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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

The Rev. James Hill

The Rev. James Hill, sometime Pastor emeritus of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, was born at Cramond, five miles from Edinburgh, in 1825, and was brought up in the Established Church of Scotland. After being in a business warehouse for seven years, he entered the University of Edinburgh, and, when his college course was finished, joined the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland, whose Divinity Hall he attended for the usual five years. He was licensed in 1853,
Rev. J. Hill.

Rev. J. Hill.

page 225 and during the same year received calls from the congregations of Urr, Sanquhar, and Scone, the last of which he accepted, being ordained by the Presbytery of Perth in January, 1854. After being in this charge for nine years, he was offered the position of colleague to the Rev. David Bruce, of Auckland, New Zealand. This he accepted, and, in 1863, was inducted in St. Andrew's Church, Auckland. In 1864 Mr. Hill received a call from St. James' congregation, then meeting in a small schoolroom in Hobson Street, and, having learned shortly after his arrival in Auckland, that the colleague appointed was expected to let Mr. Bruce go home to Scotland for two years, he accepted the call. In 1865 the St. James' Church, Wellington Street, was built, the Sabbath services during its erection being held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Queen Street. In 1867 he was called by the congregation of St. Andrew's, Dunedin, but declined the invitation. On the opening of the Thames Goldfields, the Presbyterian residents invited Mr. Hill to become the first pastor of the congregation, and, in consequence of the state of his health at the time, he accepted the call, and was inducted at the Thames in 1868. On three valuable sites—two given by the Thames natives, and one secured partly by purchase and partly by gift from the late Mr. Robert Graham—two churches and a manse were built, and were all cleared of debt. Whilst at the Thames, Mr. Hill had a second offer from St. Andrew's Church, Dunedin, and a call to be the first pastor of St. Stephen's congregation, Ponsonby, Auckland, both of which he declined. In 1877 he received and accepted a call from the Presbyterian congregation of Lyttelton, in which charge he remained twelve years. During this period he started, with the sanction of the Presbytery of Christchurch, the congregations of Sydenham and North Belt in that city, being offered the pastorate of the former, which he declined. At Lyttelton, a manse was built at a cost of £1100, and was occupied free of debt. In 1889 he received and accepted a call to Devonport, Auckland, and continued pastor in that marine suburb for seven years. During this time a handsome church was erected and opened free of debt. In the beginning of 1896. Mr. Hill resigned his charge on account of ill-health, and, at the General Assembly held in Christchurch in 1897, was granted the status of pastor emeritus of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Mr. Hill was for many years a prominent and active member of the Masonic craft, having been chaplain and master of the Sir Walter Scott Lodge at the Thames, and for twelve years district grand master of the Scotch Constitution in Canterbury. Mr. Hill died on the 31st of December, 1897.