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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Ecclesiastical

Ecclesiastical.

St. John's Anglican Church is situate at the north end of Makino Road, Feilding. The parochial district was established about 1875, the church being erected about 1883. It is a handsome cruciform structure of wood, including a tower. There is a lovely stained glass window in the chancel, which has been placed in the church in loving memory of Mrs. H. L. Sherwill. A brass tablet has also been put up in the church in memory of Mr. Alfred Dawson, the late manager of the Bank of Australasia, who was drowned at Long Beach, Canterbury; also a marble tablet in memory of the wife of Rev. A. Hermon, for six years in charge of the district. A considerable sum of money was raised for the purposes of the Church by a bazaar. The English friends of the cause contribute I largely. The reredos is of black maire, and was designed and presented by the Diocesan architect, Mr. Clere, who was also architect for the building. The altar-cloth, which is a very beautiful piece of work, was executed by Lady Louisa Feilding, and was presented by the late General Feilding in memory of his brother, Rudolph, the eighth Earl of Denbigh. General Feilding also gave the communion vessels, is, which are very massive. The font, which is of Oamaru stone, was the gift of Mr. Haultaine. The first clergyman (Rev. Joshua Jones) was appointed to the district in 1878–9, before the erection of the church. The vicarage, which is large and convenient, is erected on a site of an acre of land, given by Mr. Halcombe on behalf of the Corporation, who established the Manchester Block, of which Feilding is the centre. The church and vicarage are now free from debt. The adherents in Feilding number about 300. There is a Sunday school in connection with the Church in Feilding, with about 120 on the roll. In connection with the parochial district there is a small church (St. Agnes) at Kiwitea, which will hold from fifty to sixty, and another (St. James) at Halcombe, which will accommodate about eighty. New churches are to be built at Colyton and Stanway. The site for the former has been presented by Mr. Simpson. Messrs. H. L. Sherwill and C. Bray, senr., have been the churchwardens for many years.

The Rev. Alan Stanley Innes Jones, the Vicar of St. John's Anglican Church, was born at Darley Abbey, Derbyshire. He was educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge University, and came to the colonies per P. and O. liner “Australia,” landing in Melbourne in 1883. Mr. Innes Jones studied for the Church at the Theological College, Nelson, and was ordained deacon in 1884, and priest the following year. Mr. Innes Jones resided in Brunnerton as curate for one year, and subsequently he was in charge at Reefton for three years. He was afterwards for nine months locum tenens at Richmond, and for one year subsequently he was in charge of Feilding. He then accepted the position as curate in charge of Bulls, which he occupied for three years. He has resided in Feilding permanently since 1893.

Rev. George Wilks, Anglican Clergyman, Clare Lea Farm, near Feilding, was born in 1846. The subject of this sketch was educated at a Proprietary School, near Leeds, and at Cambridge University. For several years he was principal of Tower College, Saffron Walden, Essex, preparing and passing pupils for the professions. In 1877 Mr. Wilks came to New Zealand, under instructions received from the Hon. and Rev. Latimer [unclear: Nevil, per ship “M][gap — reason: illegible][unclear: theological tutor to the diocese of] Rev. George Wilks page 1228 Dunedin. He was afterwards appointed curate of Roslyn and Outram, and also assisted in Christchurch as locum tenens at St. Albans, when Archdeacon Lingard was absent from the Colony. Mr. Wilks then received an appointment to Papanui, and was for five years headmaster of Lower Heathcote School, and then took charge of Manaia Public School for seven years, taking part in clerical duties at Opunake, Otakeho, Hawera, and Manaia. Coming to Feilding he was made headmaster of the Feilding School, and commenced farming two years afterwards. The farm consists of 200 acres, within easy distance of Feilding, on which is situated a comfortable homestead. In 1891–2 Mr. Wilks assisted in the House of Representatives as secretary to one of the committees.

The Feilding Presbyterian Church is situated in Grey Street. The cause was originally established in 1879, the church being built two years later. The Colonists' Land Corporation gave the acre site at present occupied by the Church, which is a wooden structure, with a hell tower, affording sitting accommodation for 180. The congregation usually numbers from 100 to 150, there being about 200 adherents resident in the district. There is a Sunday school in connection with the church, which has about seventy children on the roll. In connection with the cause services are held in the district periodically. The manse adjoining is part of the church property, the land occupied being about one acre.

