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St Andrew's Ashburton
In the early days of European settlement at Ashburton church services were infrequent. When a minister visited people of all denominations would gather - on the riverbank, at the hotel, in the wool shed at Coniston or, later, Charles Fraser of St Andrew's Christchurch would conduct a service in the schoolroom or the library.
In July 1874 a meeting was held in order to establish a Presbyterian parish in Ashburton, then no more than a township. A suitable residence, along with 10 acres of land, was purchased for use as a manse. The Rev. H. B. Burnett wa s inducted as minister of St Andrew’s, Ashburton, on the 15th September 1875. Work began on the construction of a church on Havelock Street (now the “white church”) which was opened in October 1876.
The Rev. Burnett had a busy preaching circuit. His parish covered the area between the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers, from the hills to the sea. He would ride his horse to Mt. Somers on Saturday afternoon, hold a service there at 11am, Greenstreet at 3pm, and Ashburton at 6.30pm. Ashburton had a service every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month when he preached at Rakaia at 11am, Rokeby Station at 3pm and Winterslow Station in the evening. Another Sunday the sequence would be Ashburton, Wakanui, Longbeach.
Finances were tight and Rev. Burnett frequently had to remind the committee that quarterly payments of his 250 pounds per annum stipend were in arrears.
Over the next 30 years the town of Ashburton grew and, even though some of the outlying areas had their own parishes, the St Andrew’s church building had become too small.
A separate charge was formed at Rakaia in 1880 and Springburn with Methven as an out-station became a separate charge in 1883. In 1884 the area from the Ashburton River to the Rangitata River became the Flemington Church.
The second church was dedicated on the 23rd June 1907.
Wakanui became a separate charge in 1913, returning to St Andrews again in 1945. St Andrews included Hampstead, Ashburton and Allenton.
In 1914 Ashburton became a separate Presbytery from Christchurch. The old manse was sold and a large two-storey building to the east of the Church was bought.
An envelope system was introduced in 1916.
A new charge was formed including Allenton, Ashburton East and Wakanui 1951.
Third manse dedicated 1969.
St Andrews ordained and inducted its first woman elder 1973.
A Bible was presented to the congregation by members of the Sunday School, and this is the Bible that is carried into church today.
In July 1874 a meeting was held in order to establish a Presbyterian parish in Ashburton, then no more than a township. A suitable residence, along with 10 acres of land, was purchased for use as a manse. The Rev. H. B. Burnett wa s inducted as minister of St Andrew’s, Ashburton, on the 15th September 1875. Work began on the construction of a church on Havelock Street (now the “white church”) which was opened in October 1876.
The Rev. Burnett had a busy preaching circuit. His parish covered the area between the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers, from the hills to the sea. He would ride his horse to Mt. Somers on Saturday afternoon, hold a service there at 11am, Greenstreet at 3pm, and Ashburton at 6.30pm. Ashburton had a service every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month when he preached at Rakaia at 11am, Rokeby Station at 3pm and Winterslow Station in the evening. Another Sunday the sequence would be Ashburton, Wakanui, Longbeach.
Finances were tight and Rev. Burnett frequently had to remind the committee that quarterly payments of his 250 pounds per annum stipend were in arrears.
Over the next 30 years the town of Ashburton grew and, even though some of the outlying areas had their own parishes, the St Andrew’s church building had become too small.
A separate charge was formed at Rakaia in 1880 and Springburn with Methven as an out-station became a separate charge in 1883. In 1884 the area from the Ashburton River to the Rangitata River became the Flemington Church.
The second church was dedicated on the 23rd June 1907.
Wakanui became a separate charge in 1913, returning to St Andrews again in 1945. St Andrews included Hampstead, Ashburton and Allenton.
In 1914 Ashburton became a separate Presbytery from Christchurch. The old manse was sold and a large two-storey building to the east of the Church was bought.
An envelope system was introduced in 1916.
A new charge was formed including Allenton, Ashburton East and Wakanui 1951.
Third manse dedicated 1969.
St Andrews ordained and inducted its first woman elder 1973.
A Bible was presented to the congregation by members of the Sunday School, and this is the Bible that is carried into church today.
P-A35.39-85
St Andrew's Ashburton. Presbyterian Research Centre, accessed 29/05/2026, https://pcanzarchives.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/127173
