St Aidan’s Anglican Church has been sitting on a hill overlooking the Mount Somers village for the past 125 years.
It opened on August 30, 1900.
This Sunday, to celebrate those years, the church congregation and surrounding community will gather for a morning service followed by lunch.
Parish Vicar Sage Burke said it was hoped many past and current worshippers would attend and celebrate the place St Aidan’s had in the community and people’s lives.
‘‘We are thankful for the years of worship that has taken place in our church,’’ Burke said.
Everyone is welcome to the service at 10.30am, preceded by a cuppa and chat at 10am. It will be followed by a pay-your-own-way lunch at the Mount Somers Tavern.
Parish vestry member Pauline Hewson said the church had been a part of the community and an important part of people’s lives.
‘‘We are still here today offering worship and care thanks to the hard work of those who have gone before us,’’ Pauline said.
In the lead up to Sunday’s anniversary, members had been enjoying looking back over history books and old photos and meeting minutes.
It has brought up some interesting past activities such as Soap Sundays. As part of tough rationing in England during wartime efforts, parishioners locally would gather up soap and send it to England.
Attendance at St Aidan’s drew large numbers in the 1950s and 1960s with numerous services; it now has two services a month and still draws good attendances.
The church was largely funded by Alfred Edward Peache the owner of the Mt Somers Station, with land given by James Aitken and Frederick Chamberlain in 1882.
The Baker Brothers of Ashburton built it from plans drawn up by Clarkson and Ballantyne. The cost of building the church and vicarage, now a private residence, was 1000 pounds.
St Aidan’s Church sits on a hill overlooking Mount Somers village.
It was positioned to face the sun, but due to strong nor-west winds in the area has large wires attached to anchor it firmly to the ground.
In 1928 a memorial lychgate was added to the front boundary of the church and many years later a Mineral to Arts Festival workshop added the stone wall.
There are many beautiful stain glass windows in the church.
The main window behind the alter is a memorial, as are several of the others, including one to James Harrison’s two sons Gerald and Harold who were killed in World War One.
The latest window to be added was in 2012 was given ‘‘in gratitude by Rev Rosemary Grigg and family’’.
Rosemary was ordained as a Deacon in 1999 and then was ordained as a priest and appointed to the Mayfield/ Mount Somers parish. She died in 2015.
St Aidan’s is named after a monk from 1635 who along with his spiritual life was a great advocate of education.
■ Everyone is welcome at the 125th anniversary service of St Aidan’s at Mount Somers on Sunday starting with a cuppa at 10am and the service starts at 10.30am. Those wanting to go to Mount Somers Tavern for the pay-your-own-way lunch after the service are asked to book with the tavern directly on 303 9879.
