October 8, 2006

125 Years of the Presbyterian Church in Gore

Ladies in their finery, with hats of course, and men in their suits were to the fore at St Andrew’s Church on Sunday October 8, 2006. Two hundred and twenty six people from St Andrew's, along with representatives from the Calvin Community Church and the ex East Gore Church, gathered to celebrate 125 years.

Gore’s first Presbyterian Church service was held 125 years ago in the East Gore Church on October 16, 1881.

At that time East Gore, then known as Gordon, was the busiest business area. However, with the opening of the Gore railway-road bridge, in 1875, the western part of Gore became more populated and a move was made to centralise church services by building St Andrew’s Church Hall in 1928 and later the St Andrew’s Church in                                           

In 1953 the Calvin Church in West Gore was founded and services held in the West Gore School until their church was opened in 1960.

Centenary services were held in the East Gore Church in 1981 and a special service to mark its closing was held in 1995.

The East Gore Church building then reverted to the Synod of Southland and was sold to the Eastern Southland Art Gallery.