In May 1924, the new building of St John the Evangelist in Westport was completed and dedicated.
In May 2024, the building, having survived floods and earthquakes, turned 100 years old.
This called for a celebration.
Parishioners old and new, combined congregations, clergy past and present, Bishop Steve and Watiri and friends of the parish came together to enjoy a celebratory weekend.
On Saturday 4 May, friends and families enjoyed an hour of singing hymns and songs from over the century. Jacque Watts and the St John’s music group lead the singing. Old hymns and new, favourites and some not so familiar.
The church rang with happy voices praising God.
After all the singing there was a time of fellowship, afternoon tea, a photo display and a lot of talking and catching up. Faces from the past – who were they? A lot of “can you remember this?” and “when did this happen?” Many hugs, laughs – and, yes, one or two tears.
Before the afternoon ended, Bishop Steve blessed the memorial garden which had been revealed and restored after many years. A thank you to the YWAM team who did so much to clean it up.
Saturday evening 56 people enjoyed a great meal at Club Buller. Fortunately most remembered which meal they had ordered. It was after dinner that memories were taxed. A quiz night run by Luke Watts had people scratching their heads, digging deep into their memories and laughing their heads off.
Quiz categories included, “How well do you know Bishop Steve?” Well, how were we supposed to know he drank tea when growing up in Kenya! “Who are these parishioners (from a photo sheet)?” “Who was that man riding the penny-farthing?" "Which parishioner did not recognise his own children?” “How well do you know other parishioners?” Some easy and some sticky questions there. Two teams grappled for the prize. NB: The bishop's team came second!
On Sunday morning the church filled to capacity and a service of thanksgiving and praise began.
During the service parishioners reported on several decades in the life of the building. So many changes, so many notable people remembered, so much love for times of worship and shining through, times of great faith.
At the end of the service the celebration cake was brought into the church. This cake was a replica of the church building. Two of the older parishioners cut the cake and a birthday song was sung.
Following this the congregation gathered outside the front of the church for a photograph to re-enact the one taken in 1924. Thank you to the photographer for squeezing us all in!
At the end of all this everyone moved to the hall for a piece of the magnificent cake. Tea, coffee and selection of yummy edibles were available and of course, more talking and laughter. A fitting end to a great weekend.
In 1924, hard work, determination and above all faith saw the building of the church.
Let us pray that, that same hard work, determination and faith will see us build on what has already been done.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
In May 1924, the new building of St John the Evangelist in Westport was completed and dedicated.
In May 2024, the building, having survived floods and earthquakes, turned 100 years old.
This called for a celebration.
Parishioners old and new, combined congregations, clergy past and present, Bishop Steve and Watiri and friends of the parish came together to enjoy a celebratory weekend.
On Saturday 4 May, friends and families enjoyed an hour of singing hymns and songs from over the century. Jacque Watts and the St John’s music group lead the singing. Old hymns and new, favourites and some not so familiar.
The church rang with happy voices praising God.
After all the singing there was a time of fellowship, afternoon tea, a photo display and a lot of talking and catching up. Faces from the past – who were they? A lot of “can you remember this?” and “when did this happen?” Many hugs, laughs – and, yes, one or two tears.
Before the afternoon ended, Bishop Steve blessed the memorial garden which had been revealed and restored after many years. A thank you to the YWAM team who did so much to clean it up.
Saturday evening 56 people enjoyed a great meal at Club Buller. Fortunately most remembered which meal they had ordered. It was after dinner that memories were taxed. A quiz night run by Luke Watts had people scratching their heads, digging deep into their memories and laughing their heads off.
Quiz categories included, “How well do you know Bishop Steve?” Well, how were we supposed to know he drank tea when growing up in Kenya! “Who are these parishioners (from a photo sheet)?” “Who was that man riding the penny-farthing?" "Which parishioner did not recognise his own children?” “How well do you know other parishioners?” Some easy and some sticky questions there. Two teams grappled for the prize. NB: The bishop's team came second!
On Sunday morning the church filled to capacity and a service of thanksgiving and praise began.
During the service parishioners reported on several decades in the life of the building. So many changes, so many notable people remembered, so much love for times of worship and shining through, times of great faith.
At the end of the service the celebration cake was brought into the church. This cake was a replica of the church building. Two of the older parishioners cut the cake and a birthday song was sung.
Following this the congregation gathered outside the front of the church for a photograph to re-enact the one taken in 1924. Thank you to the photographer for squeezing us all in!
At the end of all this everyone moved to the hall for a piece of the magnificent cake. Tea, coffee and selection of yummy edibles were available and of course, more talking and laughter. A fitting end to a great weekend.
In 1924, hard work, determination and above all faith saw the building of the church.
Let us pray that, that same hard work, determination and faith will see us build on what has already been done.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
