A history of Taradale and St Columba's

The following Material is taken from "A Second Glance", a history written by Nancye Munro and John Boyd, published on the 125th Anniversary of the church in 1991. A borrowing copy of this history is available at the Taradale Library and a reference-only copy at Napier Library.

Early History - 1840

Due to economic pressures the early years of the nineteenth century saw the great migrations of Scots into all the corners of the earth to the freedom of opportunity and land. New Zealand was one of the favoured spots and to this country came hundreds of Scots, some to settle in specific areas such as the Free Church Settlement of Otago and Southland, some to Wellington and others scattered up and down the country. The larger migrations each brought their own Ministers with them but the Free Church was early concerned with the spiritual needs of the scattered members of the flock, and released Ministers from the more settled areas to investigate that need. In pursuance of this policy of the Colonial Committee of the Free Church, the Rev David Bruce, then Minister of St Andrew's Auckland, was released from his pastoral duties for the purpose of meeting settlers and arranging for the establishment of Churches over quite a large portion of the North Island and in Nelson and Canterbury. For nearly 25 years he carried out this task. Until 1865 Hawkes Bay and Poverty Bay were part of the Auckland Presbytery.

In the course of his travels Mr Bruce came to Napier in 1857 to investigate the needs of the settlement there, and the possible appointment of a Minister. Following this visit. a meeting of Presbyterians resident in the Ahuriri district was held under the chairmanship of Mr Alexander Alexander. He had settled in the Ahuriri area in 1846 and was one of the first storekeepers in what was once familiarly known as the Port. The meeting was held in Daniel Munn's Royal Hotel, the social centre for the new town, and it was situated on the corner of Havelock Road and Carlyle Street. They resolved to build a Church to be named St Paul's and appointed a committee to collect funds for the building and maintenance of the Church.

On September 25, 1858, the Rev David Bruce advised that the Colonial Committee of the Free Church had appointed the Rev Peter Barclay MA, as the first Presbyterian minister in Hawke's Bay and he landed at Onepoto from the "White Swan" on June 6, 1859.

Although no record exists now, it appears that the spiritual needs of the settlers in the Meeanee- Puketapu district were met by the Rev Peter Barclay and it seems likely that services were held in the area because Mr Barclay applied to the Free Church in Scotland for a Minister for the Meeanee-Puketapu Parish.

First ministry at Taradale/ Meeanee: John McMichael 1865-1868

"Come over to New Zealand and help us". One wonders if this verse from Acts' was in the mind of John McMichael when he received the call to come to New Zealand. He was a minister from the Presbyterian Church of Northern Ireland, an Ulsterman.
The "Louisa", a ship of 903 tons, left London on November 8 1864 and John McMichael arrived in Auckland on March 28,1865. What an adventure for a man in his early fifties!

When a congregation is struggling because it lacks manpower, the thought of help coming in the form of another Minister is exciting. Imagine the Rev Barclay's delight when at last his call had been answered!

John McMichael on the other hand, had had four months on the seas wondering -
What will it be like?
Who will be there?
How will I fit in?

The Location of the first Church

Since the publication of "A Second Glance" further investigation has continued as to the site of the church at Meeanee. In 1994, Mr Maurice Bartlett, who was employed at the Lands and Survey Office in Napier, searched plans and titles and from that there is no doubt that on 16 February 1859, Edward Davis of Manahuna, Farmer, donated half an acre on which to build a Presbyterian church. This site nowadays in in Meeanee Road almost opposite Johns Road.

On 30 September 1866, in the presence of a Congregation that had arrived by dray, spring cart, bullock wagon and even by barge, St Columba's Church was opened and dedicated.

Note: It has been the practice in this Congregation to measure its years from the opening of the Church from the date of September 30, 1866 rather than from the commencement of pastoral work in the area. The Congregation in the terms of a worshipping entity is much older.

Parish Ministers

1865-1868 Rev John McMichael

1870-1871 Rev Alexander Shepherd

1871 Rev William McGregor

1873-1876 Rev P J Riddle

1876-1888 Revs John Stewart, D Rodgers, J Miller Smith and Mr Benning. (Dates of tenure now unknown)

1888-1889 Rev J Miller Smith

1889-1893 Rev Samuel Douglas

1893-1895 Rev Robert McCully

1895-1904 Rev Charles Connor

1904-1908 Rev John W Hayward

1908-1909 Rev S E Hill

1910-1915 Rev Frank Tucker

1915-1919 Rev R Ferguson Fish

1919-1924 Rev A H Norrie

1925-1928 Rev C Brierly

1928-1931 Rev J Ruprecht

1931-1934 Rev W J Martin

1934-1938 Rev J Cumming

1938-1944 Rev Alan Ashwin

1944 -1949 Rev George Wood - last of Home Missionaries

1950 - 1955 Rev Ian A Milner - first Minister aided charge parish

1955 - 1961 Rev Leonard G B Whitehead

1961 - 1990 Rev D McG Jamieson

1992 - 1998 Rev Rachel Paulin

1999 - present Rev Brett Walker

Some snapshots of early ministers from "A Second Glance"

