A potted summary of the history of St Alban’s Church Eastbourne.
Based on the chronology by Jean Gilmer completed 1996, updated by Julia Stuart 2007.

Early days

The first Anglican service recorded in this district was held on Monday 16 June 1902 in a disused store. The congregation numbered eleven. It was taken by the Rev’d Joshua Jones, Vicar of Lower Hutt, in whose parish the Eastbourne district lay. In 1906, local residents started to plan for a church on a donated site. But by 1908 parishioners had agreed to buy the Ngaio Street property belonging to Mr Stubbs for 500 pounds and approached the Wellington diocesan architect Mr Frederick de Jersey Clere for a church design. In the meantime, morning services each Sunday were taken by lay readers J. D. Avery and R. L. Button, with Mr Jones trying to provide a monthly celebration of Holy Communion. Sometimes Rev’d J. A. L. Kayll, a temporary resident, filled in for him. These services were held in the local schoolroom and, for the last two years, in the new Presbyterian church.

Rev’d Joshua Jones was the Vicar of St James, Lower Hutt from 1887 until his retirement in 1913. Weather permitting he traveled to Eastbourne by buggy each month from 1907-11. Between 1910 - 1911 he prepared fourteen people for confirmation. He guided the working committee and officiated at the opening of St Albans on 14 May 1910.

First incumbent

The first resident Vicar (1911-16) was the Rev’d Ernest Iremonger Sola. Educated at Salisbury Theological College, he was priested at Rochester in 1903. It is not known when he came to New Zealand, but when appointed to Eastbourne he was Vicar at Bulls. As an organist he gave recitals to help raise funds for the Church. By 1914 he was holding regular Sunday services at Days Bay, and the parish purchased a section there in 1915. Mr Sola did not allow the holding of bazaars for fund-raising, believing in free will offerings. He worked hard with the Bible-in-Schools League to have religious instruction in schools allowed. Mr Sola resigned in January 1917 to return to England and died in York 1924. The Credence Table in the Sanctuary is a memorial to him.

Rev’d T. Gardner, who had been assistant Curate at St Peters, Wellington, was appointed acting Curate during the interregnum. He was in the Parish for nine months and during that period set up a very active Boys Club. He was appointed Vicar of Pongaroa in October, 1917 but died during the influenza epidemic. A memorial brass plate was given by his Boys Club.

Consolidation

The second Vicar, (1917-27) Rev’d Oswald Moran Stent, M.A. was a Latin Scholar from Oxford. After serving two curacies in England he came to New Zealand. He was Vicar of Raetihi in 1908.  In October 1917, he was appointed to St Albans from Opunake. Mr Stent expanded worship opportunities, with St Martin’s Days Bay Church Room opening in May 1922. He was the Chaplain of Croydon School (now Wellesley College) in Days Bay and also held services at Lowry Bay.  It is said he conducted up to eleven services on a Sunday. He also gave religious instruction in Muritai School, and had a gift for organizing. He compiled the first parish roll, was Editor of the Diocesan Chronicle, elected to the Synod Standing Committee and made a Canon of St Pauls Pro-Cathedral, Wellington. In his time, the annual number of communicants increased from 1200 to 2,100.

Native-born

Rev’d Herbert Louis Barton Goertz, B.T.S. (1927-29) was the first New Zealand-born Vicar. He studied at Selwyn College, Dunedin, was made Deacon in 1909 and priested in the same year in Dunedin. (Note: Although he had not reached the minimum requirement for ordination, Bishops at the time would ordain a man if he had been successful in a previous chosen career - in this case a Master Mariner.) Mr Goetz freely acknowledged that his predecessor’s care for details made it possible for him to call on 600 families during 1928. In his time the parish hall and kitchen were built.

Hard times

Rev’d William Raine, B.T.S. (1929-34) was the fourth vicar. English by birth, he attended St John’s College in Auckland, was made Deacon in 1909, ordained in 1910 and was the second Wellington City Missioner. He came to St Albans from Carterton and served during the depression years - a tough task. He started services and a Sunday School at Pt Howard in 1931, all the while continuing religious instruction weekly at Muritai School. He sent out the first issues of the Eastbourne Parochial District magazine. He is remembered for services rendered to the parish during a most difficult period for New Zealand. While in Eastbourne he and his wife started the Young Wives Club.

