More Info →Cuba Street Trinity Methodist

This image was taken for Manawatu Evening Standard newspaper dated on 18 July 1963 with the caption, "The Cuba Street Trinity Methodist Church as it looked before its 70th anniversary celebrated on Saturday July 20, 1963. The anniversary celebrations coincided with the opening of a new church hall, with seating for 300 people, opened and dedicated by the president of the NZ Conference of the Methodist Church, Rev R Thornley of Wellington. Methodist services began in Palmerston North in 1870 and are said to be the first worship services held in the town. The parishioners met in private homes and timber mills as the opportunity offered; in 1893 the land was bought in Cuba Street and by free labour the Trinity Methodist Church was built. The first fellowship hall behind the church was built in October 1957. In 1959 a house property next to the church was bought and altered to service a creche and bursery; in 1961, further property was bought in David Street adjoining the church, for a youth centre. Total assets (in 1963) were estimated at about 70,000 pounds." The first resident minister had been the Rev TG Hammond.