St Paul's celebrates 150 years in style

MARIA PRIESTLEY
The Napier sky was crowded yesterday with 150 blue and white balloons, which were released to mark the 150th anniversary of St Paul's Presbyterian Church.
"It was a spectacular sight," Dorothy Finlayson said.
Mrs Finlayson was the co-ordinator of the anniversary committee, which spent the past year organising the weekend's events.
"It was so exciting, it was wonderful. We had a fantastic time."
Attending the events were hundreds of present and previous parishioners from throughout the country - and as far away as the UK - reminiscing, laughing and sharing their memories of the church over "continuous cups of teas", Mrs Finlayson said.
Celebrations included a "mix and mingle" on Friday, a decade reunion gathering where people from different decades got together, a bus tour of the district on Saturday, a dinner at the Waiohiki Golf Club in Taradale, a special service and the release of the balloons and a dedication of a time capsule that will be opened on the 200th anniversary.
Photos and memorabilia going back to 1958 were on display, as well as christening and wedding gowns that had graced the church walls, Mrs Finlayson said.
It was a special time for Mrs Finlayson, who was christened at St Paul's in 1944, and married her husband, Ian Finlayson, in 1965 - and both of her gowns were on show.
"It was a time to remember the past and look to the future and the changes that have been made in not only religion but in the style of service and the outreach to the community.
"With all the buzz and the noise and the chatter of the weekend, there was a real feeling of warmth, friendship and fellowship," she said.
St Paul's came into being following a meeting at the Royal Hotel, Carlyle Street, on January 9, 1858. It included the publican Daniel Munn, Donald McLean, a Maraekakaho farmer who became Napier's MP and a government minister and Alexander Alexander, Napier's first storekeeper in Corunna Bay.
The first service was held on June 8, 1858, but the church wasn't built until 1861. The Rev Peter Barclay from Scotland was the first minister. It was built to the side and up from the current church, on the site where Asher Hall now stands.
The first church was burned down in 1929, then the fire after the earthquake in 1931 burned all the woodwork of its brick replacement, just eight days before it was due to be dedicated.
In June, 1997, the bell tower caught fire and it spoiled much of the front of the church, then just last year the old Sunday school building was burnt.
The church has had some long-serving ministers. The Rev JA Asher served for 36 years until 1935 . In the past 50 years there have been just two ministers - the Rev Ron Hay, who died earlier this year, served from 1957-1981 and the current minister, Colin English, has been there since 1982.
In the 1950s, the congregation numbered about 500.