Methodism arrived in Canterbury with the first pioneer settlers. Mr I.W. Philpott, who arrived in Lyttelton on Cressy, one of the “First Four Ships,’ held the first Methodist service in the Immigration Barracks. Over the first five years of settlement in Lyttelton services were held in a variety of places: Mr Philpott’s Whare in Gollans Bay; a carpenter’s shop on Norwich Quay and the cottage of Mr Tucker. A little later Mr Lawry, who was actually a Presbyterian, loaned his store for services. Messrs Taylor and Popplewell constructed a pulpit in this store.
With a growing congregation a two-roomed cottage on Sumner Road was loaned until a small 30 ft x 20ft building was erected on St David Street and opened on 4th March 1855. Within six years this modest chapel was bursting at the seams and so a larger site was found on Norwich Quay on the corner of Dublin Street.
Church buildings
Lyttelton’s Methodist Church was opened on 1st September 1861 on its Dublin Street/Norwich Quay site, at a cost of £1,770. (See photograph below).
It was a cruciform building with a carved pulpit. However within six years, with the widening of Dublin Street for business premises, the church had been relocated to Winchester Street onto a site that had been purchased for a new Wesleyan school in 1863. The relocation cost £500, raised by a church bazaar and the sale of the Dublin Street/ Norwich Quay land.
In the heart of the church stands a really historic treasure: an excellent pipe organ, built in 1877, bought by the Methodists at the great cost of £500. This historic organ still remains central to the chapel on its original Winchester Street site. Music is an integral part of worship to Methodists; choral singing, choirs and Sunday schools are an important part of their long cultural tradition. At its height, the Sunday school here had many teachers including John and Samuel Webb, John Kenner, Mr Early, Mr Pitcaithly and Mr Chambers.
The organ was originally intended for the chapel of the Lyttelton’s Orphanage. Mr E.M. Jenkins began building it for the Orphanage’s headmaster, Mr E. Girand. On 23rd August 1878, prior to his retirement and departure to Europe, Mr Girand held an open evening at which R.T.Searell gave an opening recital on the nearly complete organ. This attracted much attention due to its relatively ‘great’ power and Mr Girand gave the organ up for sale to boost the library funds. The position on the organ to have taken a trumpet became the place for the Dulciana. The 8 ft Clarabella, 4 ft Flute and 2ft Piccolo had not yet been added; the organ being otherwise complete.
At the quarterly meeting of the Methodist Church (on the 31st December 1879) it was recommended that the trustees purchase the organ being built for the orphanage by Mr Jenkins. The ‘opening’ of the organ at the Methodist Church took place on 9th May 1880. In a letter dated November 6th 1880 to Mr Jenkins from Macleod Smith, the church organist, it was stated that the church was very satisfied with the tone and mechanism of the organ. The organ today is exactly the same as it was when completed; and with the exception of the Dulciana, is as it was planned. (See photograph below)
The Winchester Street site of the Methodist church is where the Union Chapel now stands. The old church was demolished and rebuilt in 1958, but thankfully many original features were thoughtfully retained, the carved pulpit and very attractive and historic organ were saved in-situ with the new chapel carefully built around them.
The Welsh slates from the original church were recycled for the chapel roof; also stained glass windows were retained as are the original font and beautifully carved roll of honour board (See photograph below).
It is an unexpected pleasure to enter this building expecting to see a 1950’s interior but to find so much from the original 19th Century building, especially the magnificent organ in the centre with the dove stained glass window to the north and others to the south and east. Their congregation, who are rightly proud of their heritage, have preserved these for posterity. The chapel is now The Union Chapel since the congregations of both the Presbyterians and Wesleyan - Methodists united.
Lisa Rossie 2007
