Assembly Gatherings

1909 – 2013

Horningsham Congregational Church
Built in 1566 is the oldest non-conformist church in England and is still in use today. The weekly services still use the ‘Congregational Praise’ hymnbook.

Persecution did not kill the new movement, but the harsh laws caused many to take refuge in Holland. Later on Congregationalists seeking out life in a place where they could worship God according to their own understanding of the Bible included those those we now call ‘The Pilgrim Fathers’ who went to America.

A number of the Puritans were Congregationalists, although ‘Independent’ was the preferred term. John Owen ‘The Prince of the Puritans’, Thomas Goodwin and John Bunyan being some of the ones better known today. In different fields of endeavour, but still motivated by their strong religious beliefs, were Oliver Cromwell and the poet John Milton — also in the 17th Century.

The following century saw folk like Isaac Watts, ‘The Father of English Hymnody’ in England and in America Jonathan Edwards the great preacher and theologian who played a key role in the Revival of the times, spring to mind. The works of both these folk are still extensively read and sung to this day.

In 1658 delegates from over 100 churches met together at the Savoy in London and drew up two documents foundational to historic Congregationalism “The Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order” along with “The Institution of Churches and the Order Appointed in them by Jesus Christ.” Anyone who wishes to understand Congregationalism must study these documents. The Savoy Declaration is in most places identical to the Westminster Confession of Faith drawn up in 1643, by a committee appointed by Parliament.

The following century saw folk like Isaac Watts, “The Father of English Hymnody” in England while in America, Jonathan Edwards the great preacher and theologian (considered even by secular historians as the greatest mind America has ever produced) who played a key role in the Revival of the times known to history as The Great Awakening, spring to mind. The works of both these writers are still extensively read and sung to this day.

In the 19th Century, Congregationalists were very active in overseas mission work, principally through The London Missionary Society, (LMS) formed in 1795 and although originally interdenominational, became largely Congregational due to the formation of denominational Missionary Societies by the Anglican and Presbyterian Churches. David Livingstone in Africa, Robert Morrison in China and John Williams in the Pacific, being some of the brightest lights of that century.

New Zealand Planting

Woodward St. Congregational Church Wellington.
This is the earliest picture of a Congregational Church in New Zealand. Built in 1849.

There was a definite vigour in the churches in the new colony. For example the census for the Auckland Province, taken early in 1871, less than 10 years after the formation of the first Congregational Church was formed there, gives the total number of Congregationalists as 1,615, the fourth largest Protestant denomination. The National Census for 1874 gives the number of Congregational Independents in New Zealand as 5,441.

During this time many Churches sprang up all around New Zealand not only in the main centres but also in many very small settlements, and over the years these Churches were spread from Kawhia in the north to Invercargill in the south, from New Plymouth in the West to Gisborne and Napier in the East. Being independent, Churches could be formed wherever there were a few believers who wished to worship God according to Congregational principles without asking any outside authority.

Along with the strong feeling of Independency there was also a definite felt need for fellowship with others of like mind, so in 1863, the Auckland Congregational Union and Mission was formed to serve the needs of the North Island Churches, with the exception of Wellington.

In January 1882 the Congregational Union and Mission of South New Zealand was formed in Dunedin. This Union covered all the South Island and Wellington. This apparently strange division was made because most long-distance travel then was done by boat, and it was far faster to get from Wellington to Christchurch or Nelson, than to Auckland. The same year the Southern Union decided to send one of its ministers Rev E Walker to England to try to raise funds amounting to £15,000 to be expended in (1) procuring sites for future churches and a Theological College; (2) assisting to liquidate church debts; and (3) helping Ministers opening up new spheres of labour. Unfortunately the Churches in England, while very sympathetic, were at the time themselves raising funds for an Anniversary project for the English Congregational Union, so success was very limited. But looking at the detail that they went into their passion for getting more, and well-trained people to go into the smallest of settlements to preach the gospel, shines brightly.

One year later it was moved that the title and constitution of the Southern Union be altered so that the Auckland Union could combine. This finally took place in Wellington from February 21-26th 1884, when The Congregational Union of New Zealand (CUNZ) held its first meeting.

The main document that came from this Union, was “The Congregational Union Incorporation Act” usually referred to as The Act of Incorporation. This is a legal document and the doctrinal part (Schedule C) is very basic and designed “simply as supplying safeguards for the preservation of church property to the Congregational body.” Over the years a need was felt for a more comprehensive statement and in the latter part of the 20thCentury, the much fuller Statement of Faith of the “Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches” in the UK was adopted as an official statement of doctrine.

One activity of the CUNZ was buying up sections in places for proposed future Congregational Churches, and then doing their best to assist them to be formed. Some understandably, were never used. It is also worth noting here that in the early days virtually all ministers came either from England or Australia, and many returned, finding the rather rigorous conditions, even in the main centres, not conducive to either the good of their health or their children’s education.

