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Use of the First Dunsandel Hall/Library by the Dunsandel Sunday Schools
Description
TitleUse of the First Dunsandel Hall/Library by the Dunsandel Sunday Schools
DescriptionBefore St Thomas’ Church was built in 1884, a Union Sunday School was conducted by Anglican Teachers in the hall and this was continued for some years (Mackie,1979) [1].
A list of the early Sunday School teachers given by Mackie (1979) [2] suggests that Anglicans were prominent as Sunday School Teachers during the existence of the first hall, but a later statement casts doubt on the assumption that this was as part of the Union Sunday School.
“In 1903 it was reported that there were 70 children on the roll of the Dunsandel Sunday School ….For many years a Sunday School was also conducted in the schoolroom at Upper Selwyn, but later one Sunday School catered for Presbyterian, Methodist and, at times, Anglican children.”
Either there were no Anglican children or the Anglicans ran their own Sunday School for periods of time.
Funds were needed to support the Sunday School programme and a variety of types of entertainment were tried.
In July 1881[3], the united Presbyterian choirs of Leeston and Southbridge performed the Service of Song entitled "Eva" at the hall in front of a very large attendance. The event was very successful and the proceeds were devoted to the “Sunday School at Dunsandel”.
The most successful gathering of the kind ever held in the district to date was a tea-meeting and concert [4].
The hall was decorated in a very elaborate and tasteful manner, but it was far too small for the number of people present. The tables, which were in every respect equal to those of former occasions, were supplied by Mesdames Henry, Simpson, McPherson, Sherrard, Neilson, Lill, Walker, and Miss Irvine. The Leeston choir sang a few anthems very effectively and other people contributed solos and duets.
Funds from this gathering were raised for the “Presbyterian Sabbath School” and it is not clear exactly what this means.
Another Service of Song, this time, “Little Dot” was performed in the hall by the choirs of Leeston and Brookside Presbyterian Church, in June 1885 [5]. There was a good attendance.
At the close of the service the Rev J. W. Cree presented Mr and Mrs Stewart, who for two years, conducted Sunday morning classes, with an inscribed marble clock and a set of Chambers’ Encyclopedia, in recognition of their good work.
Profits from this event were destined for “the Upper Selwyn Sunday School”
A concert was given in the hall on Friday, 16th July 1986, in aid of the Sunday school fund.
The hall was densely packed, the chair being occupied by John Henry.
A long and interesting programme was presented and the details were reported by the Lyttelton Times [6].
Under the heading “Union Sunday School”, anniversary services were held in the hall in November 1890 [7].
In the afternoon the Rev E. Whitehouse (Anglican) conducted, and in the evening the Rev J. G. Chapman (Methodist), from Brookside, occupied the pulpit. There were large congregations.
On Tuesday the tea meeting was held in the schoolroom. Tables were presided over by Misses Irvine, Lill (2), Kelly (2), McPherson, Lindsay (2), McLaughlin, and Mesdames Simpson, Henry, Pedler, Gilbert and Sowden, Kneeshaw and Burgess.
At the subsequent meeting Mr J. Simpson presided.
Addresses wore given by the Revs J. A. Luxford, J. G. Chapman, E. Whitehouse and T. O. Griffiths.
During the evening books were given away to the children, who sang selections from Sankey’s hymns.
The Wesleyan choir gave two anthems. Mr G. F. Wright presided at the organ. The meeting was one of the most successful ever held at Dunsandel.
The anniversary services appeared to be annual as this was repeated in November 1892 [8] when in the afternoon the Rev E. Whitehouse, from Southbridge, preached to a large congregation, Mrs Furze presiding at the organ.
In the evening the Rev W. G. Parsonson, from Leeston, preached to a still larger congregation, Miss Irvine presided at the organ.
On Tuesday evening the annual tea meeting took place. Tables were provided and presided over by many of the same ladies as previously.
At the subsequent meeting Mr J. Simpson occupied the chair.
Addresses were given by the Chairman and the Revs W. G. Parsonson, W. Grant, and T. W. Newbold. Songs were sung by Misses Gabbie.
During the evening several selections, from Sankey’s hymns, were sung by the children. Miss McCrostie played the accompaniments.
In May 1893, a very successful tea followed by a public meeting were held by the Presbyterian Sunday School [9].
While the venue was not specified, the fact that the meeting was described as public and the church was yet to be constructed, suggests that it was the hall.
The children had their tea in the afternoon and adults in the evening. Five addresses were given by clergy together with singing and songs were sung together with a cornet solo by Mr W. E. Devereux and a chorus by the children.
During the evening, the choir presented a pretty pair of silver candlesticks and a vase, to Miss Wright, one of the members, on her approaching marriage. Her father responded.
There is a record of the May 1899 Sunday School prize giving [10] in front of a full hall. Refreshments were handed round during the evening, together with a programme of musical items.
Rev. W. Grant gave an address entitled, “The Value of Bible Study from an Educational Point of View”.
Another Sunday School prize giving and annual tea and social gathering was held in May 1909 [11] with a large gathering.
The tables were organised by local ladies but the music was supplied by the Christchurch Knox Church choir. Miss L. Cowan gave recitations.
During an interval the scholars of the school were presented with prizes.
By May 1921 the format of the prize giving and fund raiser [12] had changed in that only the children were served tea.
With the exception of two performers from Dunsandel (Mrs McGill and Mr L. B. Wilson), the very successful concert was given gratis by a party from Christchurch.
The performers and people who supplied cars to transport the performers were thanked at the end of the evening.
Date1874-1921SourcePapers PastLocationDunsandel
DescriptionBefore St Thomas’ Church was built in 1884, a Union Sunday School was conducted by Anglican Teachers in the hall and this was continued for some years (Mackie,1979) [1]. A list of the early Sunday School teachers given by Mackie (1979) [2] suggests that Anglicans were prominent as Sunday School Teachers during the existence of the first hall, but a later statement casts doubt on the assumption that this was as part of the Union Sunday School.
