On 1 December 1870, a single penny could buy you the first issue of The Church Messenger, the Nelson Diocese’s inaugural diocesan newspaper. As one of the earliest diocesan papers in New Zealand,1 it was the beginning of a remarkable journey in communication, connection and faith.
The editor’s opening note set the tone: “We desire our members to know what is going on in this Branch of Christ’s church, especially in that part of it in the Diocese of Nelson. We hope thereby to stimulate the sympathy and generosity of our members, to induce the strong to bear the burdens of the weak, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
True to its mission, The Church Messenger was a treasure trove of information. It featured notices of births and marriages, synod updates, daily texts, and feast days. There were lectures, parish news, and even original compositions. Much of the content came directly from the bishop, whose accounts of diocesan travels and reflections captivated readers.2 After 21 years, though, the publication paused, paving the way for a new chapter.
On 1 July 1892, The Church Recorder emerged. In the editor’s words, it was a response to a “personal want” felt keenly by isolated parishioners: “By this Magazine then our bond of union will be strengthened.”
Seven years later, in September 1899, The Nelson Diocesan Gazette arrived, offering updates from every parish and further strengthening diocesan unity. “The sense of unity in and amongst the different parts of the Diocese will, we also trust, be strengthened by the Gazette,” the editor declared. Yet even then, challenges of ambition and sustainability loomed: “Our present venture is a very humble one; but previous attempts have shown very plainly that we were far too ambitious in making them.”
In March 1935, the publication was renamed The Witness to reflect a “definite evangelistic purpose”, as Brandon Sparrow put it in Harvest of Grace.3 Articles began to intertwine anecdotes, poetry, and spiritual reflections – many penned by Bishop Hilliard himself. A seasoned editor, he brought experience from the Australian Church Record and the Church of England Men’s Society’s national magazine.
I love how Hilliard introduced the first issue:
You will have noticed that with this issue the gazette appears in a new form and bears a new name. Henceforth we shall call it “The Witness,” not because we are fussy or are enamoured of change for the sake of change, but because we think that the new name has a wider significance than the old, and more nearly describes what we hope the magazine may become. In so far as it records the doings that are past it will be a witness no less than a gazette, and in so far as it reminds us of our aspirations and challenges us with our ideals, it will go beyond what is involved in the word gazette, and bear witness to what we stand for to ourselves and to the world.
Over the following decades, The Witness evolved into a dynamic voice for the diocese, a blend of news, reflections, and inspiration. By the 1960s and 70s, it was a key communication tool, published monthly and widely read. Bishop Sutton used it regularly to communicate his thoughts and updates with the diocese.
In February 2002, it transformed again – this time into a magazine format. The editorial explained: “The latest make-over is designed to make The Witness easier to handle, read, and digest. … By making The Witness more of a magazine than a newspaper, we can be a little more adventurous.”
For years, The Witness was faithfully compiled and published until it entered a hiatus. In its absence, the Kōrero online newsletter launched in 2020, a nod to the Ad Clerum (clergy news) updates of earlier days. Yet, despite its practicality, many missed the tangible connection of The Witness. Not everyone enjoys keeping up with everything online – not everyone can access the internet in the first place.
This time, it’s a digest of Kōrero articles, designed as a physical print for those who prefer paper over screens. I want it to honour the legacy of The Witness while addressing the needs of today.
This issue of The Witness is being distributed this week, so hopefully you'll see it in church on Sunday. With minimal colours, it's designed to be easy on printer ink, so parishes can print their own copies in house if they need more. You can read or download it online here.
Admittedly, as I researched this storied history, I expected to be overwhelmed by the weight of its uninterrupted legacy. Instead, I was comforted to discover its own fits and starts. If anything, its resilience – and the diocesan community’s commitment to connection – is its most enduring feature!
So, here’s to The Witness: a reflection of our past, a tool for our present, and a witness to the hope we share in Christ. Enjoy this latest chapter in its remarkable story.
1H.F. Ault, The Nelson Narrative, 1958.
2H.F. Ault, The Nelson Narrative, 1958.
