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ELLERSLIE DURING THE
TWENTIETH CENTURY
Churches, Clubs, and Neighbours in Ellerslie
 The
original subdivision of the Graham estate set aside land for a school and a church.
Christ Church was opened on the 22nd December 1883 and through the fund-raising
efforts of early parishioners became debt-free within three years of its construction.
The most significant feature of the church is a set of stained glass windows
gifted to the congregation by the English firm of Clayton and Bell who at one
time produced windows for the private chapel of Queen Victoria. Early resident
Albin Martin had been a mentor of Alfred Bell and the windows were presented
as a gift of gratitude for his assistance. Each of the 18 windows depicts part
of the gospel with a window representing the Resurrection of Christ in a central
position behind the altar. A church hall was completed in 1909 and became a venue
for numerous socials in Ellerslie, from regular dances and concerts to the showing
of silent pictures between 1922 and 1927. Across the years many social and cultural
groups used the hall for their meetings, including the Women Worker's Association,
the Girls' Friendly Society, the Boy's Club, Ellerslie Harriers, Girl Guides,
Boy Scouts, the Ellerslie Badminton Club, Ellerslie Athenians, and the Ellerslie
Gym Club.
Presbyterian residents also acted quickly to secure a church for the community.
By 1881 a church with accommodation for 70 worshippers was transported from Newmarket
and relocated on land opposite the railway station. However, in 1898 a larger
site on the opposite side of the road was purchased and the building was again
relocated. In 1906 the government seized the land in order to erect western approaches
to the vehicular bridge. An alternative section in Jubilee Road was purchased
with the compensation money and a new church was constructed and dedicated with
a large public gathering on the 16th March 1907.
For many women in the community the church provided an important avenue for establishing
friendships, socialising, and providing leadership. The Anglican Ladies' Guild
played a critical role in fund-raising for the church through the organisation
of fairs and bazaars. The Presbyterian Church also possessed several women's
organisations, particularly both senior and junior branches of the Women's Missionary
Union.
In addition to youth groups within the churches, by the 1930s a number of secular
organisations were established for young people in the district. Dramatic and
musical groups held concerts, the Bew family opened the Southern Cross Picture
Theatre, and the Ellerslie Tennis Club was established on land near the Anglican
Church. Improved drainage of the Michael's Avenue reserve created one of the
best athletics fields in Auckland and the Ellerslie Athletics and Harriers club
became extremely popular. By the 1930s the Ellerslie Rugby League Club also played
regularly on the field.
In their memories of the past many residents noted a change in the way people
related to each other in the community. Some explained this shift as a consequence
of communication technology and an increased sense of physical danger. They looked
back to a time when their doors and windows could be left open and when neighbours
assisted one another in their homes and gardens. In contrast, the stress of modern
urban living and employment together with a decreasing amount of land had intensified
the need for privacy, reflected in the erection of high fences around properties
and the infrequency of neighbourly contact.
For more information on the availability of "The History of Ellerslie" book
by Stephanie Chapman, due to be published May 2002, please contact Ellerslie
Business Association (eba@ellerslie.net.nz)
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