This year marks 175 years since the arrival of the Presbyterian Church in Dunedin, and also 150 years since the much-loved and often-photographed church was built.
As there is no large-scale celebration planned in Dunedin for Otago Anniversary Weekend this year, the First Church community is stepping into the breach and inviting the people of Dunedin to a party on the church grounds on Saturday from 11am-2pm. There will be music, rides, food and old-fashioned family fun such as sack races and three-legged races.
First Church senior minister the Rev Ed Masters is looking forward to celebrating with the city.
"This isn’t a fundraiser for the church. It’s a party, so everything will be on the house," Rev Masters said.
"We want to make a gift to the people of Dunedin."
First Church associate minister the Rev Dr Malcolm Gordon said the day’s activities would include games such as three-legged and egg-and-spoon races — with rubber balls instead of precious eggs.
Lawn furniture will be out on the grass, there will be a bouncy castle and rides on the little fire engine for children.
People can bring a picnic, and there will also be a sausage sizzle of 1000 sausages, about 1000 pikelets made by volunteers, and lots of ice cream to go around.
"We are trying to decide if 50 litres of ice cream is enough, or if we will need 100 litres," Dr Gordon said.
Saturday’s party will also feature music and drums from members of the Cook Island community, as well as songs from popular local group Valley Bluegrass, and hopefully an organ recital inside the church.
"It is going to be wonderful to give this gift to the people of Dunedin from this place, which has been part of so many people’s lives."
Dr Gordon said First Church’s relationship with the city dated back to the very beginning of European settlement in Dunedin, and was one of its earliest institutions, alongside the University of Otago, Otago Boys’ and Otago Girls’ High Schools, and the Athenaeum Library.
From a bastion of stern Presbyterianism, First Church had shifted its focus in more recent years towards re-engaging with the wider community and offering itself as a community space for events such as the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival.
Burns Hall in the church grounds was often used for community and family events.
"We are finding our way towards being a small, but meaningful part of the city," Dr Gordon said.
Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, First Church was open daily from 10.30am-2.30pm as a quiet space to "pause and breathe".
"Our green space is also really valuable to our neighbourhood — it’s one of the few places in the central city where you can sit under a tree," he said.
If people would like to make a gift on Saturday, they are invited to bring non-perishable food items to donate to the Presbyterian Support Foodbank.
FACT BOX:
- Dunedin was established as a Free Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) settlement in 1848, after the first Scottish settlers arrived aboard the John Wickliffe.
- Designed by architect RA Lawson, First Church of Otago opened 25 years later, on November 23, 1873.
- Built of Oamaru stone with a base of Port Chalmers stone, the church has weathered well.
- Extensive repairs and reinforcing were done in the 1950s, and a major restoration in 1991-92 after a nationwide appeal raised $1.5 million.
- At the rear of First Church is a heritage and visitors’ centre, which is open from 10am-4pm, Monday to Saturday.
