Rangiora Presbyterian peace memorial church

Rangiora Presbyterian peace memorial church

Rangiora Presbyterian Peace Memorial Church Rangiora Presbyterian Peace Memorial Church Rangiora peace memorial Rangiora peace memorial

The Rangiora Presbyterian church’s First World War roll of honour was unveiled by local MP David Buddo on ‘King’s Sunday’, 1918. The wooden memorial tablet listed the names of 47 men and one woman (Sister Clara Rogers) from the congregation who had served during the war, including seven men who had given their lives.

Two years earlier the congregation had decided to build a new church. When the foundation stone was laid on 9 March 1922, the building was dedicated as a memorial of peace and a reminder of those who had given their lives during the war (“a silent reminder of those who paid the supreme sacrifice, whose names were inscribed on the church roll of honour”). The foundation stone was inscribed: “To the Glory of God, and as a Peace Memorial after the war, 1914-1918, this stone was laid by C.I. Jennings, [Esquire], March 9th, 1922. Rev. W.H. Howes, B.A., Minister”. The new church, like its predecessor known as John Knox Presbyterian Church, was opened on 28 September 1922.

In September 2014 the church building was demolished because of earthquake risk.

Sources: ‘Rangiora Presbyterian Church’Press, 23/8/1918, p. 5; ‘Rangiora Presbyterian Church’Press, 10/3/1922, p. 8; ‘Rangiora Presbyterian Church’Press, 2/10/1922, p. 10; Eileen M. Campbell, Rangiora Presbyterian Parish: The Course of a Church, Rangiora, 1972, pp. 4-5; ‘Church To Be Demolished’, The News: North Canterbury, 24/7/2014, p. 2; ‘JK Demolition’, JK Jottings [parish newsletter], col. 7, no. 4, December 2014, p. 2.

 

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