Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Timaru
Chalmers Presbyterian Church at 2 Elizabeth St, Timaru, in the inner city, is a grey plastered exterior with a high spire. A beautiful church inside but can be a bit cool. Designed by J.S. Turnbull. Registered as category 2 with the Historic Places Trust of New Zealand as a historic place of historical or cultural heritage significance or value. The foundation stone was
laid on 14 May 1903 and the Gothic style church was opened on 11 September 1904. Within walking distance of St. Mary's but not as fine. The morning worship service is at 10 am on Sundays. The church has fifteen stained glass windows with "The Ascension" designed by John Brock of Dunedin commemorating parishioners who served in WWI and WWII. Dedicated 12 Nov. 1950 by Rev. M. Wilson.
Chalmers Presbyterian Congregation, Timaru. This congregation was founded in March 1902 when 170 members left Trinity Church for the purpose. The adherants number about 400 adults. Services were at first held in the theatre, Stafford Street. At the end of 1902, the congregation arranged to build a handsome church on the site of Elizabeth and Banks Streets, at an estimated cost of £5000, including the price of a pipe organ. The church is to hold 600 adults. A Sunday school connected with the congregation has already about 100 scholars in attendance. Reference: Cyclopedia of New Zealand, Canterbury edition. 1903
Photos taken November 2nd 2002. Courtesy of Han Freeke.
Timaru Herald 29 August, 2007
One hundred-years-and-a-day ago a car bringing the blushing bride to Timaru's Chalmers Church caused quite a stir. It was the first wedding in New Zealand where a motorcar was used for transport. The big event took place on August 28, 1907, when Miss Charlotte Knowles 31, arrived by car to marry Hugh Corbett, 60. A Timaru woman was reading the Herald's regular brief, "Today in South Canterbury History," which noted the motorcar wedding and realised it was one of her relatives and she had photos. "Charlotte or Lottie as she was known was my grandad's sister. "She met her future husband when his wife died and she went out to work on his farm at Cricklewood as the housekeeper." Mr Corbett was "of means" and a procession of seven cars toured down the main street honouring the wedding "attracting considerable interest" the Herald of the day noted. After the marriage they went on a world tour for their honeymoon. "Who knows what a world tour meant back then, probably going to Europe." They returned to the farm, and Mrs Corbett had a son who died after three months. Eventually the couple retired to Auckland where they later died.