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Chalmers Presbyterian Church Timaru
1864 At St Andrew's Church, Christchurch Rev George Barclay ordained and commissioned to minister to South Canterbury and the McKenzie Country.
1873-1874 Rev William Ricarby Campbell ordained and inducted to Trinity, Timaru, first Presbyterian Minister in Timaru.
1875-1900 Rev William Gillies inducted into Trinity Parish.
1901 Rev Robert Jackson Ministry to Trinity Parish.
1902 Trinity Parish splits over the issue of Prohibition. First services of the breakaway group held at the Theatre Royal conducted by Interim Moderator A. S. Morrison. Call to Robert Jackson.
1904 Church dedicated, second Presbyterian Church in Timaru.
1920 Highfield form a separate charge taking over Washdyke and Rosewill Sunday, and Chalmers retaining Claremont.
1925 New Classrooms opened.
1951 New Manse at Elizabeth Street
1961 Hall upgraded.
1971 Single court Parish Council until 1977 recorded in Deacons Court minutes
1992 Leases on Hall ended; Hall restored as Chalmers Friendship Centre
2009 Became part of Timaru Presbyterian Church
2014 Chalmers Church is sold and decommissioned.
2015 St George's Coptic Church lease and later buy the building from the owners.
2018 The interior is extensively remodeled in a Coptic style with two carpenters coming from Egypt, and the building strengthened for earthquake proofing. An iconostasis, a wall of icons and religious paintings, was installed, and patterns carved into the pews. The church’s original coloured glass windows remain.
1873-1874 Rev William Ricarby Campbell ordained and inducted to Trinity, Timaru, first Presbyterian Minister in Timaru.
1875-1900 Rev William Gillies inducted into Trinity Parish.
1901 Rev Robert Jackson Ministry to Trinity Parish.
1902 Trinity Parish splits over the issue of Prohibition. First services of the breakaway group held at the Theatre Royal conducted by Interim Moderator A. S. Morrison. Call to Robert Jackson.
1904 Church dedicated, second Presbyterian Church in Timaru.
1920 Highfield form a separate charge taking over Washdyke and Rosewill Sunday, and Chalmers retaining Claremont.
1925 New Classrooms opened.
1951 New Manse at Elizabeth Street
1961 Hall upgraded.
1971 Single court Parish Council until 1977 recorded in Deacons Court minutes
1992 Leases on Hall ended; Hall restored as Chalmers Friendship Centre
2009 Became part of Timaru Presbyterian Church
2014 Chalmers Church is sold and decommissioned.
2015 St George's Coptic Church lease and later buy the building from the owners.
2018 The interior is extensively remodeled in a Coptic style with two carpenters coming from Egypt, and the building strengthened for earthquake proofing. An iconostasis, a wall of icons and religious paintings, was installed, and patterns carved into the pews. The church’s original coloured glass windows remain.
Relates to
Recollect CollectionParishes
Chalmers Presbyterian Church Timaru. Presbyterian Research Centre, accessed 21/04/2026, https://pcanzarchives.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/116689