Good giving

Charles Ronald Kreeft, L.Th. (1934-1946) was ordained priest in 1923 and served in Hunterville from 1925-1934. He introduced the envelope system, and with constant teaching of direct giving, the parish’s mission quota was always filled. A fund was set up to provide for an assistant for the Vicar. On 25 October 1936 St Alban’s Church was consecrated by Bishop Herbert St Barbe Holland, who also suggested the name of St Columba for the church room at Pt Howard. Although working against the odds during the period of World War II, the last debt of the parish on the Vicarage was extinguished by April 1944. The parish bought a cottage in Pt Howard during this time.

There was a strong Young Anglican movement and Parish Youth Council when the diocesan voting age was lowered to 18. Mr Kreeft served as Vicar for two years in Khandallah after leaving Eastbourne and died in 1949. He held the record for the longest serving Vicar in Eastbourne until Colin Wright at the end of the 20th century.

Local talent

The sixth Vicar, Rev’d Paul Albert Stanley, B.R.S. (1946-51), was a Wellington diocese man. He came to Eastbourne from Waverley where he had been Vicar for 10 years. He worked hard to get St Columba’s built, and in July 1948 its Sanctuary was dedicated by Bishop Rich. Mr Stanley set up an Organ Fund and continued to work towards employing a Parish Assistant. The Bible Classes and Sunday School rolls were excellent and he had 127 confirmation candidates in his five years of ministry - the highest number in the diocese. When he left, he took the post of Vicar to the newly-formed Parochial District of Wanganui East, which appealed because there was only one church to care for. He said he had found the extended parish area of Eastbourne difficult.

The Rev’d Ian Halse McCaul, B.Com., L.Th. (1951-1956) came to Eastbourne from the parish of Pohangina. He developed the Chancel and Sanctuary of St Martin’s in Days Bay, which was dedicated in 1952, and installed a new organ in St Alban’s Church. The long awaited Parish Assistant, Miss Hall, was  appointed in 1953. Miss Hall, B.Sc., came originally from Hastings. After two years in Eastbourne she went to the Parish of Waiwhetu and later married Rev’d Roger. Together Miss Hall and Mr McCaul continued the work of former Vicars at Muritai School and built up the Sunday School, Young Wives and Mother’s Union Groups. Miss Hall’s work made much more intensive work in the parish possible. It was her work, Mr McCaul said, not to do what he should be doing, but rather to give vision and inspiration. A retired local priest, Rev’d Arnold Stackhouse, was given the hospitality of pulpit and altar by Rev’d McCaul.

Distinguished and memorable

The 8th Vicar, Rev’d Edward Giles, M.C. (1956-65) had a distinguished war service. He did his theological training at Cuddeston and later saw service as a Missionary in Korea. In 1957 he resumed the production of the East Harbour Church Review.  In this he also printed a Parish History compiled by Rev’d McCaul, to which he added as the years went by. In Mr Giles’s time the Boy Scout Troup based at St Alban’s was founded and his wife started the Women’s Fellowship. In 1958 St Alban’s Church Hall was extended, and in 1960 the parish was raised to full Parish status by Synod. This allowed for two Synodsmen and four Parochial Nominators. In 1960/61 the 50th Jubilee of St Alban’s and the Parish saw St Alban’s Church enlarged with a new sanctuary. Rev’d Giles made the 8a.m. Eucharist the central act of worship at St Alban’s. The Choir was affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music and a new organ was installed. During 1960-65, 53 people were confirmed. He could only be described as a very dynamic Priest. After nine years he and his wife returned to England.

Strong Education

The 9th Vicar, Rev’d John D. Malcolm, B.Sc., B.A. (1965-71) came to Eastbourne from Kelburn. He consolidated the Church Review, which was delivered regularly to all parishioners. It gave a full list of all holding office and working with Parish groups. Vestry also published regular news items to keep parishioners informed of Vestry decisions, and set out areas of portfolios for Vestry members. Worship was marked by the trials of the “New Liturgy” and teaching by the introduction of the New Christian Life Curriculum, including a trial of ‘team teaching’ at Sunday School. Increased participation of Laity saw membership of  the Young Wives Group, and the Boys, Intermediate Girls, and Senior Choirs increased. 1970 saw the 60th anniversary of dedication of St Alban’s Church, with extensions to the porch. There was the first indication of moves to close St Martins. In February 1971, Mr Malcolm took three months in-service leave as Assistant Chaplain at Porirua Hospital and on 5th September was appointed Vicar of St Mary’s, Levin.

