29/05/2026
This long weekend, the Gisborne Parish will be holding a weekend of activities to celebrate the life and history of the congregations of St. Andrew's and Matawhero, following the decision to close the parish at the end of June.
Presbyterian services have been held in the area for 154 years, beginning at Matawhero in 1872. The little Matawhereo church was built in 1865 and was originally used as a schoolroom as well as being used for services by the local Anglicans. It also served as a makeshift hospital during conflict with Te Kooti in 1868 and was one of the few buildings spared in his raid on Matawhero and Makaraka. In 1872 the church was bought to serve as a Presbyterian Church.
The congregation of St. Andrew's in the township of Gisborne was established a year later in 1873 with Rev. W. Heningham Root as the first minister. The original church was wooden, but a new larger church was erected in 1913.
The Annual Report on the Church's 50th Anniversary in 1923 records a vibrant congregation with a Sabbath School, bible classes, a choir, Ladies Guild and a branch of the PWMU among other varied groups and activities.
We wish the parish well for its celebration weekend and hope that it is a rich celebration of the parish's life and history.
