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BIRKENHEAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY |
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Members Stories Zion Hill Reminiscences by Norman Wilson: "My grandparents were among the half dozen families who established the Methodist cause in Birkenhead. Of course there have been many changes over the years. In my young days I can remember walking along muddy wet roads to church and other meetings, carrying a storm lantern to light the way. The womenfolk had to take extra shoes and sometimes stockings as well to change into on arrival. There was a fireplace in the old church, and on cold wet nights there would be a row of wet boots in front of the fire to dry while the meeting was held. For a while it was my job to light the lamps in church on Sunday nights. It was gas in those days, and not very good gas either. At times the light was very dim and sometimes the flame would flicker and pop. At times mantles would burn out or the glass globes would break, and those sitting below would get a shower of hot glass around them. When electricity was installed, this excitement died out, except when there was a power failure, which was fairly frequent. Other changes came with the addition of the classrooms and kitchen in the hall. A gas ring and later an electric stove replaced the old boiler at the rear of the church. In the early days the old brick copper had to be stoked up before social functions. When the water boiled it was put into large tea urns and carried to the hall. This could be a rather precarious operation on wet dark nights, but it had to be done and we got a lot of fun out of doing it -- except when the wood supply was damp, or was running low. In the old days the morning service was at 11 a.m., and all the family attended. Sunday School and Bible Class were at 2.30 p.m. Evening service was at 7 p.m., and it was a great event when one was old enough to be allowed to go to church at night. In those days the church was usually full for both services. In the late 20s and 30s, however, when the motor car became a popular member of the family, attendance at Sunday School dropped considerably as did the services, especially on fine Sundays. One Hundred Years of Christian Worship. The History of Zion Hill Methodist Church 1880 to 1980 Zion Hill Reminiscences by Cliff Utting: "In the early days of the church, night meetings were arranged according to the phases of the moon. Electric torches were unheard of at the time, and, although every one took a kerosene hurricane lantern when they went out at night, it made a big difference if the moon was bright. It was quite an art, especially on windy nights, to keep the lanterns burning without getting the glass blackened by smoke. At first the Birkenhead minister had to supply his own horse or push bike for transport within the circuit, but in the early 1920s the circuit bought its own horse and gig. "The horse paddock was the corner block of Zion Road, where the parsonage (now King & Trounsen) now stands, and there were stables on the northern half of the lower tennis courts (now the bottom car park). As some congregation members still came to church by horse and gig, the stable had room for three or four horses with their carriages. From 1926 until about 1930 I did the circuit driving on Sundays. This involved taking visiting preachers or students out to Greenhithe, Albany or Glenfield, and usually Birkdale as well, on alternate Sundays. On the other Sundays, our own minister often had to go to Albany through about six inches of base course metal on his push bike. This was quite tough as, when he got home, at about 6 p.m., he had to usually get ready to be at Northcote by 7 p.m. I have vivid memories of getting home from church about 12.30 p.m., then leaving about 1 p.m. to catch a very cunning horse. When feed got short in Birkenhead he was taken down to John Court's place in Marama Tce, and he had to be ridden, bare back, to the church so he could be harnessed to the gig. Then I would have to meet the preacher and take him out to Greenhithe or Albany. Barney, the horse, could do the trip in an hour, wet or fine, despite the very slippery state of Greenhithe Rd. The return trip was not so quick. Coming up the long hill, we all used to get out and walk, meeting the horse at the top. By this time with the roads in terrible condition, the gig usually looked more like a dray. In 1931 the gig was badly damaged in an accident (this occurred while his father was driving it - see his father's account below), so the horse was sold and a roster of motor vehicles arranged to transport visiting ministers. Our own minister had to provide his own car, although the church paid running costs." One Hundred Years of Christian Worship. The History of Zion Hill Methodist Church 1880 to 1980 The End of the Circuit Trap by F.C.Utting Shortly after coming to the Birkenhead Circuit where local preachers were very scarce, my name again appeared on the circuit plan, taking services occasionally at Greenfield, Greenhithe, and Albany. On the last occasion I went to the latter place I was returning home driving the circuit trap, when on descending a hill, the belly band broke causing the horse to take fright and bolt, capsizing the trap and then kicking it to pieces. I was fortunate in escaping without injury owing to the fact that I was tipped into a lot of high fern. The circuit trap, being past repair, was given to the nearest settler, the horse was sold and a motor car provided, but I was unable to drive the latter vehicle. Being over the age of 80, I decided not to take any more preaching appointments. Eighty Three Years in New Zealand - The Reminiscences of Frederic Clement Utting
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