In Retrospect
Just over one hundred years ago, a little company of people, brought together by a common faith and bound together by a common loyalty, held preliminary meetings in the home of Mr J. Angus, Reed Street, to discuss the advisability of forming a Baptist Church in Oamaru.
Those taking part were Messrs. Angus. Geo. Carrad, Hilliker, Sutton and Williams. Though they were but few, they were men of great faith and noble vision, and they felt that the time had come to take active steps to establish a Baptist Cause. Their plans were further advanced due to a conference with the Revs. Alfred North and Chas. Bright of Dunedin, held on 8th July 1883.
On 13th August 1883, at a meeting held in the Lecture Hall of the Athenaeum, the Church was formally constituted with a foundation membership of 23. A month previously, on 1st July, a Sunday School was established with a Roll of 16 children and four teachers.
For six years, the Church was without a home of its own and worshipped first in the old Tees Street Hall, which soon proved inadequate, and the Athenaeum.
Then, around 1887, a building scheme was embarked on. The original objective was a neat wooden building costing about three hundred pounds (Six Hundred Dollars!).
Mr Gideon Rutherford, however, had other plans. He donated a generous sum of money and gave the section in Severn Street on which the Church now stands.
The original plans were scrapped, and it was decided to build in Oamaru stone. This building was erected in 1889 at the cost of £775 (1550 dollars!), including the section, and was opened on Sunday 14th July, practically free of debt. The services on that occasion, which were largely attended, were conducted by the Rev. Alfred North. On the same day, the Sunday School commenced in new surroundings with a Roll of 85 children and 11 teachers under the dedicated leadership of the late Mr Geo. Carrad.
The Church premises remained as originally planned and furnished until, during the ministry of Rev. Gordon Jackson, the rear wooden portions were completely demolished, and a fine and spacious Youth Hall, with attendant Minister’s Room, Lounge, Kitchen, Infant Room, Toilet facilities were erected.
And it was during the same ministry that the Hammond Electronic Organ was purchased (December 1960). Before Mr Jackson’s term commences, the present splendid and adequate manse was built.
During the Ministry of Rev. James Nielsen, the main auditorium was stripped entirely, and a completely new interior was fashioned, making the House of God a most beautiful House of worship.
On Sunday 14th August 1949, during the ministry of Rev. D. H. Stewart, special services were held to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the opening of the Church building. The guest preacher on the occasion was the late Rev. P. F. Lanyon, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of NZ. The evening service was attended by His Worship, the Mayor of Oamaru, Mr M. F. E. Cooney and members of the Borough Council.
At the morning service, a beautiful Communion table and set of chairs, made in highly polished figured Rimu, by Mr Frank Walker, of Mornington, Dunedin, were dedicated to the glory of God and the service of the Church in memory of the first founding members.
Another useful piece of furniture, also dedicated, was a choirmaster’s dais and music stand, made in figured Rimu by Mr Max Smyth, one of the Bible Class young men. The Olds family presented a number of choir seats in honour of their parents, who were early members of the Church. These articles of furniture are an adornment to the House of God.
During all the years of its witness in Oamaru, the Church has been steadfastly loyal to the foundation principles of the Evangelical faith. The distinctive and historic Baptist witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the absolute authority of the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God, the freedom of the individual personality before God, and the right of all to freedom of conscience have been maintained with vigour and without compromise.
Today we thank God for those early pioneer members who, with indomitable courage, steadfast faith and sanctified vision, established the Baptist Cause in this town. We bless our God for every remembrance of them. ‘Their faith and their hopes we share as a glorious heritage. God grant that we prove worthy of the trust they have left us.
Source:
Stewart, D. H. (1983). Turning Back the Pages Oamaru Baptist Church Centenary 1883-1983 [Booklet]. Oamaru, NZ: Oamaru Baptist Church.