Although there were a number of churches, many were very small and did not survive long. The reasons for this are no doubt many and varied, but in his Chairman’s address to the CUNZ in 1892 Rev W J Habens said, “It is not our fault that our churches at home have not sent out a greater stream of emigrants. Our original inferiority in numbers was so marked that by the time a dozen Congregationalists could be found to form the nucleus of a congregation, three or four congregations of a hundred and twenty in each could be gathered, under different names, in the same neighbourhood.” In spite of this Churches were to be found in rather unlikely places, and in some e.g. Taumarunui, a Congregational Church was the first to be established, while in others, such as Whangarei, folk who were solidly Congregational in principle, took a leading part in Presbyterian Churches until such time as a Congregational one was established.

Never large in numbers, Congregationalists in N Z have nevertheless always had an influence well out of proportion to their numbers. From the very early days they seem to have been very active in various groups such as The Bible Society, Hospital and Prison Chaplaincy. They were also heavily involved in inter-denominational evangelistic events, as well as various educational institutions. The churches generally have taken outreach seriously, not necessarily by forming new churches, but by evangelising the neighbourhood of the members.

Kate Sheppard 1847-1934 the well-known activist for Women’s Rights (whose image is on our $10 note) was a member of Trinity Congregational Church in Christchurch.

Mr George Hogben MA from the Timaru Church succeeded Rev Habens as Inspector- General of Schools and Secretary of Education, from 1899-1905, and in 1915 became the first Director of Education. He was awarded the CMG for services to Education.

Mr (Sir) George Fowlds, was a prominent Auckland businessman and a member of Beresford Street Church, Auckland. After entering politics he held many important portfolios. He was Chairman of Auckland University College for 13 years, and was also instrumental in the foundation of Massey College Palmerston North of which he was Chairman for many years. He was awarded the CBE then knighted in 1928.

Mr H E Shacklock, (1839-1902) was one of the original members of the Moray Place Church in Dunedin, and is best known because of the fine “Orion” coal range, he designed and manufactured specifically for use with the low grade of coal most common in New Zealand. After his death the firm of H E Shacklock continued to make these and also made the first electric oven in NZ in 1925; eventually being bought out by Fisher and Paykel.

Rev Lionel B Fletcher, came from Australia to minister at Beresford St. Church in Auckland from 1924 -1932. Under his ministry the church expanded greatly and for a while they had to hold their services in the Majestic Theatre due to the size of the congregation. Many young men from there trained for the Congregational Ministry, and others took a leading part in new Church planting. Some of these Churches are still functioning today. He was possibly the first minister in New Zealand to Broadcast Church Services, being a frequent broadcaster. He used the name ‘Uncle Leo’ when talking to children. In September 1932 he was appointed “Empire Evangelist” for the London based Movement for World Evangelism. He was also the author of several books on Christian life and witness, some of which are still in print.

Other Developments

Because of the early mission work of the London Missionary Society a lot of folk from many Pacific Islands look to Congregational Churches as their ‘home’ Church along with those of other races. The strength of the ties can be seen as the Foundation stone of the Devonport Church was laid by the Queen of Rarotonga on October 24 1885. Over the years these ties developed greatly, and at one time the number of churches and the number of members of the various Island churches associated with the CUNZ was by far the greatest percentage. After the events of 1969 this suddenly ceased to be the case, but over recent years the trend is going back to that state.

In 1969 there was a major division in the CUNZ with the majority of congregations and ministers opting to choose membership in the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. The initially reduced numbers made fulfilling all obligations harder, but have brought out the very real dedication, which from the earliest days has been a feature of Congregationalism. There are now more churches than there were immediately post 1969 and most have a very good number of people in the younger age groups.

In addition to the information above, taken from numerous Congregational Union of New Zealand sources, Dr Jim Chambers in his book “A Peculiar People”, quotes the front page of “The New Zealand Congregational Monthly” which certainly sets out well the ideals we have for our Churches under the heading “This Is The Church Of My Dreams”.

A Church adequate for the task. The Church of the warm heart, Of the open mind, Of the adventurous spirit: The Church that cares. That heals hurt lives. That comforts old people; That challenges youth; That knows no divisions of culture or class; No frontiers, geographical or social; The Church that inquires as well as avers, that looks forward as well as backward. The Church of the Master, The Church of the People, The high Church, the broad Church, the low Church. – high as the ideals of Jesus, low as the humblest human; A working Church, A worshipping Church: A Church that interprets the truth in terms of truth; That inspires courage for this life and hope for the life to come; A Church of courage, A Church of all good men THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD.

The closing words of the Epilogue of this book present us with a permanent challenge.

The Congregational Union is made up of Churches. The Churches are made up of People. The Future of Congregationalism is in the hands of the individual Christians in a Congregational Church. The possibilities are immense for future expansion: the possibilities are also frightening for decay and annihilation.

Remember, in Christ – if you are in Christ “You are a chosen generation, a Royal Priesthood, an Holy Nation; a Peculiar People; that you should Show forth the praise of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

THANKS BE TO GOD.