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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

The Roslyn Church

The Roslyn Church is in the Mornington circuit. Services were at first held in the Kaikorai school, and then in the Institute, in High Street; but after a time a site was purchased in the Linden township for £30, and a church was erected at a cost of £330. The present brick church, which had been erected as a hall, being offered for sale, was purchased, and the old church, which was removed to adjoin it, has been used for school purposes. A good deal of work in refitting the church was done gratuitously, and various internal improvements were after wards made under the direction of the Rev. R. Wilson, the first resident minister. The Rev. A. Scotter, who succeeded Mr. Wilson in 1903, began life as a school teacher, then became a Home Missionary, and subsequently went to college in Auckland.

In June, 1863, a meeting held in the Excelsior Hall, George Street, Dunedin, and attended by twelve persons, considered the question of forming a Baptist church in the city. At another meeting held about three weeks later it was decided to begin regular services. The Superintendent of the province gave permission to hold service in the Courthouse, until the erection of a church, and the first services were held on the 26th of July, 1863. Dr. Burns, who always displayed a fraternal interest in the other Christian bodies, generously offered the use of First Church for evening services, and for several months services were held alternately there and in the Courthouse. The Rev. A. Poole, of Victoria, was the first minister. He arrived in August, 1863, and formally constituted the church in September with twenty members. Mr. Poole was succeeded by the Rev. J. Langdon Parsons who had been trained for the ministry at Regent's Park College, and had come to Australia. He arrived in October, 1863, and conducted at the Water of Leith the first baptism by immersion. A site was purchased for a church in Hanover Street, and the contract let at £2,200. The foundation stone was laid by the Superintendent in April, 1864, and the building was completed three months afterwards. Owing to the ill-health of his wife Mr. Parsons tendered his resignation in 1867, and was succeeded by the Rev. John Williams, who served the church faithfully until his death by a coach accident on the 22nd of December, 1872. Several ministers subsequently occupied the pulpit, amongst them the Rev. Thomas Spurgeon, son and successor of the founder of the Tabernacle London. The church continued to prosper and out stations were established as opportunities offered. Very early in the church; history, services were begun on Maori Hill where a small building was erected. In 1867 authority was given for the erection of a church at Cayersham, which was formed into a separate charge in 1873, and became the mother of several churches. Services and a Sunday school were established in North East Valley, where there is now a fine church. In 1880 the late Mr. Steawart, of Kaikorai began a Sunday school, and the church took up the work and erected a church there in 1896. The New Zealand Baptistry Society was founded in the Hanover Street schoolroom in October, 1885. About 1878 the church authorised the erection of a schoolroom in Hanover Street at a cost of £1,250. To this large additions are now (January 1904) contemplated, and when they are completed the schoolroom will be one of the most commodious in Dunedin. The Baptist Church in Otago has maintained the friendliest relationship with the other religious bodies, and has ever been ready to work with them for the benefit of humanity. A free reading room, opened by the church in 1892, has been a benefit to the city.