New ways

The 10th Vicar, Rev’d Peter Alan Stuart, M.A (Oxon) (1971-82) trained for Ministry at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, Yorkshire and Trinity College, Oxford. He came to St Alban’s from being Chaplain at Victoria University. His early days were marked by church union discussions and then the referendum on the Plan for Church Union. The Parish adopted an experimental alternative discipline of Admission to Communion for young people prior to Confirmation, and all Baptisms were held in the context of Parish worship. The arrival of the St Paul’s Singers to take a mission in Parish led to Charismatic movement and worship. Parish Social Service Teams were set up, Parish administrators appointed, and the approval and appointment of Pastoral Elders made. This period also marked the start of visits from people in Tokomaru Bay (Hokowhituatu) to the Parish, with return visits to the East Coast, including a 120-strong parish camp on Pakirikiri Marae. St Martins Church in Days Bay was sold in 1974, and the house at 12 Ngaio Street purchased. This was used for social service needs in the district. The Memorial Wall and the quadrangle were completed and dedicated, and the Vicarage significantly extended. A Parish Assistant, Mrs. Christina Gibb, was appointed and in 1976/77 Rev’d Neville Watkins (retired) became Hon. Assistant Curate. Overseas mission activity thrived: Ted Newport was commissioned as a Missionary from the Parish, Joan Alexander went to Suva to work in Leper Hospital and Georgina Bennett went to Youth With a Mission. Rod Fisher went to Tanzania in 1979 and David Best to Vanuatu in 1981. Robert Fulton and Philip Sampson went from the Parish to St John’s College to train for the priesthood. David and Marguerita Day went into Stipendiary Lay Ministry and later David was ordained. Peter Stuart was appointed Vicar of St John’s Trentham, in January 1982.

Youth and Stewardship

After a long interregnum, the 11th Vicar, Rev’d Terry H. Molloy, L.Th., took up the position of Vicar. A primary school teacher from England, he had taught Intermediate School before becoming deacon in 1971. During his ministry, the Parish celebrated the 600th Anniversary of the translation of the Bible into English, the Anglican and Roman Catholic Commission was set up, and the 75th Anniversary of the dedication of St Alban’s Church was celebrated. A Parish Mission with the Church Army was undertaken and representatives from Parish attended the Diocesan Discipleship and Stewardship training conference at Levin. Rev’d Molloy became Chaplain at Wellesley College where he also coached soccer. In 1982 Rev’d Neville Watkins celebrated 60 years in the priesthood. The Bishopric of Aotearoa was announced and Ann Best appointed to raise funds within the Parish for its endowment fund. 1983 saw the appointment of the now Rev’d David Day as Assistant Curate for one year with a focus on Youth, Sunday Schools and Adventure Camps. Parish Social Service Volunteers were trained. Terry Molloy was appointed Vicar of the Parish of Tuakau in 1989.

Ecumenical endeavour

The Rev’d Colin Wright (1989-2001) had been chaplain at Porirua Hospital for four years prior to coming to the Parish in 1989. He continued as Chaplain at Wellesley College and was the Archbishop’s Representative on the College Board. The new New Zealand Prayer Book came into use in 1989, and the first Learning & Sharing for Everyone programme started. The Parish’s Trust Board was re-activated and re-registered; Steffensen and St Martin’s (Ngaio Street) properties were sold, and St Columba’s Church and buildings finally sold at auction in March 1994. 1993 saw the appointment of Rev’d Helen Milne as a non-stipendiary Assistant Curate, but she left to become a teacher and counsellor at Nga Tawa Diocesan School. A joint Youth Worker with St  Ronan’s was proposed, funds raised and a full-time Youth Worker, Chris Casey, began work in February, 1995. Ecumenical Ministry continued at all levels with fellow Christians in Eastbourne. In late 2001 Mr Wright retired to Nelson, having equalled Mr Kreeft’s record as the longest-serving Vicar of Eastbourne.

Energetic ministry

Rev’d Damon Plimmer, the present Vicar, came to Eastbourne in 2002 from Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, where he had served as Canon-in-Residence since 2000. After his training at St John’s College he was Deacon Assistant at St Matthews in the City, Auckland from 1998-2000. Work with children and families is a hallmark of his energetic ministry, which has seen the setting up of the Pop-In-and-Play outreach to young families, and a consolidation and expansion of youth work alongside St Ronan’s, and through the Eastbourne Youth Worker Trust. Damon and his family have just returned from seven months’ study leave in the UK, where he attended Heythrop College and began study towards an MA in Philosphy and Religion. Rev’d Tony Gardiner, who retired to Eastbourne in 2001, was priest-in-charge during his absence.