, this has been more than balanced by the excitement
and possibilities of the new venture. Throughout the transition period the harmony and
unity of the congregation is being preserved and the worship and activities of the
church maintained - even at the cost of winter-time sitting in cold halls with the aid of
rugs, slippers and hotwater bottles for some.
In 1979 members of the Methodist Women's Fellowship at Bainbridge gave full
consideration to their position and decided to discontinue their organisation in its
constitutional form. They felt members of the Fellowship were involved in other
church groups and activities and that it would be wise for the whole congregation to
be identified with the missionary and other objectives of the New Zealand Fellowship.
The Fellowship leaders at Bainbridge consulted with the congregation and other
church leaders stressing that they saw this as a positive move and that the
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 64
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
development of the church witness as a whole as well as the realisation of the New
Zealand Fellowship's objectives would be furthered by the move. They received the
approval of congregation and leaders and have implemented their programme.
In April 1982, after considerable negotiation by minister and trustees, final plans for
the disposal of the Bainbridge site and the church buildings were reported to the
Quarterly Meeting and approved. The property was sold to the Methodist Trust
Association, of New Zealand for a quarter million dollars. The organ, windows and
other items desired were retained by the church subject to trust approval. These
included a beautiful wall cross the work of a grateful young man moving from
Rotorua. The final service was duly held on 23 May, 1982.
The life of Bainbridge Memorial Methodist Church was ended - age 76 years. The
congregation was two years older still - it had had its first "wilderness years' in 190406. It now faced another such year.
At the final service minister and representative people gave thanks for all that was past
and expressed trust for all that is to come.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 65
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
12. RESURRECTION.
The story of the Christian Church, according to John Calvin, is nothing but a
succession of resurrections from the dead. The church that was Bainbridge awaits its
new body.
Something has been said of the continuing life of the church now it has put off the old
and awaits the new. It would not be appropriate to write here at any length of the
planning and preparation for the new Church Centre.
A lengthy ‘brief’ — if that is not a contradiction in terms — was prepared and
submitted to the Auckland Methodist architect, Eric Laurenson. Plans and
specifications were duly drawn up, tenders called and a successful tender of very
favourable terms accepted for the erection of the buildings.
The new shops are open where Bainbridge once was. They are attractive shops in a
building dedicated to the memory of Rev. Bernard Chrystall. The shops are fully
established — a major burglary was recently carried out there!
But that is another story to be told in its time. The income to the New Zealand church
through the Methodist Trust Association will continue to facilitate Methodist witness
throughout the connexion.
It is a truism to say that the life that centred on Bainbridge Church spanned the most
momentous years of breathless change in world history. The life of the church was
profoundly influenced by such changes. The church bears the scars of such change but
some at least are honourable wounds and there have been some notable achievements.
Only the shell of the story has been told here. Much is forever hidden. The city most
immediately served by Bainbridge has also changed beyond telling. The eight folk
who first envisaged Bainbridge probably bore similar relationship and influence in
that thermal village at the beginning of the century as the 180 members of the present
church do in the present tourist capital city.
There are no adequate human criteria by which to evaluate the life and effectiveness
of the church. Numbers are sometimes in inverse ratio to faithfulness to the gospel. It
is not required of servants that they be popular — only faithful.
The church is still concerned with the gospel of its Lord. The twin poles of that gospel
for Methodists are on the one hand warm concern for the individual that he or she be
fully saved through Christ forever and on the other concern for the saving of society
itself for fullness of life.
Methods and causes change. Individuals in today's fellowships tend to change and
grow more in intimate sharing and mutual caring than in mass high pressure rallies.
Some of the Bainbridge people can still get excited and sometimes bear the wounds of
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 66
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
public causes. Their concern with Springbok tours and the possibility of casinos might
not be intelligible either to the first Methodists concerned with slavery and
highwaymen or the first Bainbridge folk worried about sabbath observance and
dancing. One dares to hope the spirit would be identified as the same.
Churches like men and women die. The Church lives on.
Thanks be to God.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 67
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
POSTSCRIPT. THE NEW COMPLEX.
The architect, Eric Laurenson, says the new Church complex is based on the modern
concept of a good balance between worship, education and recreation with generous
space for assembling and meeting. The Church auditorium is designed as an octagonal
shape in plan. This shape is intended to express modern theology regarding worship.
All members of the congregation will be encouraged to consider themselves as part of
the service of worship and to contribute to the greatest extent possible. Construction of
the building is economic. External walls will be of painted concrete blocks, pitched
rooves will be asbestos cement and flat rooves will be of long run galvanised steel.
1983
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 68
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
BAINBRIDGE CHURCH MINISTERS
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908-9
1910-11
1912-13
1914-17
1918
1919
1920-22
1923
1924-25
1926-28
1929-32
1933-35
1936-38
1939-40
1941-42
1943-44
1944-49
1950-53
1954-59
1960-64
1965-70
1971-77
1978-82
A.J. Seamer
E.P. Blamires
A.J. Reed
G.F. Stockwell
H.A.G. Keck
J.D. McArthur
C.B. Jordan.
H.T. Peat
J. Nixon
H.T. Peat
P. Batty
J. Wrigley
J.H. Allen
C.C. Harrison
W.H. Speer
F. Bateup
J.L. Mitchell
F.H. Hayman
W.B. Pickering
J.B. Dawson
T.H. Carr
J. Silvester
G.V. Thomas
W.E.A. Carr
W.W.H. Greenslade
A. Newman
I.J. Clucas
In preparation
In preparation
Supply
2014
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 69
The Bainbridge Church Story by J B Dawson 1983
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Apart from personal memories and conversation with individuals the following have
been consulted for this record:
Personal letters from Mrs Phyllis Can and Revs. J. Silvester, G.V. Thomas, W.E.A.
Carr, W.W.H. Greenslade,M.B.E.
Minutes of Quarterly and Trustees Meetings and other records of th ; Rotorua
Methodist Circuit.
"The Pride of a Century", supplement to Rotorua 'Daily Post' 28 August 1980.
"History of Methodism in New Zealand", by W. Morley.DD., 1900.
"The Upper Thames Circuit 1881-1916" by John B. Beeche, 1961. Wesley Historical
Society.
"Encyclopedia of New Zealand". New Zealand Government Printer, 1966.
"Tarawera" by Eugene and Valeric Grayland, Hodder and Stoughton. 1971.
"Minutes", New Zealand Methodist Conference, Methodist Church of Australasia,
1904-1912.
"Minutes", Methodist Church of New Zealand Conferences, 1913-1980.
"Rotorua Methodism 1904-1954", Jubilee Souvenir by Rev. J. Silvester.
"Edwin Bainbridge, A Memoir" by T.Darlington. Morgan and Scott. Written by a
schoolfellow and published in England shortly after Edwin's death. It includes
eyewitness accounts and facsimile of his last message. Long out of print, a copy is
kept in the possession of the incumbent Rotorua Methodist minister.
"The Bainbridges of Newcastle. A Family History 1679—1976" by Angela and John
Airey, 1979, published by the authors. Newcastle upon Tyne.
Grateful acknowledgment is made to Laurenson Sutherland and Partners, architects,
for the preliminary sketch of the new complex and to Neil Dawson for cover sketch
and frontispiece.
Wesley Historical Society (NZ) Publication #43
Page 70