St Columba
Presbyterian Church, Fairlie
St Columba Presbyterian Church. The first church at the site was a "Union Church" with the idea coming from Rev. George Barclay. The organising committee chairman was Donald McLean of 'Stathconan' with Stephen Gillingham, Allan McLean, H. Welsh and W. Close as members and the church was opened March 1879 by Rev's Barlcay and Preston. In 1891 Fairlie became part of the Parish of Tengawai. Rev. Stanley Hinson served for 31 years from Dec. 1892. In 1894 it was decided the Presbyterians buy out the Anglicans share.
Star 1 July 1878, Page 3
The township of Fairlie Creek is getting quite populous. We have already an hotel, blacksmith's shop, and general store. Tenders are invited for another store on a large scale. There is also a church being built by the united efforts of the Presbyterians and Episcopalians. Although the population is not very numerous as yet, the most of the funds is already subscribed. The contract price is £395. The walls are of concrete with ornamental buttresses, the interior being lighted by three Gothic windows on each side.An example of early concrete domestic construction in concrete is the Donald McLean's homestead Strathconan near Fairlie (Record No. 1970, Category II historic place), commenced in 1871 was not completed until 1877. In 1874 some of the best land north towards Fairlie was freeholded off the Albury estate by Donald McLean to become the start of Strathconan and by Stephen Gillingham to become Lambrook.
Evening Post, 12 February 1891, Page 3
Presbyterian General Assembly.
Reference was made to a gift of 20 acres for a manse in the Mackenzie Country, by Mr. David M'Lean [sic], of Strath Conan.
Down the Main Street of Fairlie on the left if heading north towards Kimbell stands the large modern St Columba Church dedicated in 1972 with a large oak tree in the grounds. Today 2001 the St Columba and St. Stephens churches are still used on alternate Sundays and services at Tekapo monthly but sometimes fortnightly. The parish is now known as the Cooperating Parish of Fairlie and the Mackenzie.Today church services are jointly Anglican & Presbyterian.
1st Sunday 8 am St Stephens
2nd & 4th Sunday St Stephens
1st, 3rd & 5th 9: 30 am St Columba
Vicar: The Rev. Michael Kerr
11 Kirke St. ph 685-8369Many children on the area will remember the annual Fairlie Spring Flower Show thoroughly supported by the local schools and was a successful fund raiser. Here children exhibited their art work, hobbies, flower arrangement and bakery in the Presbyterian Sunday School and Aorangi Hall next door. Cups were awarded for narcissi and cooking. The Aorangi Hall was used for many events including indoor bowls, tug a war completions, drama productions and dances. Demolished in 1985 and replaced in 1986 by the Mackenzie Community Centre as the County Centennial Project and used for similar activities including the annual ANZAC day service, concerts, meeting etc.
Photo: Radcliffe Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ. Reference No G 5944 1/2.
In the book 'Fairlie 1866-2000' by The Fairlie Work Trust Inc. page 61 there are photos of the three churches in Fairlie including a similar photo of St Columba taken from the same angle circa 1900 with a white picket fence in the foreground and before the addition on the back was added. Frederick George Radcliffe 1863-1923. Farmer, photographer. Arrived in New Zealand in the early 1890s.Journeying together : a brief history of St Columba Presbyterian and St Stephen's Anglican Churches, Fairlie.
Publisher : St Columba-St Stephens Centenary Committee, 1979 16 p. : ill., edited by Marjory Munro. "Published on the occasion of the centenary celebrations."Nine-tenths of a Century (1969) Elaine M. Grundy. This poem was written in commemoration of the 19th anniversary of the St. Columba Presbyterian Church Bliss Pamphlets Hocken Lib YOB/G. Mrs Grundy was very active in the community, Dr. George Grundy's wife, a long time conductor of the Fairlie Choral Society and a writer. "Who'd marry a doctor?" : a Chatham Islands casebook / Elaine Grundy. Publisher : Christchurch : Whitcombe and Tombs, 1968.
