In its earliest years, the Church was without a minister, but several outstanding and gifted laypeople of whom the late Mr Price and Mr B. Billing are remembered with affection, served the Church.
The first minister, the Rev. Arthur Dewdney, was settled in 1892. Under his vigorous ministry, which ended in 1899, the Church quickly forged ahead.
A mission conducted during this time by Rev. Thomas Spurgeon of the Auckland Tabernacle Church brought great blessing and numerous converts to the young Church.
Other Ministers were:
- Rev. G. D. Cox 1899-1903
- Rev. J. J. North 1903-05 (Dr North became a noted leader in the Baptist Denomination, being twice elected President, and was the distinguished and beloved first principal of the NZ Baptist Theological College);
- Rev. F. G. Buckingham 1905-1912
- Rev. J. D. Mill 1912-1914
- Rev. G. H. Lawrence B.D. 1915-1917
- Rev. R. Robertson 1920-24
- Rev. A. Clark 1924-30
- Rev. T. Weston 1930-33
- Rev. S. Jenkin 1933
- Rev. J. T. Crozier 1934-40
- Rev. S. Wyness 1941-44
- Rev. D. H. Stewart 1944-57
- Rev. G. N. Jackson 1957-1963
- Rev. J. H. Skett 1965-69
- Mr A. N. Utting (6 months 1973)
- Rev. J. H. Nielsen 1969-73
- Rev. H. Bruce 1974-1980
- Rev. A. H. Taylor 1981
Source:
Stewart, D. H. (1983). Turning Back the Pages Oamaru Baptist Church Centenary 1883-1983 [Booklet]. Oamaru, NZ: Oamaru Baptist Church.
