Over the weekend of 26th and 27th October 2024, the Durham Street congregation welcomed many friends and past members to celebrate 160 years since the original stone church was completed. We reflected on many years of the church serving the city and being a witness for peace and social justice; shared food and fellowship at the Saturday night dinner and Sunday lunch, and enjoyed a feast of music during the Sunday morning Service of Thanksgiving and Sunday afternoon Festival of Music.

At the Saturday night dinner, anniversary cakes were cut by the oldest and youngest members present. An account of the church’s history since the last major anniversary (125 years) was also launched. The 150th anniversary of the church was marked in 2014, but as the congregation were without a building at the time, the celebrations were low key. The new history of the last 35 years is entitled Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, please contact welcome@aldersgate.org.nz.

At the service on Sunday, the music was led by a choir and instrumentalists, a reflection was given by Rev Peter Taylor, current President of Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa/the Methodist Church of New Zealand and the children enjoyed playing with old-fashioned wooden toys and making crafts from sticks, leaves, wooden clothes pegs, fabric and wool, much as their grandparents and great-grandparents would have done. Long-time organist Wallace Woodley was thanked for his contribution to organising the anniversary celebrations.

A shared lunch and the afternoon Festival of Music rounded off the weekend. Many thanks to all those who came to mark the occasion with us, especially those that travelled from all around the country to be part of the weekend!