Story: Presbyterian Church

First moderator

First moderator

During the 19th century New Zealand Presbyterians were split into two churches divided by the Waitaki River. An attempt at union in the 1860s failed, but in the 1890s promoters of union tried again. This time they succeeded and in 1901 the two churches merged as the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Among those negotiating the terms was the Reverend James Gibb, whose tireless efforts saw him elected as the first moderator of the church's general assembly. Here he stands outside Dunedin's First Church in his full moderatorial garb, minus his three-cornered hat, which is modelled by the child.

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Presbyterian Archives, Knox College

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How to cite this page:

Ben Schrader, 'Presbyterian Church - Church building and missions', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/31075/first-moderator (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Ben Schrader, published 5 May 2011, updated 1 Mar 2017