Janine Rankin, “Interim vicar puts down roots at All Saints,” Manawatu Standard, 16 August 2017
The newly-appointed vicar of Palmerston North’s historic All Saints Church, which is closed pending earthquake strengthening, has people rather than the building as his focus.
Janine Rankin, “Palmerston North heritage church looks for civic help,” Stuff, 13 Feb 2017
Palmerston North ratepayers might be asked to help the owners of heritage buildings pay part of the costs of earthquake strengthening.
The possibility was raised when a deputation from All Saints Church updated the city council’s arts, culture and heritage committee on its $5 million strengthening and enhancement project on Monday.
Project spokesman John Hornblow said the church’s building committee had already received expert advice from council staff about its plans.
“But the council needs to seriously consider its role in wider funding,” he said…
Karoline Tuckey, “Palmerston North Boys’ High School teacher Brent Costley remembered,” Manawatu Standard, 11 Jan 2017
PHOTO: Brent Costley died on January 9. He taught at Palmerston North Boys’ High School for 28 years, and was well known in the community for his work with All Saints’ church.
Brent Costley, a prominent teacher and member of the Palmerston North Anglican Church community, has died after a short battle with cancer…
Laurel Stowell, “Anglicans work toward new structure,” Wanganui Chronicle, 21 December 2016
Anglican parishioners are inching toward a decision to amalgamate Whanganui’s four parishes, Archdeacon Stuart Goodin says.
A re-think of the delivery of Anglican services began more than a year ago. It was a response to ageing and dwindling congregations and duplication of services across the district.
It’s subject to agreement from parishioners, and Mr Goodin said a sense of local representation within a new combined body was an issue.
PHOTO: Justin Duckworth has been the Anglican Bishop of Wellington since 2012.
Justin Duckworth is a bishop without a bible. The leader of Wellington’s Anglican Church uses a smartphone app instead.
But before God’s word went digital, Duckworth owned a treasured tome, inscribed with years of musings of a young theology student on a path to ordination.
Decades ago, a light fingered youth uplifted the bag in which Duckworth had stashed his Good Book. The thief biffed the lot in the Hutt River. Duckworth chuckles at the memory.
“They had no idea of the value. They just threw it away to get rid of it. But for me it was like, “You’ve got to be kidding me. Couldn’t you have just left it, or put it somewhere else?’”
He didn’t take the incident personally, though. He has bigger concerns. For more than 30 years, Duckworth and his wife Jenny have been in the business of serving those whom go mostly ignored.
While he voted in Wellington’s local body elections, he’s not one to wait for the government to sort out society’s problems. Some do require legislative action. Others, he says, can be solved with a plate of scones.
“I think we have abdicated too much responsibility to our leaders. We sort of say, ‘Oh can you guys solve climate change, and refugees? Can you solve homelessness? Well actually, why don’t we fill up our spare bedrooms first, while we’re saying that? Why don’t we offset our carbon as a family, why don’t we offer support to refugee families that we know now?”
Hospitality has always been central to the Duckworths’ brand of evangelism…
Richard Mays, “Online backlash won’t slow ‘people’s church’ adding bold verandah,” Stuff, 22 August 2016
All Saints’ John Hornblow with the concept drawings for the new church frontage. The baptistry behind him will be removed, with the bricks and stained glass being used elsewhere in the building. (Source: David Unwin/Fairfax NZ.)
There may have been plenty of social media “dislikes” but All Saints church will be proceeding with its bold verandah project.
A $5 million project to strengthen and refurbish the 100-year-old heritage brick building and World War I memorial also includes opening up and glazing the baptistry at the front of the church, and building a “flamboyant” arched verandah on the street frontage.
“The parish has signed off on a concept like the one that has been presented,” All Saints priest John Hornblow said…
This article was also published in the Manawatu Standard, 23 Aug 2016, page 1.
Janine Rankin and Georgia Forrester, “All Saints’ plans stir community outrage,” Stuff, 08 August 2016
PHOTO: A street-level perspective of the favoured concept plan for the front of All Saints Church.
All Saints parish is determined to press ahead with preliminary designs for a new frontage of the historic Palmerston North church despite vehement public opinion condemning the concept…
Janine Rankin, “First look at plans for the front of All Saints Church,” Stuff, 07 August 2016
PHOTO: There are bold plans for a new entrance to All Saints church on Church Street in Palmerston North.
Palmerston North’s historic All Saints Church could spread its wings out across the footpath and into the community as part of plans to strengthen and enhance to heritage building.
The parish has unveiled a $5m plan to preserve the century-old brick church, remove the baptistery wall, and build a new glazed entrance and covered gathering area out the front.
The building has been closed to the public for more than three years after being assessed as earthquake prone.
This article was also published in the Manawatu Standard, 08 Aug 2016, page 1.
Georgia Forester, “Community lobbies to bring refugee family to New Zealand,” Manawatu Standard, 06 July 2016
PHOTO: Rafik Hanna, his wife Gihan Hanna and their children, Roughina, 17, Miriam, 15, and Filo, 9.
A family of refugees who left Egypt to escape religious persecution are getting high-profile backing for their case to be allowed to move to New Zealand.
Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith, National list MP Jono Naylor, All Saints Church parish priest John Hornblow and other community members have shown their support for the resettlement mission.
