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The church centennial organising committee and Neil Sutherland with a copy of his book Rough Tracks to Worship.
One hundred years of worship will be celebrated at the St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church in Leigh this month.A highlight of the weekend programme will be the launch of a book and DVD recounting the church’s history, Rough Tracks to Worship, written by Leigh resident Neil Sutherland.
The church committee has organised a collection of memorabilia, which will be on display in the church hall on Saturday October 17, from 10am-4pm. Later in the day there will be a kapa haka performance by students from Leigh School, starting at 3.30pm.
On Saturday evening, starting at 6.30pm, speakers will talk about the history of the church, and Mr Sutherland’s book will be officially launched.
A special service will be held on Sunday, October 18, starting at 11am, lead by the Anglican Bishop of Auckland Jim White.
The organising committee is inviting anyone with an association with the church or the village at attend the events.
Mr Sutherland says his book celebrates not only the history of the church, but “perhaps more importantly”, 100 years of Christianity in Leigh, which was first known as ‘Little Omaha’.
The church is owned by the Anglican Church, but operates under the interdenominational Fourth Sunday Trust, which includes the Presbyterian and Methodist congregations.
While the missionary Henry Williams is understood to have camped at Leigh on more than one occasion during the early 1800s, it was the Clarke and Wyatt settlers who are credited with bringing Christianity to Leigh.
Members of both families arrived in 1863. Charles Clarke, who settled on land opposite where the Leigh Sawmill Café is today, came from a well-to-do English family and had strong views on what constituted a good community – starting with a school, a library and a church.
Leigh was an isolated outpost and early services were held in private homes. The preachers who served the church over the years had many obstacles to overcome, not the least of which was just getting to Leigh either by sea or over rough bush tracks.
Mr Sutherland says the appointment of Ranald Macdonald as vicar in the early 1900s was fortuitous. His aunt, Mrs Henry, was a ‘woman of means’ and through her benefaction, the present wooden structure was built for £218. A further £50 paid for 13 pews, a lectern, table, the bell, the hanging of the bell and small items.
Mrs Henry also funded the construction of St Leonard’s Anglican Church in Matakana, which celebrated its first century last year.
Interwoven into the story of the church is the history of the village and some of the regular events on its calendar including the mullet boat races and the infamous disappearance of the church bell.
Services are still held in the church every Sunday.
Copies of the DVD cost $10, the book costs $20, or both can be purchased for $25. To order, contact Joan Springgay at joanonehunga@yahoo.co.nz or
422 6115.
