ALL SAINTS PREBBELTON

Another image from my series of old building in the local Prebbelton Village

All Saints Prebbleton
Mr John Morris Tosswill gave 5 acres of his land to the Church of England Trustees. A chapel-school was built in 1862 and was used as both a school and a church. Bishop Henry Harper conducted the first service on Sunday 29th June 1862.
The building consisted of one unlined room with a very small vestry attached and was financed by a government grant. By 1872 it was not big enough to cater for the increase in numbers and it was sold to Mr John Grigg for £30. The building was moved to Longbeach on skids pulled by oxen. It became the first church in the Ashburton County and was dedicated by the Primate of New Zealand, the Right Rev H J C Harper on 25th May 1873.
Tenders for a replacement church were invited and the foundation stone was laid by Dr Donald on November 16th 1871 in honour of All Saints. The architect was Mr B W Mountfort of Christchurch.
The church was wooden and had windows of green tinted glass. The opening service took place in July 1872 and was consecrated by the Bishop in November of that year. A set of four bells was installed over the next few years.
March 21st 1906, the church was completely destroyed by fire, together with all the parish records. A new pipe organ, just procured and installed only a few weeks, was also destroyed.
The late Mr C T Mountford, (son of the architect of the old church) intimated that he still had the plans of the building, and with a few slight alterations, including an extension of the nave, and the addition of a porch, these plans were accepted. The new church was open in July 1907. It is built of wood and plastered and roofed with iron.
The organ is a very fine instrument, two manuals, with swell and pedals, encased in oak. It is by Wadsworth Bros of Manchester, purchased on the recommendation of Dr Bradshaw and erected by Mr Brett. Changes have been made over the years but it is still basically the same as that installed in 1907.
The east window is of three lights, was erected in memory of the earliest settler, James Prebble (born 1799, died 1877), after whom Prebbleton was named.