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Morven Community Presbyterian Church
The Presbyterian Church formed the Waikakahi District into a Home Mission station on 27 August 1896. The owner of the Waikakahi Estate, Allan McLean, gave thirty acres of land as a church site. The Rev. GK Stowell was inducted as the first minister in 1897. The manse was built in 1898 for £250.
The Congregation sowed 20 acres of the glebe in wheat yielding thirteen bushels to the acre and sold at two shillings and eight pence, bringing in £22/18/8.
The Rev. John Watt was inducted as minister in January 1901. In May 1902 Messrs Nichol, Cuthbert, Wallace and McTaggart formed the first session of the parish as elders. After two years Mr Watt resigned and the Rev. Robert Dickie was inducted in December 1903.
The Rev. George Barclay opened the church at Morven on 2 August 1906, which was built for £331.
The manse and glebe were sold for £750 and the second brick manse built in Morven township for £1664/17/1 and completed in 1923. Members of the congregation carted shingle and sand from the river, and material from the railway station.
The Rev. Dickie resigned at the end of 1922. He drove his horse and gig from Morven to officiate at services held at Redcliff Ikawai school every fortnight. The Rev FR Charman followed Dickie's nineteen year ministry with a six year ministry until he resigned to take up youth work in Australia. The Rev. J. Tennant followed Charman, during his time a church was built at Glenavy for £600.
The Sunday School Hall was built behind the Morven church in 1953. Mr JC Hay laid the foundation stone.
Morven and Waihao joined under the name of the Waihao Parish with services at Morven, Waihao, Nukaroa and Glenavy. Waihao Presbyterian Parish and Waihao Downs Anglican Parish agreed to combine as the Waihao Cooperating Parish in 1977. St Matthews Anglican Church closed in 1992 and combined Morven congregation worshipped in the Presbyterian Church, the Morven Community Church. Bibles were distributed to every household in the surrounding area in 2000. Morven Community Church held its closing service on 20 May 2012.
The Congregation sowed 20 acres of the glebe in wheat yielding thirteen bushels to the acre and sold at two shillings and eight pence, bringing in £22/18/8.
The Rev. John Watt was inducted as minister in January 1901. In May 1902 Messrs Nichol, Cuthbert, Wallace and McTaggart formed the first session of the parish as elders. After two years Mr Watt resigned and the Rev. Robert Dickie was inducted in December 1903.
The Rev. George Barclay opened the church at Morven on 2 August 1906, which was built for £331.
The manse and glebe were sold for £750 and the second brick manse built in Morven township for £1664/17/1 and completed in 1923. Members of the congregation carted shingle and sand from the river, and material from the railway station.
The Rev. Dickie resigned at the end of 1922. He drove his horse and gig from Morven to officiate at services held at Redcliff Ikawai school every fortnight. The Rev FR Charman followed Dickie's nineteen year ministry with a six year ministry until he resigned to take up youth work in Australia. The Rev. J. Tennant followed Charman, during his time a church was built at Glenavy for £600.
The Sunday School Hall was built behind the Morven church in 1953. Mr JC Hay laid the foundation stone.
Morven and Waihao joined under the name of the Waihao Parish with services at Morven, Waihao, Nukaroa and Glenavy. Waihao Presbyterian Parish and Waihao Downs Anglican Parish agreed to combine as the Waihao Cooperating Parish in 1977. St Matthews Anglican Church closed in 1992 and combined Morven congregation worshipped in the Presbyterian Church, the Morven Community Church. Bibles were distributed to every household in the surrounding area in 2000. Morven Community Church held its closing service on 20 May 2012.
Morven Community Presbyterian Church. Presbyterian Research Centre, accessed 28/07/2026, https://pcanzarchives.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/117397
