St Peter's church celebrations

THE LYCH GATE at St Peter's Church in Gonville frames Rev Vincent Venimore, 94, and the youngest parishioner, Katherine Fleming, three, who attended the 140/85 years celebrations on the weekend. Mr Venimore was the vicar from 1939-52 and from 1941-46 he was chaplain to the forces. On Saturday speakers at the celebrations included the Bishop's warden of St Peter's, Goldie Oldman; the Archdeacon for Wanganui Rangitikei, Elizabeth Body and a former parishioner who attended Sunday School from 1962-1967, Mayor Michael Laws. On Sunday, the celebrations were marked by a service followed by dedication of a flowering cherry commemorative tree. The church was formerly known as Christ Church. The foundation stone was laid on October 16, 1865, at a site in Victoria Ave. The church was dismantled for relocation at Gonville as St Peter's in 1921.