All Saints Palmerston North Celebrates 150 Years

Words by Andrew Carson

What an amazing day for the people of All Saints Anglican Church on 2nd November. 

Way back in 1872 the first Anglican service was held in a sawmill in Palmerston North, and the foundation stone of the first Anglican church laid on 29th October 1875.

Since then, the church has flourished and expanded into many parishes and daughter churches and hopefully will continue to do so.

The celebration service was held in the Convention Centre and attended by around 450 including Archbishop Justin Duckworth, the Mayor of Palmerston North Grant Smith and the Catholic Bishop of Palmerston North John Adams.

A highlight was the welcome by Wiremu Te Awe Awe as representative of the Rangitane people, and a  waiata by members of St Michaels’ parish Palmerston North.

In his sermon Archbishop Justin reminded us of the ups and downs associated with any church and told the story of one vicar of All Saints’ whose arrival had been much anticipated. The church representatives met him at the railway station and discovering he was quite inebriated, put him right back on the train to Wellington!

Following the service the people proceeded back to the church with the banners of the local Anglican churches leading the way, and the children and families (representing the next generation of All Sainters) behind them, with current and previous members in the rear.  

The people then circled the entire church buildings, firstly facing the church and praying for the next 150 years, and then facing outwards and praying for the city. This “clipping of the church” has apparently been carried out on previous church celebrations. 

Lunch was then provided, celebration cakes cut and shared and a lot of catching up done with family and friends who had returned to Palmerston North to join in the celebration.  This included May Carrell, the wife of Brian Carrell, former vicar and bishop.

An exhibition of the history of the parish through photos and artifacts was much appreciated by those attending. In addition, there is a more permanent display of the history and present-day activities of the church on new photo boards erected along the frontage and side of the church. 

All Saints is now looking to follow the vision of church growth and a fruitful next 150 years.