“In 1903 it was reported that there were 70 children on the roll of the Dunsandel Sunday School ….For many years a Sunday School was also conducted in the schoolroom at Upper Selwyn, but later one Sunday School catered for Presbyterian, Methodist and, at times, Anglican children.”
Either there were no Anglican children or the Anglicans ran their own Sunday School for periods of time.
Funds were needed to support the Sunday School programme and a variety of types of entertainment were tried.
In July 1881[3], the united Presbyterian choirs of Leeston and Southbridge performed the Service of Song entitled "Eva" at the hall in front of a very large attendance. The event was very successful and the proceeds were devoted to the “Sunday School at Dunsandel”.
The most successful gathering of the kind ever held in the district to date was a tea-meeting and concert [4].
The hall was decorated in a very elaborate and tasteful manner, but it was far too small for the number of people present. The tables, which were in every respect equal to those of former occasions, were supplied by Mesdames Henry, Simpson, McPherson, Sherrard, Neilson, Lill, Walker, and Miss Irvine. The Leeston choir sang a few anthems very effectively and other people contributed solos and duets.
Funds from this gathering were raised for the “Presbyterian Sabbath School” and it is not clear exactly what this means.
Another Service of Song, this time, “Little Dot” was performed in the hall by the choirs of Leeston and Brookside Presbyterian Church, in June 1885 [5]. There was a good attendance.
At the close of the service the Rev J. W. Cree presented Mr and Mrs Stewart, who for two years, conducted Sunday morning classes, with an inscribed marble clock and a set of Chambers’ Encyclopedia, in recognition of their good work.
Profits from this event were destined for “the Upper Selwyn Sunday School”
A concert was given in the hall on Friday, 16th July 1986, in aid of the Sunday school fund.
The hall was densely packed, the chair being occupied by John Henry.
A long and interesting programme was presented and the details were reported by the Lyttelton Times [6].
Under the heading “Union Sunday School”, anniversary services were held in the hall in November 1890 [7].
In the afternoon the Rev E. Whitehouse (Anglican) conducted, and in the evening the Rev J. G. Chapman (Methodist), from Brookside, occupied the pulpit. There were large congregations.
On Tuesday the tea meeting was held in the schoolroom. Tables were presided over by Misses Irvine, Lill (2), Kelly (2), McPherson, Lindsay (2), McLaughlin, and Mesdames Simpson, Henry, Pedler, Gilbert and Sowden, Kneeshaw and Burgess.
At the subsequent meeting Mr J. Simpson presided.
Addresses wore given by the Revs J. A. Luxford, J. G. Chapman, E. Whitehouse and T. O. Griffiths.
During the evening books were given away to the children, who sang selections from Sankey’s hymns.
The Wesleyan choir gave two anthems. Mr G. F. Wright presided at the organ. The meeting was one of the most successful ever held at Dunsandel.
The anniversary services appeared to be annual as this was repeated in November 1892 [8] when in the afternoon the Rev E. Whitehouse, from Southbridge, preached to a large congregation, Mrs Furze presiding at the organ.
In the evening the Rev W. G. Parsonson, from Leeston, preached to a still larger congregation, Miss Irvine presided at the organ.
On Tuesday evening the annual tea meeting took place. Tables were provided and presided over by many of the same ladies as previously.
At the subsequent meeting Mr J. Simpson occupied the chair.
Addresses were given by the Chairman and the Revs W. G. Parsonson, W. Grant, and T. W. Newbold. Songs were sung by Misses Gabbie.
During the evening several selections, from Sankey’s hymns, were sung by the children. Miss McCrostie played the accompaniments.
In May 1893, a very successful tea followed by a public meeting were held by the Presbyterian Sunday School [9].
While the venue was not specified, the fact that the meeting was described as public and the church was yet to be constructed, suggests that it was the hall.
The children had their tea in the afternoon and adults in the evening. Five addresses were given by clergy together with singing and songs were sung together with a cornet solo by Mr W. E. Devereux and a chorus by the children.
During the evening, the choir presented a pretty pair of silver candlesticks and a vase, to Miss Wright, one of the members, on her approaching marriage. Her father responded.
There is a record of the May 1899 Sunday School prize giving [10] in front of a full hall. Refreshments were handed round during the evening, together with a programme of musical items.
Rev. W. Grant gave an address entitled, “The Value of Bible Study from an Educational Point of View”.
Another Sunday School prize giving and annual tea and social gathering was held in May 1909 [11] with a large gathering.
The tables were organised by local ladies but the music was supplied by the Christchurch Knox Church choir. Miss L. Cowan gave recitations.
During an interval the scholars of the school were presented with prizes.
By May 1921 the format of the prize giving and fund raiser [12] had changed in that only the children were served tea.
With the exception of two performers from Dunsandel (Mrs McGill and Mr L. B. Wilson), the very successful concert was given gratis by a party from Christchurch.
The performers and people who supplied cars to transport the performers were thanked at the end of the evening.
Date1874-1921SourcePapers PastLocationDunsandelConnections
CollectionThe Patrons of the First Dunsandel Hall/LibraryPlaceTe Atatiki a Te Wakaaro DunsandelOrganisationDunsandel Historic SocietyMore Information[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
PlaceTe Atatiki a Te Wakaaro DunsandelOrganisationDunsandel Historic SocietyMore Information[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]Attribution
Researched ByMike NoonanWritten ByMike Noonan
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Use of the First Dunsandel Hall/Library by the Dunsandel Sunday Schools (1874-1921). Selwyn Stories, accessed 29/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5594