Rev. Frederick Stubbs, Minister of the Feilding Presbyterian Church, was born in London, his father being a bookseller there. The early part of his education was received in a private school, and he afterwards studied in connection with London University. Entering the Ministry of the Presbyterian Church, he was settled in Newcastle for several years, and afterwards had a charge in Dudley. From the latter place he came to New Zealand with a commission from the Free Church of Scotland to the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. He was called to succeed the Rev. H. M. Murray in the Feilding Presbyterian Church in 1896. The reverend gentleman takes an active interest in cricket and cycling, and also in temperance and social reform movements. He married a daughter of Mr. John Morgan, of Studley Manor House, Warwickshire. Mrs. Stubbs is a harpist of considerable ability. They have three children.

The Rev. Hugh McKenzie Murray, Senior Minister, is a native of Glasgow, and came to New Zealand per ship “William Davy,” Ian ling in Port Chalmers. Mr. Murray was educated and studied for the ministry at Glasgow University, and Divinity Hall Free Church, completing his college course about 1837. For some years he acted as a minister in connection with the Free Church in the Old Country. After landing in New Zealand Mr. Muurray worked in Canterbury for about seven years, and was ordained early in the year 1880, when he received his appointment to Feilding, where he has resided continuously ever since. In 1896, through ill-health, the reverend gentleman was obliged to relinquish his charge, but remains in Feilding as senior minister, emeritus.

Wesley Church, Feilding, is in the Sandon and Feilding circuit. The first church was erected in 1876, and the present building in 1894, the old church being now used as a schoolroom. The church seats about 400 people, and is provided with a very fine organ. Mr. Alfred Eade is choirmaster, and Mr. S. S. Moore organist. There is a good Sunday school under the superintendency of Mr. J. Cobbe, the attendance being about eighty. The Christian Endeavour Society, the only one in Feilding, meets weekly on Tuesdays. The church officers are Messrs. J. G. Cobbe, J.S. Milson, and W. Carthew, with a strong body of trustees. Preaching stations in connection with the church have been opened at Cheltenham and Nikau.

The Rev. Colin Campbell Harrison, Minister in charge Feilding Wesley Church, was born in Allendale Town, Northumberland, in 1867, and was educated at Middlesborough Wesleyan School. After some slight experience as a clerk, he entered the Rev. Thomas Champness' Joyful News Home for Evangelists. For five years he remained in connection with this home, travelling all over England on evangelistic work. Eventually he became associated with the Forward Movement in the Leeds mission, staying there two years. He was sent by Dr. Stephenton to the Wesleyan Church of New Zealand in 1893, and after fifteen months in the Malvern and two years in the St. Albans circuits, in Canterbury, was placed in his present charge. Mr. Harrison takes a keen interest in Prohibition and anti-gambling crusades, and is secretary of the Feilding Young Men's and Boys' Club. He is a live, up-to-date parson.

The Primitive Methodist Church is situate in Manchester Street, Feilding. The cause was established in 1875, the church being completed and opened in April, 1876. It is a wooden structure with an iron roof, having accommodation for about 180. It was enlarged in 1895, during the pastorate of Rev. J. Cocker, by the addition of a T 35 feet long by 18 feet wide, to accommodate 100 more persons. The section on which the church stands is one-and-a-half acres in extent. An American organ is used to lead the musical portion of the services. The congregation numbers 110, and there is a Sunday school of about fifty scholars. The parsonage is situate in Church Street, on a section of two-and-a-half acres. The building is a comfortable one, containing eleven rooms. There are smaller churches in connection with the Primitive Methodist cause at Rongotea, Colyton, and Awahuri. The Rongotea church affords sitting accommodation for about 180, the congregation numbering about 150. There is also a Sunday school having sixty-six children on the roll. The church at Colyton accommodates 140. The congregation number is about 100, and the local Sunday-school numbers fifty-two children. Sunday schools are conducted at Makino, where there are thirty children, and Cheltanham (forty-three children), and Midland Road (twenty-five children).

Rev. James Cocker, Minister in charge of the Primitive Methodist Church, Feilding, was born in Calver, Derbyshire, England, in 1862. He completed his education at Manchester Primitive Methodist College and Theological Institute. From school he went to farm work for a time, and afterwards became a local preacher. In 1890 he came to New Zealand, and took up the charge of Ashburton, Canterbury, where he remained till transferred to Feilding, in 1895.