3Brandon Sparrow, Harvest of Grace, ed. R. Bester, 2010.
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.
On 1 December 1870, a single penny could buy you the first issue of The Church Messenger, the Nelson Diocese’s inaugural diocesan newspaper. As one of the earliest diocesan papers in New Zealand,1 it was the beginning of a remarkable journey in communication, connection and faith.
The editor’s opening note set the tone: “We desire our members to know what is going on in this Branch of Christ’s church, especially in that part of it in the Diocese of Nelson. We hope thereby to stimulate the sympathy and generosity of our members, to induce the strong to bear the burdens of the weak, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
True to its mission, The Church Messenger was a treasure trove of information. It featured notices of births and marriages, synod updates, daily texts, and feast days. There were lectures, parish news, and even original compositions. Much of the content came directly from the bishop, whose accounts of diocesan travels and reflections captivated readers.2 After 21 years, though, the publication paused, paving the way for a new chapter.
On 1 July 1892, The Church Recorder emerged. In the editor’s words, it was a response to a “personal want” felt keenly by isolated parishioners: “By this Magazine then our bond of union will be strengthened.”
Seven years later, in September 1899, The Nelson Diocesan Gazette arrived, offering updates from every parish and further strengthening diocesan unity. “The sense of unity in and amongst the different parts of the Diocese will, we also trust, be strengthened by the Gazette,” the editor declared. Yet even then, challenges of ambition and sustainability loomed: “Our present venture is a very humble one; but previous attempts have shown very plainly that we were far too ambitious in making them.”
In March 1935, the publication was renamed The Witness to reflect a “definite evangelistic purpose”, as Brandon Sparrow put it in Harvest of Grace.3 Articles began to intertwine anecdotes, poetry, and spiritual reflections – many penned by Bishop Hilliard himself. A seasoned editor, he brought experience from the Australian Church Record and the Church of England Men’s Society’s national magazine.
I love how Hilliard introduced the first issue:
You will have noticed that with this issue the gazette appears in a new form and bears a new name. Henceforth we shall call it “The Witness,” not because we are fussy or are enamoured of change for the sake of change, but because we think that the new name has a wider significance than the old, and more nearly describes what we hope the magazine may become. In so far as it records the doings that are past it will be a witness no less than a gazette, and in so far as it reminds us of our aspirations and challenges us with our ideals, it will go beyond what is involved in the word gazette, and bear witness to what we stand for to ourselves and to the world.
Over the following decades, The Witness evolved into a dynamic voice for the diocese, a blend of news, reflections, and inspiration. By the 1960s and 70s, it was a key communication tool, published monthly and widely read. Bishop Sutton used it regularly to communicate his thoughts and updates with the diocese.
In February 2002, it transformed again – this time into a magazine format. The editorial explained: “The latest make-over is designed to make The Witness easier to handle, read, and digest. … By making The Witness more of a magazine than a newspaper, we can be a little more adventurous.”
For years, The Witness was faithfully compiled and published until it entered a hiatus. In its absence, the Kōrero online newsletter launched in 2020, a nod to the Ad Clerum (clergy news) updates of earlier days. Yet, despite its practicality, many missed the tangible connection of The Witness. Not everyone enjoys keeping up with everything online – not everyone can access the internet in the first place.
This time, it’s a digest of Kōrero articles, designed as a physical print for those who prefer paper over screens. I want it to honour the legacy of The Witness while addressing the needs of today.
This issue of The Witness is being distributed this week, so hopefully you'll see it in church on Sunday. With minimal colours, it's designed to be easy on printer ink, so parishes can print their own copies in house if they need more. You can read or download it online here.
Admittedly, as I researched this storied history, I expected to be overwhelmed by the weight of its uninterrupted legacy. Instead, I was comforted to discover its own fits and starts. If anything, its resilience – and the diocesan community’s commitment to connection – is its most enduring feature!
So, here’s to The Witness: a reflection of our past, a tool for our present, and a witness to the hope we share in Christ. Enjoy this latest chapter in its remarkable story.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
