Page:History of Knox Church Dunedin.djvu/96

66 About the year 1874 Mr Robert Chisholm, in conjunction with Mr Arthur Scoullar, began a fortnightly service at Whare Flat, situated about eight miles from Dunedin. Since Mr Scoullar's removal to Wellington the service at this outfield has been in charge of Mr Chisholm. Valuable assistance in the work has been rendered by friends within and outside Knox Church congregation, more especially by Mr R. Heany of Kaikorai and the Rev. Mr Bannerman—the latter of whom kindly undertook the charge of the Whare Flat service during Mr Chisholm's recent visit to the Home Country.

At the request of a number of the residents of Ravensbourne and neighbourhood, the Session in February 1876 took steps for organising a church in that district, the Synod having promised a grant from the Ecclesiastical Fund towards the purchase of a site and the erection of a church. In August following the church was opened by Dr Stuart and Dr Copland, For some time previously public worship had been conducted in a private house, and occasionally in the open air, by Mr Wright, with the assistance of office-bearers and members of Knox Church. It was arranged that the services should be continued for a time under the auspices of Knox Church, on the understanding that the use of the building, under proper regulations, would be freely given to others in the interests of the Gospel. These arrangements, with such modifications as were occasionally found necessary, were continued till 1879, when the members and adherents of Ravensbourne and Rothesay Church were able to call a minister of their own, and set out as a fully-equipped congregation.

The year 1876 is to be regarded as one of the most memorable years in the history of Knox Church, for on the 5th of November the new church in George street was opened for Divine service under the most auspicious circumstances. In the very nature of the case much anxiety and labour were entailed upon the office-bearers, and more especially upon the Building Committee, and many difficulties were encountered in connection with the erection of the new church; but by the goodness of God difficulties were overcome, and the work brought to a satisfactory conclusion.

In consequence of the ever-increasing difficulty experienced in providing sittings in the old church for persons anxious to join the