Location 58
Location #58 - Presbyterian Church
Map 5
Address
King Street

Area


Description

Location #58 - Presbyterian Church. East side of King Street.


Still Standing

Yes



Construction Details

Stone and mortar with galvanised corrugated iron roof. Stone mason was Mr George Gair of Cromwell, and the builder Mr Betts of Cromwell.

Location Type

Church


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Interested Parties

The table below shows the groups of people that had an interest in this property, either as owners, residents, tenants or shareholders. Clicking on the 'Details' link will display a list of the individuals in the group along with any known historical information about them.

Group Date Description
1 1909 Presbyterian Church Details
Notes

The table below shows any historical notes about the location.

Note Date Short Description Note Text
769 1861 First move to establish the Presbyterian Church in Central Otago. First move to establish the Presbyterian Church in Central Otago. The session of Tokomairiro did what it could to provide visiting preachers.
770 1865 Rev Chas Connar from Oamaru makes a tour of the interior (Central Otago) At the request of local congregations, the Presbytery of Dunedin sent a minister to make a tour of the interior, including the Cromwell area. This was the Rev. Chas Connar of the St Pauls Church in Oamaru. Due to the shortage of ministers a permanent minister could not be appointed.
771 1867 Two ministers sent from England with a view to establishing a permanent church in Central Otago. Two ministers were sent out from England with a view to establishing a permanent church in Central Otago. The Rev. W Munro was followed by Rev. S R Ross. The Rev. S R Ross lived at Midway Manse in Muttontown. He held a number of services in Cromwell.
772 1868 A committee from the Bannockburn - Kawarau Gorge area was formed with Joseph Berry as secretary. A committee from the Bannockburn - Kawarau Gorge area was formed with Joseph Berry as secretary. To work with the Cromwell congregation to get a resident minister, they met in the Sluicers Arms Hotel and carried on for two years, during which time the Rev. Benjamin Drake came (in July 1868). He was a congregational minister. Efforts were made to have him ordained as a regular minister of the church.
773 1872 - 1875 Rev Drake ordained. A deputation from the Synod consisting of the Rev. A B Todd and John Riley was sent to the goldfields. Their recommendation was favourable and the Rev. Drake was ordained in 1875. Rev Drake became a much loved and familiar figure on his white horse. His parish covered an area of 3,200 square miles. He was based in a house on the Belmore Street Reserve in Cromwell. Services were held on Sunday afternoons in rotation at Kawarau Gorge, Mt Pisa Station, Logantown, and Bannockburn (at the school). On Sunday nights services were held in Cromwell. Every six weeks he spent a Sunday in the Nevis District, and visited monthly on weekdays McLeans "Morvern Hills Station" and Campbells "Wanaka Station" calling in at places en-route - on some occasions going as far as Makarora.
774 1873 Meeting held to discuss erection of a Presbyterian Church in Bannockburn. On Dec 4 1873 a meeting was held at the school to discuss the erection of a Presbyterian Church in Bannockburn. However, the idea made no progress.
775 1878 Bannockburn Church Committee formed. The Bannockburn Church Committee was formed on July 21 1878. It consisted of the Rev. B Drake, Mess'rs Bennett, G Anderson, William Burrows, A McGregor, A Anderson, Elliott, D VMcGregor, Avgar, Davis, C Ray and Scott. It was many years before they managed to get a church erected.
776 1880 Sunday School started in the school building. The Sunday School was started in the school building in Schoolhouse Road (location #215). Superintendents : - William Burrows - Arch. McGregor - John Short - Harry Murray. Teachers : - Miss A Angel (Mrs Aitken) - Miss E Ferguson Church services were also held at the school. Miss Graham (Mrs R Robertson) played the organ. Mr D V McGregor conducted the choir. The church and Sunday school were well attended with up to fifty people taking part.
777 1892 Sewing circle formed to raise money for a church. The Ladies guild formed a sewing circle to raise money for a church and the Sunday school.
778 1895 Article from Cromwell Argus 8 Jan 1895. Jan 8 (notes from the Cromwell Argus) "Sale of Work at Bannockburn" A sale of work in connection with the Presbyterian Church ladies guild was held at the Bannockburn Hall on Friday 28th. The work stall containing plain and fancy work was presided over by Mesdames Horn and Fleming, Mesdames Horn and McGregor assisted by several young ladies were kept busy at the refreshments stall where "the cup that cheers" was to be obtained at a very modest sum. The fish pond was in the charge of Mr J Lawrence, who proved himself second to none as a vendor of fish licences. Throughout the evening, a programme comprising selections on the harmonium, piano, and vocal solos, was given and the performers, one and all, acquitted themselves very creditably. The attendance was fairly good, and the articles were nearly all disposed of. As the most of the proceeds is to be donated to the Sunday School, the institution will be benefited to the amount of about £20 (twenty pounds).
779 C1903 Architectural plans created for a stone church to house 120 people. Mr A S Gillanders, the manager of the Cromwell and Bannockburn Colliery Company prepared the architectural plans for a stone church to accommodate 120 people.