Rev Alexander Shepherd 1869-71

Rev Alexander Shepherd came from the Waipawa/Waipukurau parish. He chose to live in Havelock North, which, with Clive, was officially an outstation. The Meeanee Congregation were unhappy that they were expected to provide half the stipend of 200 pounds, and he didn't live in the Meeanee manse. There was much debate about this which resulted in Clive/ Havelock North becoming a separate parish with Rev Shepherd as first Minister. The Church at Havelock North is also called St Columba's.

Rev William McGregor 1871

Rev McGregor was inducted to the Taradale portion of the parish although the congregation considered the division of the parish "premature" The Presbytery expressed surprise at the appointment and Mr Shepherd actively opposed it. Mr McGregor's ministry was a short and an unhappy one and he resigned and departed to a new parish at Kaiapoi. After this the Meeanee Parish came under the care of St Paul's Napier.

Rev Samuel Douglas 1889-1893

Rev Douglas came to Taradale from the Waipukurau -Waipawa Parish at a stipend of one hundred and thirty pounds of which seventy pounds was to be provided by Port Ahuriri (the Parish boundaries at this time were extended to include Port Ahuriri and Petane) and sixty pounds from Meeanee, plus a manse. His ministry ended tragically when he was drowned in one of the major floods, while out on Pastoral visitation.

Robert McCully 1893-1895

Robert McCully was a student for the ministry when the Presbytery appointed him to fill the vacancy following Rev Douglas' drowning. Obviously very popular, he was given as a parting gift from the Meeanee/Port parish a purse of sovereigns. He was ordained at Sefton in 1896.

Rev Charles Connor 1895-1904

Mr Connor came originally from the United Presbyterian Church in Aberdeenshire. It is said that he was a great Greek and Hebrew scholar. During his ministry, the church at the Port was dedicated and opened free of debt for a total cost of five hundred pounds. In February 1904 whether due to the matter of the disjunction of Meeanee from the parish or to some internal disturbance within the congregation Mr Connor tendered his resignation.

Rev John W Hayward 1905-1907 "A CHURCH ON THE MOVE"

It was during Rev Hayward's ministry that permission was granted by the Presbytery for the physical removal of the church building from Meeanee to Taradale. The removal took place by traction engine in April 1906 and was completed in three days. (The ground was prone to flooding from the Tutaekuri river and the population centre was moving to the Taradale centre.) Nancye Munro has recently written a poem about the early church and its move. It is called The Old Church.

Rev R Ferguson Fish 1915-1919 "A growing Church"

In 1917 the Sunday School Hall was built and opened. It is a lasting monument to Mr Fish who offered to build the hall free of cost of labour if the Board of Managers would provide the building materials. Besides undertaking the building of the hall, Mr Fish made the seats by hand, we still used them in 1973! The hall was opened free of debt at a total cost of three hundred and twenty pounds. (A photo and plaque commemorating this is in our very modern Fish hall. This Hall was modernised in 2000 at a cost of $110,000!)

Very Rev D McG Jamieson BA, BD - (Duncan) - 1961-1990

In 1991 Duncan was inducted Moderator of the Presbyerian Church. He was a remarkable family man. He was passionate about the appreciation of principles and Maori and pakeha relations and issues; he was a modern theologian, a unique person with different approaches; a sportsman (cricket, golf and hockey), talented preacher and story teller, highly intelligent lover of people and God. (Friends' comments at the time of his death).
Mrs M Helen Andersen - first woman elder ordained and inducted 12 March 1972
Mrs Alys Alexander - first woman Session Clerk 1987-1992

Rev Rachel Paulin - 1992-1998

Rachel was inducted as the first woman minister on 23/01/92

The church chose its new Mission Statement:
"God loves everybody. Led by His Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, inspired by His Holy Spirit and guided by His word through the Bible.
We of St Columba Presbyterian Church, Taradale, commit ourselves to worship, prayer, study. service and fellowship as we reach out in love to our neighbours in this community and the wider world."

The complete church complex was repainted and we purchased the New Rodgers Classic Digital Organ.  A new hearing loop system was installed and the Boys Brigade went in recess.

Statistics 1997: Communicant Roll 307 and 11 Baptisms during year.
1998 April - Rev Rachel Paulin / Judge called to Ranfurly