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.
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.
 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.
The 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.

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.

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