The second building of the St Andrews Presbyterian Church after the fierce hurricane in 1895 was built of wood and still stands today as part of Suva’s modern landscape.
According to Reverend Gardner in the book ‘The First Hundred Years,’ published by the church in 1983, he strongly discouraged that the building be constructed of wood.
It was written that a week after the tragic event, a meeting was held in the public schoolroom where Rev Gardener presided over a large attendance.
The Governor, Sir J. B Thurston had sent a cheque for 10 pounds in aid of the “Building Fund”.
“The improvements made in the new place of worship were largely due to the efforts and unflagging interest of Mr Gardner, who designed the church, and took the oversight of its construction,” the book noted.
“It was opened early in April 1895, 56 pounds at a cost of 540 pounds; towards which subscriptions amounting to 289 pounds had been received, including the sum of 25 pounds subscribed in Victoria through the Presbytery of Melbourne South.”
Mr Gardner had designed the new structure of the church and saw oversight of its construction, which was ironically built of wood once again.
The church was joined by people who were integral to Suva’s history and development.
This included several sea captains, Williams and Goslings, the one-time owner of The Fiji Times, Mathew Whan who built the Government House, Colonial War Memorial Hospital and other Suva buildings, and many others.
“As the years went by, they were joined by names such as the Raggs; the Borrons; and the Terrys, who used to own the Nubukalou (Cummings St) area and who used to hold social evenings for the church in their ballroom).
“St Julian, the Chief Justice and Colonial postmaster; Robbie, the tea merchant; McGowan, of the firm of merchants, sailmakers and auctioneers; the Baileys, who operated the livery stables and taxis; the Kennedys from Nadi; Cuthberts, the soft drink manufacturers; Wooley, the sea captain; and Sir Robert Munro, the lawyer.”
When the church received increasing interest from New Zealand, it was suggested that the church cut its ties to Melbourne and join the New Zealand church as an “extraterritorial parish”.
“The suggestion came to fruition and a meeting on January 28, 1901, chaired by Reverend W. Thompson — the first minister from New Zealand to be appointed to St Andrew’s — resolved that communion be observed twice yearly (the first Sunday in January and July) instead of quarterly.”
Sunday church service was observed twice, one in the morning and the other in the evening.
St Andrews celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1908, which also proved to be a significant year for the church.
“The first management board meeting was held on January 31 and shortly after this, authorisation was given for the purchase of a single manual pipe organ, to be built by Messrs Geo Croft and Sons of Auckland at a cost of 470 pounds.
“The organ was completed in 1913 by Messrs Griffen and Leggo of Sydney when the second manual was installed at a cost of 312 pounds.
“The church was renovated and painted for the organ’s installation and in June 1908, the Suva players raised sixty pounds towards church funds to cover the cost.”
It was also the year that news was received from the Bank of New Zealand that St Andrew’s overdraft was 322 pounds.
“It was promptly decided to reduce the overdraft to three hundred pounds and to keep it below that sum, which was guaranteed by Messrs Duncan and Smith.
“Apparently their efforts were unsuccessful because, by April 17, 1909, the overdraft was four hundred pounds.
“On September 12, 1909, the minister’s wife, Mrs Legate, offered to wipe off the church debt by the end of the year and opened an account for collections. On December 31, she reported that she was successful, having collected 416 pounds.”
In 1909, a decision was made to remove varnish from the church seats as it had been sticking onto people’s clothing and prolonged their attendance at church.
During the First World War from 1914 to 1918, the church’s congregation reflected heroism as its honour roll contained names of 72 men who served in the Allied forces, 22 had lost their lives.
“In a moment of quiet reflection before the Honour board on the church wall, one can see names of many families well known in Fiji and others who are remembered by streets or places named after them.”
While the war ravaged, life continued at home and a relationship was growing with the Samoan church and a class was carried out in the Methodist schoolroom for Solomon Islanders.
“The church held a variety of social functions, including the cantata Snow White (using the pipe organ).
“In 1915 it noted the establishment of a Rechabite Lodge in Suva and looked at a proposal to build a school hall.
“In 1916, the Women’s Missionary Union presented the Church with a Communion table and chairs which served St Andrews until 1933 when the present table and chairs were given by a number of seafaring men.”
During the early 1920s, the book noted that it was a period of a conflicting mixture of growth and selective community involvement.
“In June 1923, the Girls Guide’s plea to be allowed to decide the use of monies raised by them was refused by the board of management.
“The church began to organise assistance to the relatively large and economically depressed sections of the Chinese community then in Suva; and the church’s guild hall was built at a cost of seven hundred pounds.
“And that by 1925, the close co-operation with the Methodist church in Fiji had led to tentative suggestions for the formation of one, united English-speaking church for the European population in the colony.”
Joint meetings were carried out and an idea was proposed that the two churches become one for work among the expatriate community and be known as the United Church of Fiji.
“The proposed church would be operated from Australia by a joint council and there would be two ministers — one for the Suva congregation and one itinerating for the whole of the Fiji group of islands.”
