11 March 2013
Media Release
Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the first Anglican Services in Queenstown
Sunday 17th March marks the 150th anniversary of the first official Anglican services in Queenstown, when Bishop Henry Harper met William Gilbert Rees on the site of the Eichardt’s Hotel.
To commemorate this sesquicentennial, the Anglican Wakatipu Parish have a number of activities planned, starting Sunday 17th of March.
At 11.30am, after the service at St Peter’s in Church Street, members of the congregation and any members of the public interested in participating will meet and walk to the statue of William Rees on the waterfront.
Everyone is encouraged to wear period costume to match the occasion of 150 years ago where everybody was keen to be seen in their Sunday best!
Flowers will be laid at the statue on the waterfront in recognition of William Rees as the founder of Queenstown and leader of the Church here.
They will then assemble in the garden bar of Eichardt’s Hotel, where there will be a re-enactment of the meeting of Bishop Harper, William Rees and the community to establish the church.
This will be followed by the unveiling of a Portrait of William Rees preaching at St Peters, which has been generously donated by the artist Mr Craig Primrose, Rosemary Marryatt,great granddaughter of William Rees, and The Rees Hotel.
The visit of Bishop Harper in 1863 followed the petition by Messers Jackson, Bruce, McBeath, Jamieson and Logie as local Anglicans supporting William Rees to be a lay reader and preacher..
This led to the visit by Bishop Harper March15thwhere he formally presented William Rees with his licence to be a lay reader and preacher to the Queenstown community.
Anglicans and interested people attended morning and afternoon services for the first time that day in the Rees Wool Shed, which had become the Queens Arms Hotel soon after the gold rush began. This was the original building on the site of the current days Eichardt’s hotel. A declaration was made that day by William Rees and Richmond Beetham , the resident magistrate, to initiate the building of an Anglican church in Queenstown. The development was followed with great interest by readers of The OtagoWitness in the ensuing months.
This included the installation of the organ in 1906, from All Saints Dunedin, which is still in use and is one of the finest examples of working historic organs in New Zealand.
The original wooden church was replaced in 1932 with the current stone church, with the original wooden church moved to Omakau where it is still in use today as St Mary’s Leask St,Omakau.
The completion of the original St Peters and commencement of services is being celebrated August 31st with activities running through September.
These will include: Saturday 31st Aug Coming together of the Parish community from across Wakatipu, Historical guided walks around Queenstown, Exhibition of Weddings and Baptisms through the Ages, Presentation by Rosemary Marryatt – great granddaughter of William Gilbert Rees, Music recitals
Sunday 1st Sept Commemorative Service led by the Bishop of Dunedin including the first presentation of an original hymn by Mark Wilson to mark the occasion, Tree planting by Rosemary Marryatt , Mid-winter Parish dinner.
For Photo opportunities, interviews with specific areas of interest for your articles or simply more information, please contact the Vicar of Wakatipu, Dr David Coles or the Parish Office on 442 9391 or 027 442 8391, email or or via our website