Heritage Centre Historical Notes

Ministers:

A H Stobo 29 Jun 1860 31 Dec 1879 Retired
Rev John Ferguson 20 May 1880 July 1894 Translated to Sydney
Rev J Gibson Smith 4 Oct 1894 Aug 1903 Translated to W’ton
Rev R Ferguson 23 Dec 1903 Sept 1908 Translated to St Peters, Auckland
Rev R M Ryburn MA 10 Feb 1909 6 Nov 1918 Translated to St Andrews, Chch
Rev J Lawson Robinson BA 1 Sep 1919 20 Feb 1930 Translated to St Andrews, Chch
Rev A G Mackintosh Carter BA BD 10 Apr 1931 8 Feb 1937 Returned to Australia
Rev Jas A Thomson 2 Jun 1937 25 June 1951 (died)
Rev A McG Kirkwood 29 Nov 1945 10 Oct 1948 Associate Minister
Rev C Lex Ritchie 21 Apr 1949 Associate Minister
Rev W J Pellow ThM 13 Feb 1952 Dec 1958
Rev Dr Ian J Cairns MA BD Feb 1959 Feb 1960 (Supply)
Rev S W Campbell MA BD 19 May 1960 25 Aug 1966 Inducted St Andrews, Hastings
Rev C W R Madill MA 6 Apr 1967 1 July 1979 Retired
Rev Dr Ian J Cairns MA BD PhD 5 Feb 1981 May 1984
Rev Dr Robert J Eyles PhDMSc(Hons) BD DipTch, 16 Dec 1984 Sept 1989 Overseas study leave
Rev Claire Stranberg New Jersey 1 Oct 1989 26 June 1990 Interim Minister
Rev Dr R J Eyles 26 Jun 1990 24 Feb 1991
Rev Allan Morgan 24 Feb 1991 15 Sept 1991 Interim Minister
Rev Brian P Williscroft BA DipTheol 15 Sep 1991 4 Apr 1997 Overseas study leave
Rev Brian Sturtridge 13 Apr 1997 1 June 1997 Exchange from United Reform Church
UK Rev Helen Wallis Drummond-Oreti 15 Jun 1997 Sept 1997 Interim Minister
Rev Brian Williscroft Sep 1997 30 Sept 2000 Retired
Rev. Dr Simon Rae 26 Apr 2001

Session Clerks:

Rev A Bethune 14 Nov 1860 26 July 1866
William Law 26 July 1866 30 Jan 1868
Thomas Watson 30 Jan 1868 5 July 1886
John Borrie 4 Oct 1886 12 July 1894 (Died)
John Neil 13 Sept 1894 23 Mar 1896
David Strang 23 Mar 1896 3 Aug 1896
William A McCaw 3 Aug 1896 8 Aug 1952
G C Batcheler 8 Aug 1952 Aug 1958
G A Boyce Aug 1958 Dec 1959
L R Gifford 5 May 1960 6 July 1976 (Died)
Murray Middlemiss 28 July 1976 25 Feb 1987
Audrey M Roby (Miss) 25 Feb 1987 22 July 1998
Alan Smith July 1998

Significant Events:

