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All Saints Prebbleton

Church History

All Saints Prebbleton


Chapel School on its present site at LongbeachMr 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.

Original Church of All Saints destroyed by fire 1906.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.

Shortly after All Saints was opened the need for extensions was realised and these began. It was 1877 before the extensions were completed and by this time the church had been lengthened by 18 feet to be 75 feet by 20 feet broad in a cruciform shape.

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. Inside view of All Saints Church, Prebbleton

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 for public worship 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.

East Window All Saints Church PrebbletonThe east window is of three lights, the central light much higher than the others. In that is our Lord as the Good Shepherd, and on either hand in the sidelights, the figures of St Peter and St Paul. This was erected in memory of the earliest settler, James Prebble (born 1799, died 1877), after whom Prebbleton was named. Window side of Nave ALl Saints Prebbleton

On the side of the nave are two smaller windows in memory of Thomas Leslie Gabbatis and Frederick Reginald Ashworth and John Morrison Ashworth, parishioners who were killed in World War I.

The font of white stone was erected by a parishioner John Haydon, in memory of his children. The carved litany desk was made and presented by Miss Hayden, a member of an old Prebbleton family and the seats in the chancel were given in memory of Charles Williams. The reredos was given by the Rev G W Harding, who was afterwards vicar of the parish, alms dish and bags by Mr and Mrs J Scales, and a beautifully embroidered kneeling cushion for the communion rail by Mrs Gebbie. The solid silver Communion service was given by the Communicants of Christchurch.

Few people can think of Prebbleton and its beautiful Church without its peal of bells. After the fire the new Church seemed incomplete without its bells and after strenuous efforts in 1913 a new peal costing over £300 was dedicated free of debt.

In 1984 a lounge was opened attached to All Saints Church. It was called the Tosswill Lounge after Mr J N Tosswill who donated the land on which it stands.

All Saints Prebbleton Christchurch


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