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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

A Meeting To Organise Congregationalism In Otago'

A Meeting To Organise Congregationalism In Otago' was held on the 14th of October, 1862, in Clarke's Temperance Hotel, Dunedin, when it was proposed by Mr. Fry—“That it is desirable to form an organisation for commencing the worship of the sanctuary according to the usages and forms of the Congregational body.” The first services were held on the 2nd of November, 1862, in the Oddfellows' Hall, George Street. Mr. J. W. Jago preached in the morning, and Mr. J. H. Barr conducted a service in the evening. During the early part of 1863 the Rev. J. L. Poore, an Australian clergyman, visited Dunedin, and, at the request of the Congregational body, held services and organised a church. The church commenced with thirty-six members. It was decided to have a pastor, and the Rev. Richard Connebee, of Kew, Melbourne, was invited in May, 1863, to take charge of the church at a salary of £400 per annum. On the 5th of August, 1863, the section at the corner of View Street and Moray Place was bought, and a canvass for funds for the erection of a church which would be an ornament to the city was taken in hand. The foundation of the church was laid by the Superintendent, Mr. John Hyde Harris, in March, 1864, and £1000 was subscribed to defray the cost of erection. There were then 105 names on the roll, and one hundred children on the roll of the Sunday school. Mr. Connebee, who was an energetic minister and guided the infant church in its early struggles, retired in June, 1868. He was succeeded in the following year by the Rev. David Johnstone, who continued in charge till 1870, when he left Moray Place and held services in the Oddfellows' Hall, George Street, and finally in Leith Street, where he built a church. A call was made to the Rev. Dr. Roseby in July, 1871, to Moray Place church, and that gentleman held the pastorate until his resignation in 1885. After a succession of ministers, the Rev. Dr. Hanna, the Rev. Dr. Dale, and Mr. Lee, M.P., of London, were asked to select a pastor for the church, and they chose the present minister, the Rev. W. Saunders, who at the time held a pastorate in London. Mr. Saunders arrived at the beginnig of 1890, and has conntinued since then to minister to the congregation with great acceptance. The present membership of the Moray Place church is 266. Since the foundation of the parent church several congregational churches have been established throughout the province. A church was formed in Port Chalmers shortly after the establishment of the Moray Place church and is 1878, one at Oamaru; but the latter is now (January, 1904) closed. The Ravensbourne church was formed in 1879, when the Rev. Wm. Jenner took charge. Ravensbourne subsequently became a branch of the Great King Street church, but was again formed into a separate charge in 1903, under the Rev. Mr. Nichol. There are churches in Great King Street and Leith Street, Dunedin, at St. Clair, and at Gore.