1856 Invercargill surveyed Nov 10 Presbyterian services inaugurated by Rev A Bethune
1859 First Communicants’ Roll compiled by Rev W Bannerman Presbytery (Dunedin) sent to United Kingdom for Minister
1860 January Communion dispensed by Rev Dr Burns. (Members 105, Communicants, 83). Mar 5 First Day School opened. Teacher: Rev A Bethune. August First Sabbath School opened. Superintendent: Mr Thos Watson Nov 14 First Meeting of Interim Session
1861 Mar 31 First Communion dispensed by Rev A H Stobo June 23 First Session and Deacons’ Court constituted and members ordained. Members of Session: Rev Alex Bethune, Messrs Thos Ferguson and James Bennett. Members of Deacons’ Court: Messrs Thos Watson, Kenneth Finlayson, Wm Calder, Andrew Elles, John Blacklock
1863 Mar 20 Preaching Station on North Road commenced Mar 15 First Church opened by Rev W Bannerman
1864 Feb 4 Rev A Bethune appointed First Church Missionary
1865 Mar 5 First meeting of Southland Presbytery
1867 Sylvan Bank Sunday School commenced
1868 Jan 30 Myross Bush and Roslyn Bush constituted a Minor Charge under Rev A Bethune
1872 Clifton Services inaugurated
1873 June Hymns introduced into the service
1874 March Instrumental music in the Sunday School sanctioned June 11 Rev A Arnott appointed Congregational Missionary July Change made from sitting to standing while singing praise Dec 17 Rev A Arnott resigned as Congregational Missionary
1876 Feb 3 Manse in Ritchie Street, East Invercargill, sold February Sylvan Bank Sunday School erected Mar 4 Foundation stone of St Pauls Church laid by Rev A H Stobo March Communion cards substituted for lead tokens April Manse built beside church in Tay Street May 21 Second Church commenced and Communion dispensed in Exchange Hall by Rev A H Stobo and Messrs Henderson and Fraser. Members 28; Communicants 36 July Appleby Sunday School opened Dec 18 Name changed from ‘St Andrews’ to ‘First’
1877 Church enlarged
1880 May Clifton and Bluff Services established
1881 May Quarterly Communion Services established Church again enlarged
1883 January Georgetown Sunday School opened
1885 October Dr W Grigor gifted site for church at Appleby
1886 April Mr Jamieson gifted site for church at Woodend First Woodend Church erected August Free sittings in the evenings authorised December Myross and Waikiwi constituted a Church Extension Charge
1889 Aug 11 South Invercargill Mission (St Andrews) started under Rev A H Stobo
1891 October Instrumental music introduced into church services
1892 Bluff Church erected
1893 Jan 20 Rev A Bethune died, aged 81
1897 June 10 Georgetown Sunday School reverted to First Church
1898 Dec 24 Rev A H Stobo died, aged 66
1899 May 28 Individual Communion cups adopted
1902 December Knox Church established
1903 March Appleby Hall and Sunday School transferred to Knox Church
1909 Sep 12 Unfermented wine used at Communion Service 1910 Oct 23 Jubilee services conducted by Rev J Ferguson, St Stephens, Sydney Oct 26 Foundation stone of new Church laid by Rev J Ferguson and Rev R M Ryburn
1911 Dec 18 Contract let for erection of new Church and Hall
1912 Aug 18 Last service held in old Church (Anniversary and Communion) Nov 24 First Service held in new Sabbath School Hall, named Stobo Hall out of respect for the congregation’s first minister
1913 Dec 14 Evening Communion Service established
1915 Feb 10 New Church opened by Rev J Gibson Smith May 25 Stobo Hall subdivided and reopened as a Sunday School
1919 November General Assembly held its first meeting in Invercargill
1921 Aug 22-29 Diamond Jubilee Services conducted by Rev J L Robinson, Rev B A R Fairmaid and Rev J Gibson Smith Dec 4 1914-18 War Memorial Window and Tablet unveiled October Weekly freewill offering by Duplex envelope introduced
1922 Mar 5 Sister Janet Harper ordained Deaconess 1930 Mar 31 Second Manse in Tay Street sold September Manse at 181 Tay Street built Aug 24 70th Anniversary Services conducted by Rev J Gibson Smith, Rev R M Ryburn and Rev J Lawson Robinson
1935 Apr 30 Sister Janet Harper resigned
1940 Aug 11 80th Anniversary Services conducted by Rev J Lawson Robinson BA
