Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Ecclesiastical

Ecclesiastical.

Mr. Lawrence Watkins succeeded Mr. T. C. Webb, who is mentioned on pages 388 and 447-8, as organist of St. Mark's Church.

Rev. R. J. Murray (see pages 398-9) was compelled to leave his work as Minister of Thorndon Wesleyan Church, owing to continued ill-health.

Rev. Albert Bygrave Chappell, the Minister in charge of the Thorndon Wesleyan Church, was born in 1872 at Portsmouth, where he received his earlier education. He accompanied his father—Mr. J. B. Chappell, of Tauranga, contractor—to the Colony, arriving in January, 1881, and completed his school course in New Zealand. Mr. Chappell began to preach in Palmerston North in April, 1892, being recommended by the Wanganui District Meeting (now Synod) of the following year, and accepted by the conference of 1894 as a candidate for the ministry. He acted as supply for the Rev. W. H. Beck at Newtown, Wellington, and for the Rev. J. W. Smith at St. Albans, Christchurch, before
Rev. A. B. Chappell.

Rev. A. B. Chappell.

acceptance as a candidate. Two years were devoted to training in Auckland–the first at Three Kings and the second at Prince Albert College. In the northern city Mr. Chappell is best remembered for the active interest he took in literary society matters. He was secretary of one of the societies forming the strong City Union; was member and minister of the Union Parliament; took part in the tournament debates of 1895, and in the same year won both impromptu essay and extempore speech contests against allcomers. The first quarter of 1896 he spent in Gisborne, completing the term of a minister who had retired from the work of the Wesleyan Church. The annual conference of that year appointed him to the position he now holds. [At the Wesleyan Conference, held in Wellington in March, 1897, Mr. Chappell was appointed to Christchurch South.]

The United Methodist Free Church, Courtenay Place (vide page 402), which is now known as the Choral Hall, is leased by the Good Templar Lodge for the purpose of the Helping Hand Mission, which is directed by Mr. R. Crabb. This has come about in consequence of the union of the Methodist Churches in New Zealand.