Presbyterian History

The first Presbyterian Church Services in Akaroa were held towards the end of 1857, in the home of Mrs E Brown. Before the first service was held, Mrs Brown took down the dividing wall between the kitchen and sitting room, in order that that the worshippers might be comfortably seated. The Rev Charles Fraser of St Andrews Christchurch, conducted the service, preaching in English in the morning and in French in the evening.

On the 23rd January 1860 on the present church site, a small church built by M Eteveneaux, was opened by Rev Fraser.” Bon Accord ”was its name. Services were held there and in the school room at Pigeon Bay, being conducted mainly by laymen.

Initiated mainly by Presbyterians in Pigeon Bay, a move was made to obtain a minister from Scotland. So the Rev George Grant came to Akaroa as its first minister late in 1862. However, after 16 months he accepted a call to Christchurch, to become the first minister of St Pauls, in April 1864.

For the next 10years Akaroa was without minister, until the Rev W Douglas, arrived in New Zealand on New Year’s Day 1874. During his ministry, 73 Rue Balguerie was built as the manse in 1877. The church membership was then only 40, but soon Rev Douglas was conducting services in Akaroa, Pigeon Bay, Duvauchelle, German Bay (Takamatua) and Robinson’s Bay, in rotation on Sundays, and weekly services at intervals in Little Akaloa, Le Bons, and Wainui.

“Bon Accord,” which was quite dilapidated when Mr Douglas arrived, had been repaired, but by the end of 1885, its condition was such that the congregation decided to build a new church on the same site. The old building was sold for 23 pounds and removed.  Part of it is still in use today as a Back Packers opposite Rue Croix.

After an enthusiastic fund raising, a new church, the present Trinity, was designed by Mr Whitelaw of Christchurch, and built by Mr T Gee.  It cost about 500 pounds and was opened free of debt on the 13th June 1886. Rev J Elmslie of Christchurch preached morning and evening to large congregation, the building being packed to its uttermost at the evening service. The membership was than 112.

At the close of the century, church attendance averaged 48 in the morning, and 68 in the evening, while the Sunday school roll numbered 105.

In Pigeon Bay, until the mid 1890s both Anglican and Presbyterian services were held in the school room. In 1874 an establishment committee was created to investigate building a Presbyterian Church. Hurst Seager was commissioned to design the church, and it was built in 1899, and opened debt free.

The Presbyterian Church in Wainui was built in 1911, funded from the area. Right from the start it was to be available for both Presbyterian and Anglican services. In 1916 the Trinity Church hall was built by Messrs JJ Walker and Sons for the sum of 287 pounds.

The Manse at 54 Rue Balguerie was built in 1921, and served until 1980.

In 1978 Rev V Sinclair was appointed Interim Moderator, and acted as a non stipendiary minister for almost 3 years. During her ministry the 54 Rue Balguerie manse was sold and a smaller one built and furnished next to the church (now Trinity House  partly occupied by Heartland)

With the retirement of Rev K. and P. Cree in 1989, and the finishing of ministry Grants, the parish could no longer support full stipendiary ministry. From 1991 to 2006 the parish was well served by 4 retired Presbyterian ministers from California, the Rev I Proven, and latterly by Rev A Stevenson, on a half stipend.

During Rev A Stevenson’s ministry it was resolved to develop Trinity into a Worship and Community Centre.  Mainly Music and a Youth Club were established. On his retirement in 2006, Rev A Herron, a minister retired and living in Akaroa offered to lead a Ministry Team.  This was challenging for a small congregation, but it established the pattern of working together as a team in Christian service.

By 2013 it was realised that the Anglican and Presbyterian congregations working and worshipping together would be more effective. Since 2014 all church services in Akaroa are combined, and alternate between
St Peters Anglican, and Trinity.