780 1909 Call for tenders to build the church. Enough funds had been raised to build the church and tenders for its construction were called for. People were leaving the district because the dredging claims were being worked out and the demand for coal was falling. The parish had no resident minister, and only one elder. Only four people turned up at a congregational meeting to consider tenders and no decision was taken. The church committee awarded the job to the lowest tenderer, Mr Betts whose price was £399 (three hundred and ninety nine pounds). Unfortunately they then learned that the rising price of timber would add another £18 to the cost. A total of £417 (four hundred and seventeen pounds). Because of the unexpected increase the building committee decided to modify their building plans. The church would still be built, but without a vestry. The committee would also undertake to quarry and deliver the building stones to the site. The stone was quarried from near the original Kawarau homestead site. This was close to Shepherds Creek, where the Ray's lived, at the base of the Henshaw Range. The architect, Mr A S Gillanders, the clerk of works, Mr William Parcell and the carrier, Mr Robert Jackson all gave their services free. Mr James Horn paid for the church bell and subsidised all outside contributions by fifty percent.
781 1909 Article from Cromwell Argus - Feb 22 1909. On February 22, the Cromwell Argus reported : "Arrangements are now complete for the opening of the new Presbyterian Church in Bannockburn. The building which has been erected in stone is well finished and seats 120 persons. The interior of the building is also nicely finished and comfortable. We expect a large number of visitors to be present from Cromwell, Lowborn and surrounding districts, and with the Bannockburn congregation on Sunday, March 7 1909, when the opening service is to take place at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The Rev. Dutton of Dunedin will officiate on the occasion (he was assisted by Mr Cuttle as there was no resident minister in the area at the time) and a special service will follow at 7 o'clock in the evening. A social for which great preparations are being made will be held on the following day (Monday), March 8 at 8 o'clock in the evening, when the chair will be taken by the Rev. Dutton." A choir had been formed to sing at the opening ceremony. They had practiced for the event every Tuesday night and were well supported. The choir proved to be very popular and continued to sing until the Rev. W Rowlands left in 1913.
782 1962 Church renovations The church was renovated with the addition of new furniture. This included the pulpit, lectern, font, hymn board and blue felt carpet. The new furniture was dedicated at a service held in March. A number of people at this function had attended the opening of the church back in 1909.
783 1991 Regular services at the church discontinued. In June 1991, regular services in the church were discontinued, however it was still used on occasions for weddings and funerals.
784 c2004 Cromwell Presbyterian Church Management Committee proposes selling the Bannockburn Church. The Cromwell Presbyterian Church Management Committee decided a larger, more modern church was required in the town. This new church was to serve the needs of the surrounding area. To this end, the Cromwell, Lowburn and Bannockburn churches were to be sold off to fund the new centre in Cromwell. The Lowborn and Cromwell churches were sold to private owners. The Bannockburn church was then put on the market, however the people of the area did not want to see their church become a holiday home or a craft shop.
785 2005 Bannockburn Community Centre Management Committee formed. Public meetings were held and in February a Bannockburn Community Centre Management Committee was formed. This committee incorporated the management of the Coronation Hall and tool over from the old Hall Committee. The new committee approached the Cromwell Presbyterian Organisation to register it's interest in purchasing the church. After much discussion the Cromwell Presbyterian Management agreed to sell the Bannockburn Church to the Bannockburn Community Centre Management Committee Incorporated for the sum of $250,000. The committee got underway a fund raising campaign amongst the Bannockburn community and local trusts. The major contributions came from: - The Central Otago District Council $100,000 - The Central Lakes Trust $75,000 - The Community Trust of Otago $40,000 The remaining money was generated by the locals through 'Foundation Member' donations and fund raising events.
3622 c2010 Structural repairs carried out. Structural repairs were carried out on a number of extensive cracks in the stone work by injection of epoxy grout. Rainwater downpipes were repaired and extended to prevent water entering under he foundations.
786 various List of Presbyterian Ministers. 1865 - Rev Chas Connor 1867 - Rev S R Ross 1868 - 1898 Rev Benjamin Drake (died 1890 at the age of 80 years) Rev Blake 1885 - Rev J Rivers 1886 - Rev J L Blackie 1887 - Rev Neave 1887 - Rev Huntley 1880 - 1890 - Rev G P Hunter 1880 - Rev J Ferguson 1890 - 1902 - Rev J White 1892 - Rev James Cumming 1899 - 1904 - Rev Thomas Tait 1906 - 1908 - Rev J D McLeod No regular minister until Rev Rowlands. Mr Blue filled in for a time then moved to Alexandra. Mr Baylee, a student, also filled in the a time. 1911 - 1913 - Rev W Rowlands 1913 - 1926 - Rev W P Rankin 1916 - 1932 - Rev A R Chisholm 1932 - 1936 - Rev D D Heggie 1936 - 1944 - Rev George Renwick 1944 - 1951 - Rev J C Doig Rev Gibson Rev McMillan Rev Calvert Rev Vinton Rev Lambie
Images

