St Andrew’s at Rangi Ruru Presbyterian Church is a lovely historic building located in the Rangi Ruru Girls’ School grounds Merivale. As well as being the school chapel, it is also an active parish church offering friendship and fellowship in a caring church family.
The church also shares a ministry with St James Presbyterian Church at Bewdley Street, Spreydon.
Contact the church office regarding:
• Fellowship and Worship
• Baptisms
• Confirmations
• Weddings
• Funerals
• Special Occasions
• Blessings
• Celebrations
• Counselling
PARISH CHURCH SERVICES
Sunday Worship - 10.30 am
Sunday School 5-12 yr olds, STARR Fish - 10.30 am
Tuesday Pre School Music, Twinkle STARRs - 10 am
Kidzlive Youth Group - Friday 4.15 – 5.30 pm at St James, Bewdley St, Spreydon
The Parish offers a Fellowship Group for adults and Community Programmes and Counselling Services
If there is any way in which we can be of help to you, please make yourself known to us, or feel free to contact either Rev Alastair Taylor, Interim Moderator on 322 6391 or Tom Campbell on 383 0487.
St Andrew's at Rangi Ruru History
The Canterbury Association settlement of 1850 included a number of Scots. In 1853, the Rev. John Moir stopped his journey north from the Presbyterian settlement of Dunedin, to baptise children of Scottish parents in Christchurch. This gathering prompted a public meeting in the Royale Hotel in 1854 to discuss building a Scottish church in the town.
A grant of crown land was obtained; a minister called from the Colonial Committee of the then new Free Church of Scotland and St Andrew’s was built and opened on 1st February 1857 with the Rev. Charles Fraser, who arrived in 1856 occupying the pulpit.
A classroom and a manse were also built. The school, called the Boys’ Academy began on the church site, but was soon shifted to a larger site where Hagley Community College now stands. By 1862 eight schools had begun under the plan called ‘the General Scheme of Presbyterian Schools'.
Charles Fraser was a remarkable man. Qualified in Geology as well as Theology, he served a parish stretching from the Waitaki to the Hurunui Rivers. His ministry lasted for a quarter of the first century of Christchurch. During that time he took a leading part in the development of education and the establishing of new churches in the suburbs of the rapidly expanding city. At times Charles Fraser’s progressive views, especially on Darwinism, put him at odds with his parishioners. One such disagreement led to the establishment of a breakaway congregation at St Paul’s, Cashel Street in 1863. Eventually, in 1883 he clashed with the Presbytery that by then represented the many new parishes, and retired to West Melton.
The First 50 Years
By the end of the 19th century, St Andrew’s had played a leading role in establishing new parishes, developing the Scottish Cemetery in Selwyn Street, initiated general education, urged the establishment of the University of Canterbury, enlarged its church building (1892-97) and fostered music and other cultural and sporting activities in the city. The beautiful organ was installed in the church in 1902.
The Shift
In the 1980s the location of the St Andrew’s Church at Hospital Corner became a problem and the congregation declined. At the same time Rangi Ruru Girls' School were making strong moves to obtain a Chapel for the school. Slowly the idea of shifting the church to the school took shape.
Financial support in the form of a Chapel Fund was available through the generosity of Mr Brian Perry in memory of his wife Janet, and by fundraising by the School Centennial Committee and by Old Girls. The Church was made ready for shifting in 1985. Two properties facing Merivale Lane were purchased and cleared, and in the summer or 1986 on a Sunday morning, four large trailers moved the church to its new site.
As it was re-established, an additional bay (one arch and pillar) was added to its length. The organ was dismantled and refurbished and a new entrance porch and side porch added.
Being a full church within the P.C.A.N.Z which retains its current parish as well as being the school chapel, the church conforms to Presbyterian Order but is served by both the school chaplain and the parish minister. Maintenance and running costs are equally shared.
