Page:History of Knox Church Dunedin.djvu/97

Rh congregation, and the general desire for improved accommodation, the necessity of taking steps for the enlargement of the old building or the erection of an entirely new one began to receive serious consideration about the beginning of 1869. In March of that year Mr E. Smith brought the matter under the notice of the Deacons' Court, but it was resolved to postpone action until it should be seen what effect the proposed erection of a church for North Dunedin and North-East Valley would have upon the attendance at Knox Church. A congregation was soon after formed at North Dunedin, to the pastorship of which the Rev. Dr Copland was called; but, although the new congregation was recruited to some extent from the membership of Knox Church, yet the necessity for increased accommodation continued as great as ever. The question of enlarging the old church or erecting a new one was discussed again and again at meetings of the office-bearers and the congregation; but nothing definite was agreed upon until May 1871, when it was decided by the congregation to erect an entirely new church in the following spring to accommodate about one thousand sitters. A subscription list was opened, and in the course of two months the sum of nearly £3000 was promised.

The question of site next received consideration, and it was ultimately resolved, at a congregational meeting held in August 1871, that the Deacons' Court should be authorised to purchase for this purpose the corner section adjoining the manse property, the consent of Mr Hyde Harris—the donor of the original church site—having first been obtained to the proposed change. This property, including a