“Curious at the apparent inconsistency”. That’s what the Seventh Day Baptists are. They question those who claim to accept the Bible. Yet they follow traditions of the church instead.
Here we are at the Seventh Day Baptist Church in Auckland. It stands as a testament to faith. It also represents a unique place within the Christian landscape of New Zealand. The Seventh Day Baptists have a rich history. It is rooted in the belief of keeping the seventh day Sabbath.
Let’s step back in time to understand the origins of this church. The Seventh Day Baptists emerged in New Zealand in the 1930s. It started with a Bible study class in Auckland. This humble beginning paved the way for a growing community. These people were dedicated to their interpretation of scripture.
The establishment of the Christchurch branch is particularly interesting. Edward Barrar played a crucial role. Originally an Anglican he later joined the Seventh Day Adventists. Barrar’s deep dive into Biblical Hebrew and Greek led him to question certain doctrines. He then became a lay preacher. It was during this time that he met Pastor Edward Johnson. Johnson was a pastor of the Seventh Day Baptist Church in Auckland.
Inspired Barrar started his own church in Christchurch. By 1942 he held public Sabbath services. The location was a room above Eastmonds shoe store. It was in Greenwich House. This was on the corner of Worcester and Manchester Streets.
In 1944 the Christchurch group gained recognition. They became part of the General Conference of the Seventh Day Baptists in the USA. Barrar’s theological papers were presented. He was accepted as a listed pastor.
Under Barrar’s guidance the church acquired a property. It was a semi two storey house at 16 Livingstone Street. The aim was to transform it into a chapel. Its location was chosen carefully. It needed to be within walking distance of Cathedral Square.
The house had an interesting past. Built around the 1880s it was once home to Andrew Dykes. Dykes was an engineer. The church trustees purchased the property. Elizabeth McNatty Crocker and her family lived there. The magistrate ordered the family to leave. The church needed the property for its purposes.
Barrar also bought the house next door at 18 Livingstone Street. It became his family home. By October 1947 he was holding services there too.
Converting the house at 16 Livingstone Street into a church involved significant changes. The first floor was removed. The interior was stripped bare. Two back rooms became a Sabbath school and vestry. Barrar undertook most of the work himself. A builder was hired for the entrance porch.
Instead of traditional windows behind the pulpit Barrar was creative. He installed imitation Gothic window frames. Inside he painted a scene of Calgary. The rostrum was built high. It accommodated a baptismal bath. Barrar painted a river scene on the bath’s lid.
Tragedy struck on September 11 1983. Arsonists caused a fire. It destroyed much of the church building. A new church was built from brick. It used plans designed by Barrar’s son Daniel Barrar. Andrew Goulding from the Auckland church assisted with the construction.
The new church incorporated part of the original building. It still contained the vestry a study and two toilets. Like the old church it was entered via a porch on the western side. The baptismal bath was rebuilt into the ground. It retained the original lid with the river scene.
In 2010 the church expanded. A lounge and kitchen were added. These adjoined the western facade.
Today the Seventh Day Baptist Church continues to serve its community. It holds fast to its beliefs and traditions. Its story is one of faith perseverance and community spirit. It stands as a reminder of the diverse religious landscape. It also enriches the cultural tapestry of Auckland.