|
|
Newsletter - Issue 29, November 2004
Preservation Post Newsletter of the PO Box 28-098 Issue 29, November 2004 Upcoming EventsIt's Christmas Carol time again Annual Carol Service7.30pm on Wednesday 8th December. Carol ServiceArchdeacon Judy Hardie will conduct the Carol Service to round up our 150th Anniversary Celebrations. I hope as many of you as possible can attend - it would be wonderful to see a full church. Supper will be served in the Church afterwards. AGMAt the AGM earlier this year Mary Stevens was elected President and will take over the role from the end of the year. Mary will be well known to many of you and it is due to her hard work and vision that the Church grounds are so immaculate and attractive. For the last year she has supervised the Department of Corrections community workers working each week at the church. Janice Henson has accepted the position of Secretary. Janice handled the registrations for the 150th and many of you will have had correspondence with her. We welcome Ian McCulloch and Bill Thompson to the committee and say goodbye to Shona Harris who elected not to stand again. The rest of the committee have remained on board and I have huge appreciation for all the work they have done and, no doubt, will continue to do. Now that the 150th anniversary celebrations are behind us, the committee decided to share essential tasks, with various members taking specific responsibilities. Contact phone numbers and respective tasks are as follows: Mary Stevens 472 8716 President Due to work commitments in Australia, our Treasurer Ed Brilleman will be relinquishing the position of Treasurer. He has done a wonderful job keeping the books in order over the past few years, particularly during the 150th Celebrations. We thank both Ed and Debbie for the work they have done for the Society. If you know of anyone willing to take on the role of Treasurer, please contact any member of the committee. Life MembershipIt is very pleasing to see how many new and existing members have taken up life membership at the specially capped price of $150 for the 150th Anniversary Year. This is still open so why not take advantage of the opportunity - it could be a good Christmas gift for younger members of the family. Help us to find . . .Mrs S M Ross, Martinborough; Mr & Mrs M K Thompson, Lower Hutt. Newsletters to the given addresses have been returned. If you can help, please advise our Secretary. Support for the 150th CelebrationsIn the last Preservation Post I omitted to thank committee member Greg Hooper for his support in providing radio commercial slots that would normally have advertised Placemakers, Seaview, to promote our celebrations. Thanks Greg. New Zealand PostThis newsletter comes to you courtesy of the New Zealand Post Free Postage for Community Groups. We put in an application and were fortunate to be accepted for around 400 pre-paid envelopes. LychgateIn another recent storm (when will they ever stop) tiles from the lych-gate were blown off. These original tiles were put on when the gate and stone wall were built in the early 1950's - the first thing the newly formed Christ Church Preservation Society did in caring for the Church and grounds. We were concerned that we may not be able to replace these tiles. However, we are most grateful to Mr Keith Walters of Redeye Roofing who replaced the damaged ones from a stockpile of old tiles and securely wired the rest at no charge. RecordsFormer Treasurer Marion Knight, with help from myself and Mary Daysh, has been sorting many of the early records of the Society. When completed, we intend offering them to the Turnbull Library. GraveyardWe have had many enquires about ancestors buried in Christ Church over the past few years and the grave yard plan has been a huge help in locating graves. However, since the earlier plan of the graveyard, drawn up by Marion Knight several years ago, people have died and used their existing burial rights (purchased many years ago) and we lacked several inscriptions. In the past few months Marion has revisited the graveyard and updated all inscriptions, matching up most of the unused graves with receipts to check who still owns plots. We now have a very comprehensive plan of the church yard. Naturally, over 150 years, several headstones (particularly wooden ones) have vanished and sadly we do not know who is buried in some of the earliest graves. This has been a major exercise for Marion and we greatly appreciate her work. We will update the website shortly and, at a later date, the noticeboard. We have written to all stonemasons in the area asking them to put in writing any intended inscriptions or headstones. Our prior approval will not only keep the records up to date but mean we are able to make sure all headstones are in keeping with the historic nature of the graveyard. Ashes WallThis has taken considerably longer than anticipated but hopefully will be ready by the end of the year. Several people have written and indicated they are keen to purchase a space. Unfortunately, at this stage we cannot tell you the price but we are keen to hear from interested parties. PhotosIn the last newsletter we attached a collage of photos taken by Louise Bishop, our official photographer, during the celebratory weekend and at the book launch. If anyone would like copies of these photos they can be ordered through the Society's website www.christ-church.org.nz Visit the last page (entitled links) and hit the last entry. Louise will leave these up for awhile but needs to replace them soon so if you are contemplating buying photos please don't leave it too long. Lucy ColeIt is with sadness we note the recent death of former committee member, Lucy Cole. Lucy was an avid supporter of Christ Church and is buried in the grounds. President's Parting CommentsThis is my last newsletter as President of the Christ Church Preservation Society. It has been my privilege and honour to be President of the Society during such an auspicious year. The 150th Anniversary Celebrations have been both exciting and hard work but I think the end result is a strong, renewed and vibrant Preservation Society which has forged close relationships with many groups within the community. The celebrations have cemented Christ Church's position and importance in pioneer society and its part in the preservation of our country's heritage. The many new young members and life members who have joined the Society have made all the work worthwhile. And we welcome you all wholeheartedly. Since I took up the Presidency five years ago I feel I have become, in some degree, part of the lives of so many of you. Over this period I have talked, emailed and received numerous letters, etc. from so many of you. Some have become friends, some I have never met, yet feel I know you well and you have all made me feel a part of the wider and extended whanau of Christ Church. I suppose this is reflective of the community spirit that the 30 or so settler families provided to each other. In many ways we are the lucky New Zealanders - we know our own roots and how our families were, and still are, connected - if not by blood or intermarriage - by commonality of mission. The connection most of us hold to Christ Church is because it was built with the sweat and labour of our forbears who attempted to build a better life for themselves - and we are all the inheritors of their work and dreams. My thanks go to the wonderful committee I have worked with over the past five years and I know you will give Mary Stevens the same support as you have given me. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope to see many of you at the Carol Service. Anne Erwin WeddingsAlison Pugsley to Peter Moffitt ChristeningsSelena Gabrielle Groves FuneralsTrevor Allen
|
Copyright © Christ Church ~ Taita
