Connexions. No. 100, In the Bay of Islands

Rights Information
Year
1991
Reference
207760
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Year
1991
Reference
207760
Media type
Audio
Series
Connexions, 1989-1996.
Duration
00:53:07
Credits
RNZ Collection
THOMPSON, Graeme, Presenter
National Radio (N.Z.) (estab. 1986, closed 2007), Broadcaster

Graeme Thompson presents an episode of the religious radio programme "Connexions", made in conjunction with recording an episode of the television programme, "Praise Be," presenting a selection of hymns sung by two congregations from Kaeo and Paihia in the Bay of Islands.

Graeme talks to members of the choir and congregation of St Paul's church in Paihia, including Dave Gunn, Rae and several unnamed men and women. A hymn is sung.

He interviews Mary Robertson, organist at St Paul's. she is training to become a non-stipendary Anglican minister. Henry Driver and John Harris, church wardens in the Bay of Islands parish are interviewed. The discuss the local Māori pastorate which has recently broken away from the parish and training for the non-stipendary ministry. The parish is currently without a vicar, but they affirm it is in good heart, due to population growth in the district.

Graeme interviews an unidentified man who is recording the choirs for "Praise Be", and discusses the challenges of his work. Several women comment on the quality of the singing by the combined Kerikeri and Kaeo parishes. One woman has been coming to the church since 1953.

Helen and Bruce Norman talk about the Kaeo-Kerikeri Union parish, formed by the Methodist and Presbyterian churches in 1974 Helen talks about her family's history in the church and the work the church does in the community.

Chris Saxton, who moved to Kerikeri from Nelson in the early 1950s talks about the changes she has seen in the area. She notes the decline in the number of young people attending church regularly.

Tarzan Hori, who farms near Kaeo talks about growing up in the region and the Methodist Church, and the importance of remaining connected to the land.

87 year old Sally Rogers talks about her connections with the church at Kaeo, where she attended Sunday School. Her father was Catholic but the children were not christened, and she was later christened as an adult in her 80s as Wesleydale Church.

Mary Williams, great-grand-daughter of missionary Henry Williams talks about her ancestor and his many descendants in New Zealand. the memorial church of St Paul in Paihia was built by his descendants.

The programme ends with a hymn from St Paul's, Paihia.