our history
Waiau Pa Church has been a part of our local area for over 110 years. People began meeting in homes in the early 1900s, had monthly services in the school from 1909, and the church building was opened for public worship in 1914.
The Waiau Pa Presbyterian Church was opened for public worship on 13 May 1914. Services were held morning and evening by the Rev. S. Nixon. The guest speaker for this occasion was the Rev. J Saunders of the St Davis's Church, Auckland. He arrived at Waiau Pa Wharf on the S.S. Weka and was met by Percy Clark driving a pony and gig.
The very early services at Waiau Pa were held in private homes. In 1909, Pukekohe Session made it possible to hold monthly services in the local school which was then located on the late Mr & Mrs Volz's farm, McKenzie Road. Waiau Pa was then an outstation of the St James Parish, Pukekohe.
At a meeting of the congregation on 5 March 1911, it was decided to take steps to build a church building. A committee was set up to raise funds and was made up of J Jones, R Clark, Eddie Suter, GLeaming, C Roper, T McLarin, and A Davy. Sites were offered by Mrs Davy and Mr Dillon. Mrs Davy's site was accepted which was on the corner of Seagrove and McKenzie Roads. An additional acre was purchased later for a cemetery, which cost 13 pounds.
Nearing 1914, through the hard work of the Waiau Pa People, sufficient funds were in hand to start the Church building. Mr W. Massey of Pukekohe was contracted to erect the Church and was ably assisted by the Sid Owen, who was paid 1/- an hour (about 12 cents) minimum wage for labour. The building cost £300. Fencing the area cost £10.
Furnishing the church was £33. Only £80 was owing when the Church opened, and this was paid off by the end of the year.
The pews were hand crafted, transported by barge and pulled from Waiau Beach by Horse and Dray. Each family was required to purchase their own 'Family Pew'.
In 1915, Waiau Pa was made part of the Mauku Home Mission Parish. A minister was appointed every three years at a cost of £156 a year.
It was in 1951 that the status of the area was raised to a fully sanctioned parish, which gave it the right to call its own Minister. The first called here was Rev. M. Johnson, who had just completed his studies in Dunedin. The next minister called to Mauku Parish was the Rev. E. E. Dyason who served the area for 14.5 years up to the time of his retirement.
The Church continued to progress in Waiau Pa and the large Sunday School classes, with Mr K Matheson as superintendent, was bursting at the seams. It was at this time that Mr Colin Wright offered a cottage on his farm (for removal) to the Waiau Pa Church, for use as Sunday School rooms. This offer was taken up and in February 1962 the house was moved and set up ready for use at a cost of £296.
A Golden Jubilee service was held at Waiau Pa Church on Sunday 10 May 1964. The minister was Rev. E.E. Dyason, and the guest speaker was the Rev. N.F. Gilkinson of the St Lukes Church, Remuera.
After the service, a luncheon was held in the local hall, following which Mr W.L. Walker (Moderator of the Presbyteries of South Auckland) conveyed congratulations to the congregation of Waiau Pa and they were part of the great family of God. The South Auckland Presbytery had adopted Barbara Matheson, who recently left Waiau Pa to teach in the missionary schools of Papua. Mr Walker said that the Presbytery had assumed full financial support of her work. A special "Jubilee Cake" was cut by Ms Schofield, Volz and Betty Litchfield. The offerings from this service were Set aside to replace the steeple on the church building.
As the cemetery was now increasing in size and demand for plots, it was decided to approach the Franklin County Council to take over the administration and upkeep of the area. In 1971 the cemetery block was surveyed off with access to Seagrove Road and full control given to the Franklin County Council.
In 1980 the Presbytery of South Auckland agreed that the Mauku Parish be divided up, through declining numbers of people supporting the Church and increasing costs. The area north of Glenbrook Steel Road (Waiau Pa, TeHihi/Karaka) be part of First Presbyterian Church, Papakura, and that of the south side (Mauku, Patumahoe) be part of the St James Church, Pukekohe. This division was completed in 1982 with the dividing of assets. Now part of the first Presbyterian Church Papakura and known as Western Districts, services continued at Waiau Pa Church led by Rev. Rod Harris and a team of lay preachers from Papakura. In 1984 it was decided to have weekly services.
It was with deep regret the resignation of Mr. Mervyn Litchfield was received, as he had been Secretary and then Session Clerk for 25 years and an elder for 30 years.
When Rev Harris transferred to full-time ministry in the Southern districts, Tony Hepburn expressed a desire to serve the Waiau Pa area. Through visiting all homes a big change was made in Church attendance, and Tony's efforts were much appreciated in the district.
Tony began in 1988 and being commissioned in 1989, he trained for the Ministry part time.
A cup of tea after the service was started, so people got to know one another. Sunday school was re-started and gardens planted. During 1989-90 many improvements were made. In the Sunday School building, toilet and kitchen facilities were installed. In the church, Betty Cole sewed cushions and squabs to make the hard seats more comfortable. An overhead projector was installed as well as heating.
Tony introduced the congregation to Scripture in Song which added to the traditional Hymns and began the modern worship music we know today. Later a sound system was set up both in the buildings and outside.
In 1991 the pulpit was removed and the whole church carpeted. A cross was placed in the Church and a new digital piano was procured. Burt Klein O'Vink led the worship in the 1990's.
Presentations were made to long serving members, Mrs Rona Litchfield, 50 years as an organist, Mr Jack Kidd, Parish Treasurer for 40 years, and an elder for 55 years and Mr Eddie Kidd, 30 years on the board of managers.
Other activities within the Church have been overseas missionary support for Aukje and Richard Smith and the Upson family, together with food parcels distributed through the area and Mercy Missions, Prayer Group, Morning Fellowship, Youth Group, and the Drop Inn Centre in term time on Friday nights run by Sharon Schultz and Marion Liddell. Mark led for over 10 years.
Regular services of worship and Sunday School classes were held weekly with increasing support from local people.
Eddie Suter, Frank Hewitt, Sid Owen, Percy Clark, Sid Cole
Rev. E.E. Dyason and family
Rev. Gilkinson, Rev. E. Dyason, Mr L. Walker
Rona Litchfield (b. McLarin) and Betty Litchfield
Mervyn Litchfield (5/22/1922 - 5/1/2007)