Presbyterian parish history features in Heritage Month

Part of the interior of St Paul's Presbyterian Church in Whanganui. Photo / Steve Caudwell

Presbyterian Church elder and chairman of the board of managers Donald Trott will present the story of St Paul's Presbyterian Church in Guyton St, its history and the buildings that came before it as part of the Heritage Month programme.

This will take place at on Saturday, October 24, from 10am.

St Paul's has been the Trott family church for a very long time. Donald's own history with the church makes him well qualified to talk about all aspects of it. The story promises to be informative and entertaining.

"It's about where this parish has come from and where it is now," says Donald. "I'm tracing, with photographs, the history of the parish, from the time David Hogg arrived from Scotland as the first minister of St Paul's Presbyterian Church."

The programme for the talk was arranged by Donald with assistance from Whanganui District Council heritage adviser Scott Flutey.

"The first services here, in 1853, were held in what was the Mechanics' Institute, on the corner of Ridgway and St Hill streets."

Wanganui Motors now occupies the site.

The first Presbyterian church is Whanganui was a modest affair about where 136 Victoria Ave is now.

"That burned down. So they then built a beautiful new church, not dissimilar in look to that we have now, but it was in wood. Behind it was a double-storeyed manse. They imported from London a huge new bell for the bell tower … it was all finished and ready, and the night before the opening service it was burned to the ground."

The bell now hangs in the present church, it sounds in the note of G and it weighs more than half a ton.

The parish rebuilt the church, still in Victoria Ave. The congregation grew and so did the church building, with the addition of side apses. Singing was led by a presenter who found the note with a tuning fork.

Donald will talk about the church pipe organ, how it was purchased and where it was placed and why.

He will take the story from Victoria Ave up Guyton St to the new church, why it is built in lasting material, its layout and how it has changed. On the hill behind the church was the manse, built in similar materials. The manse and the hill have gone.

He will show the relationship of the church and the town's leading citizens, including the first mayor, and he will explain the sad reason for the memorial that stands in the church grounds.

"I have got a lot of material and I will try and build in the ministers who have been there and a wee bit about them."

The present brick and Oamaru stone church in Guyton St was opened for worship in 1913 and is regarded as one of Whanganui's most beautiful heritage buildings.

Through Fire, Avalanche and adversity. The early years of St Paul's Presbyterian Church, Guyton St in Whanganui.
Saturday, October 24, open 10am talk (Brechin Lounge in the hall), 11am cup of tea, Historical photographic display viewable from 10am-3pm.
St Paul's Presbyterian is one of the very early churches in Whanganui and the only pre World War I church in the inner city. View a photo display and hear from long term member Donald Trott about its story. Refreshments to follow.
Donation at the door.