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St Andrew's Union Church Hokitika
St Paul's Methodist Church was built in 1874 and stood opposite the Westland Medical Centre in Sewell Street.
St Paul's Methodist Church and St Andrew's Presbyterian Church united in January 1950. The first name chosen for the combined parish was changed. Rev Ron Collingwood led the Methodist Church and Rev Owen Jenkin the Presbyterian Church. The payment of two ministers soon became a problem.
The move brought some relics of St Paul's Church into St Andrew's Union Church, including a baptismal font, a lecturn and a brass cross. There was discomfort for some Presbyterians to have the brass cross on the communion table. Later the cross is an integral part of the worship space of the United Church. The original Presbyterian font was removed. A memorial flannel graph sand box remained in St Andrew's Church.
St Paul's held their final service on December 28, 1969, closing with the hymn God dismiss us with thy blessing. St Paul's Church fell into disrepair. The Hobday organ would not fit into the St Andrew's Church building without reconstruction. It was sold to St Mary's Anglican Church Levin for $1266. In 2012 the organ underwent restoration and continued to perform.
Poutini Waiora, the original St John Hall in Revell Street, remained in use.
The parish celebrated the 50th anniversary of the union on May 24, 2020, in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It was observed online due to gathering restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
St Paul's Methodist Church and St Andrew's Presbyterian Church united in January 1950. The first name chosen for the combined parish was changed. Rev Ron Collingwood led the Methodist Church and Rev Owen Jenkin the Presbyterian Church. The payment of two ministers soon became a problem.
The move brought some relics of St Paul's Church into St Andrew's Union Church, including a baptismal font, a lecturn and a brass cross. There was discomfort for some Presbyterians to have the brass cross on the communion table. Later the cross is an integral part of the worship space of the United Church. The original Presbyterian font was removed. A memorial flannel graph sand box remained in St Andrew's Church.
St Paul's held their final service on December 28, 1969, closing with the hymn God dismiss us with thy blessing. St Paul's Church fell into disrepair. The Hobday organ would not fit into the St Andrew's Church building without reconstruction. It was sold to St Mary's Anglican Church Levin for $1266. In 2012 the organ underwent restoration and continued to perform.
Poutini Waiora, the original St John Hall in Revell Street, remained in use.
The parish celebrated the 50th anniversary of the union on May 24, 2020, in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It was observed online due to gathering restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
P-A22.20-73
Relates to
Recollect CollectionWestland-Buller Presbytery
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St Andrew's Union Church Hokitika. Presbyterian Research Centre, accessed 24/10/2026, https://pcanzarchives.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/112789