The table below shows a list of images related to the location. Click on 'View Image' to display more details about the image, and to view the image.

Image Id Source Date Short Description
50 Paul Crump June 1997 The Presbyterian Church - King Street View Image
241 Mr R Henderson - Quartzville c1946 Celebration Group - End of W.W.2 View Image
272 Cromwell Argus via Paul Crump 8 June 1898 Presbyterian Church, Bannockburn - Social Meeting View Image
618 Paul Crump 2000 The Bannockburn Presbyterian Church (location #58). Interior looking east View Image
619 Paul Crump 2000 The Bannockburn Presbyterian Church (location #58). Interior looking west View Image
620 Paul Crump 2000 Bannockburn Presbyterian Church - Soldiers Memorial Roll of Honour 1939-45 View Image
621 Paul Crump 2000 Bannockburn Presbyterian Church - Soldiers Memorial Roll of Honour 1914-18 View Image
684 Paul Crump - Bannockburn 7 Mar 1909 Bannockburn Presbyterian Church View Image
955 Land Information NZ - Dunedin 1921-1923 Bannockburn Survey 1921-1923. Surveyor S T Burton. Field Book 1164 - page 36(b) View Image
1337 Mrs D Norman - Roxburgh 6 Apr 1910 Postcard from Mr Harry Muntz to Mr William Toms View Image
1507 Mrs M Bruce - Roxburgh 1945 Bannockburn VJ (Victory in Japan) Celebrations View Image
1508 Mrs M Bruce - Roxburgh 1945 Bannockburn VJ (Victory in Japan) Celebrations View Image
1509 Mrs M Bruce - Roxburgh 1945 Bannockburn VJ (Victory in Japan) Celebrations View Image
1510 Mrs M Bruce - Roxburgh 1945 Bannockburn VJ (Victory in Japan) Celebrations View Image
1511 Mrs M Bruce - Roxburgh 1945 Bannockburn VJ (Victory in Japan) Celebrations View Image
1512 Mrs M Bruce - Roxburgh 1945 Bannockburn VJ (Victory in Japan) Celebrations View Image
1513 Mrs M Bruce - Roxburgh 1945 Bannockburn VJ (Victory in Japan) Celebrations View Image
1514 Mrs M Bruce - Roxburgh 1945 Bannockburn VJ (Victory in Japan) Celebrations View Image