How about a story about a place that honored war heroes? This is the story of the Otahuhu Methodist Church and its memorial Sunday school. The Otahuhu Methodist Church has a long history within the community.
The Otahuhu Methodist Memorial Sunday School is behind the Otahuhu Methodist Church. This Sunday school is on Fairburn Road. It is a rare Methodist war memorial building. The Sunday school is an impressive brick-and-tile building.
The foundation stone tells a story. It reads that the stone was laid to the glory of God. Revd. E. Drake laid the stone. He was President of Conf. The date was February 28th 1920. The stone also has the words “Feed my lambs”.
Four other stones were set at a higher level. These stones were laid by mothers and friends. They honored former Sunday school members who died during World War One. Mrs. Agnes Mary Muir remembered John D. Muir and Robert C. Graham. Mrs. Anna J. Whiteley honored Burton W. Whiteley and J. Dinsdale. Mrs. Sarah Fothergill remembered Frederick James Fothergill and Harold Olds. Mrs. Mary Irvine honored Joseph Sinclair Irvine.
The Otahuhu Methodist Memorial Sunday School formally opened on December 4 1920. Inside is the Otahuhu Methodist Sunday School roll of honor. It lists 33 young men and one woman. All of them saw active service during the war. Seven men are listed on the memorial stones outside. Thirteen others were wounded. Four were invalided home.
A wooden memorial shield also stands on display. It lists names of Otahuhu Methodist Gymnasium members. These members served during the war. Corporal T.H. Stringer presented the shield to the church in July 1919. It was unveiled in the old Sunday School building on July 23 1919.
You can find the military records of these men via the Auckland Museum’s Online Cenotaph. Many photos of them in uniform are in the Auckland Libraries Heritage Images database.
A group portrait exists of young Otahuhu Methodist Gymnasium members. The photo was taken in 1908. It includes at least five future servicemen. R.P. Knight, T.H. Stringer, William Sloggett, O.R. Montgomery, and G.K. Hall. Stringer was wounded. Sloggett and Knight were invalided home.
A 1913 photo shows the Otahuhu Methodist Church’s choir. Several future servicemen appear in it. W.H. Fothergill was killed in action. J.A. West and P.A. Spurdle were wounded. T.H. Stringer appears again.
The Methodist Church of New Zealand has copyright over some materials. You must apply in writing to publish records. Give the complete archives reference. Include details of the intended published format.
The Otahuhu Methodist Church stands as a testament to faith and remembrance. It is a place where the community honors its past. The church also looks forward to the future.