1945 Aug 26 First Service in Surrey Park School, East Invercargill (preliminary). 158 present. Preacher: Rev A McG Kirkwood. November General Assembly held second meeting in Invercargill Dec 2 Second Service at Surrey Park, 106 present Mar 10 First communion at Surrey Park, 55 present
1947 May 4 Main Sunday School met in morning
1949 Oct 30 Surrey Park Sunday School established
1951 April New Church Hall in East Invercargill named Richmond Grove Mar 15 Richmond Grove Church Hall opened May Sylvan Bank Sunday School transferred to Richmond Grove June 10 Morning Communion Service instituted at Richmond Grove
1953 May 11 Presbytery declared Richmond Grove a Parish Church and Stobo Hall re-roofed with copper and tiles
1956 June 17 Memorial plaque to Rev J F H Wohlers unveiled during Southland Centennial Celebrations Aug-Mar 1957 Church interior reconstructed and renovated
1957 Mar 31 Church re-opened and new Holy Table, Font, Pulpit, Lectern, Elders’ and Choir Mar 31 Stalls dedicated
1958 Nov 9 Stewardship of Time, Talents and Possessions
1959 July Stobo window, ‘Saint Andrew’, dedicated November Anderson window, ‘Sermon on the Mount’, dedicated July 1-Jun 30 1960 Parish Centennial Year November General Assembly held its third meeting in Invercargill
1960 Aug 13-14 Sunday School Centenary Dec 3 Baldwin 10a Electronic Organ dedicated
1962 Feb 11 Miss E F C Robinson BA appointed Lady Assistant 1963 Oct 20 Asher windows ‘Nativity’ and ‘The Miracles’ dedicated Oct 20 Quinn windows ‘The Parables’ dedicated
1964 Association of Presbyterian Women formed
1965 February Jubilee of opening of present church buildings. 20th Garden Party & Buffet Tea, 21st Jubilee Services taken by Rev W J Pellow
1966 May 8 Boyd window ‘The Good Shepherd’ dedicated Aug 7 Memorial Shrine dedicated by Rev S W Campbell
1967 May 26 Presbyterian Social Service Centre dedicated by Very Rev S C Francis
1969 September Stages 1,2 & 3 of Stobo Hall alterations completed
1970 December Nativity window displayed on 3c Christmas stamp Dec 31 Miss E F C Robertson, Lady Assistant, resigned
1972 July Stage 4 of Stobo Hall alterations completed September Batcheler Memorial Lectern Bible (NEV) dedicated
1981 Apr 19 Rodgers ‘Scarborough’ organ dedicated
1982 South part of church re-roofed
1983 Oct 9 Electronic Carillon gifted by Mrs Kathleen Kirby
1984 Nov 4 Upright Yamaha piano dedicated
1985 May 12 Repainting of Church, Dedication Service Aug 10 125th Anniversary Dinner Aug 11 125th Anniversary Service and week of celebrations. Aug 18 Bethune Window and Chapel dedicated by Mrs Nola Stuart, Moderator of Presbytery
1986 Feb 2 Commissioning of Brian Schick as Youth Worker under the Order of St Stephen December Mr Brian Schick’s appointment concluded
1987 Feb 15 Commissioning Service for Andrew Donaldson, Lay Pastor
1988 Dec 18 Mr Andrew Donaldson, Lay Pastor, farewelled
1989 Feb 12 Mr Roger Driver-Burgess, Lay Pastor, appointed
1990 Aug 19 Mr Roger Driver-Burgess, Lay Pastor, resigned
1991 October Rodgers ‘Scarborough’ organ refurbished and upgraded Oct 13 Service celebrating 100 years of instrumental music at First Church November General Assembly held its fourth meeting in Invercargill
1994 Apr 16 Synod of Otago & Southland held Annual General Meeting Apr 16 Miss Audrey Roby inducted as Moderator of Synod Sep 16 Mrs Libby Smith appointed Parish Mission Assistant
1995 May 10 Stobo Health Trust established to provide free medical and dental care to the disadvantaged
1996 February New Rodgers 940 organ purchased and installed Sep 24 Rev Brian P Williscroft admitted as Chaplain to the Order of St John of Jerusalem Nov 24 First Church scheduled to conduct Sunday Service at Peacehaven on third Sunday in each month
1997 July 27 Tay Music Trust Deed approved by Congregation Sep 27 First concert organised by Tay Music Trust
1998 Mar 20-22 Festival of Flowers and Crafts held in Church. Nov Governor General present
2000 Sept Farewell Service and luncheon for Brian and Noeleen Williscroft. Nov 26 Southland Presbytery held special Service of Licensing for Mrs Libby Smith Minister

First Presbyterian Church Heritage Centre
PO Box: 941 Phone: 64-3-218-2560
Email: First Church Heritage Centre
Invercargill New Zealand