Oratia Combined Church Celebrates 150 Years
This year the Oratia Church celebrates 150 years of serving the community since its opening in 1872
The church has quite a history. In 1867 four acres of land was granted to the settlers of Waikumete Parish by Queen Victoria for religious and educational purposes. Four years later a small building was erected by George Gunson, a local preacher, who also made the heavy pit sawn kauri pews, the building materials donated by local settlers. The church has always been shared by Anglican, Methodists and Presbyterians and administered by a Trust. The first trustees were Messrs Kelly, Parr and Cantwell. In the 1950s the Parkin, McMaster, Whittaker, Davidson and Allen families were very involved with the Trust.
Oratia School also held classes in the church three days a week until it opened its first school building in 1882. The teacher walked from Glen Eden Station. Two rooms were added to the back in 1922 and in 1956 another two rooms to the front. Then in 1967 the church was uplifted and moved to its present site beside the new church. This was opened debt free in 1968. It was designed by Russell Gash and Fred Whittaker. Albert Latham supervised its building with the help of voluntary labour at a cost of $15,000.
The original church is now used as a hall and various community groups use it regularly.
There will be an Anniversary Service at 9.30am on Sunday 30 October with a lunch to follow. Everyone is invited to join in this special service and enjoy community fellowship at what is the oldest public building in the area.
Margaret Marshall
0 Comments