Page:History of Knox Church Dunedin.djvu/27

History of Knox Church, Dunedin.

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CHAPTER I.

The earlier Churches and Ministers of Otago—Resolution to establish a second Presbyterian Church in Dunedin—Preliminary proceedings—Two Committees appointed—Presbytery approves of proposal—Commissioners to select Minister at Home—Instructions to Commissioners—Subscriptions collected—Sites for Church and Manse acquired—Contracts for Buildings—Foundation-stone of Church laid—Church enlarged—Class-room erected—Rev. Mr Stuart appointed Minister of Knox Church—His arrival with his family—New Church opened—Mr Stuart's induction—First communion—First congregational meeting—First election of office-bearers—Summary of principles that have guided office-bearers, and of the work undertaken by them—Annual Report of their proceedings—The Quarterly Statement.

THE Rev. Thomas Burns, the first minister of the Otago Settlement, arrived at Pert Chahners in the ship "Philip Laing" on April 11, 1848, at the head of the second company of immigrants. The ship "John Wycliffe," with Captain William Cargill and the first band of pioneers, had reached Otago on the 23rd of the previous month. For six years Mr (afterwards Dr) Burns was the only Presbyterian minister in Otago, and his charge extended for a considerable distance to the south of Dunedin, and for many miles to the north. In 1854 he was joined by the Rev. William Will and the Rev. William Bannerman, and shortly afterwards the Presbytery of Dunedin was duly constituted. Mr Will was settled in the Taieri district, with a charge extending from Green Island to Waihola inclusive, and as far inland as settlement had reached. To Mr Bannerman was assigned the southern portion of the Otago settlement, and for a number of years his labours embraced the whole of the inhabited districts south of Waihola. In 1858, the Rev. William Johnston was appointed minister of Port Chalmers and the surrounding localities, and in the same year a separate charge was formed at Waihola under the Rev. John McNicol. The Rev. A. B. Todd, now of Oamaru, was inducted to the ministerial charge of Tokomairiro and neighbouring localities in 1859. Although Messrs Bannerman and Will were thus relieved from the oversight of important portions of their original charges, yet, owing to the exten-