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Research resources
The Presbyterian Church began in New Zealand in 1840. Since then it has moved from being a Church for Scottish settlers to an ethicnally diverse Church very much at home in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Below are some links and resources to enable you to learn more about our history and the place of Christianity in New Zealand.
Archives
The documents held in the Presbyterian Archives in Dunedin are from the General Assembly, General Assembly committees, foreign missions, local and national Presbyterian women's and youth organisations, parishes and presbyteries in Otago and Southland, Knox College, and the personal papers of ministers and prominent Presbyterian laymen and women from throughout the country.
Archives website
The Foreign Missions Office site details the mission work of the Presbyterian Church. This is a stand-alone site designed for general interest, research and academic study and also includes a selection of mission photos, photo tours, short histories, an "In Memorium" page, and historic exerpts from unique sound recordings made by missionaries over 60 years ago.
Foreign Missions Office
Fraser's register of Ministers:
Register of Presbyterian Ministers, Deaconesses & Missionaries
The homepage for an electronic pilot version of the New Zealand National Register of Archives and Manuscripts / Te Raarangi Puuranga, Tuhinga Ake o te Motu (NRAM).
National Register of Archives and Manuscripts (Presbyterian Entry)
Genealogy
The Presbyterian Church Archives holds a large quantity of material pertinent to genealogical studies, particularly in relation to Otago and Southland.
Archives website
Former Moderators of General Assembly
A list of past Moderators of General Assembly
Histories of the Presbyterian Church
Presbyterians in Aotearoa New Zealand, 1840-1990
ed. Dennis McEldowney
(Wellington: The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, 1990)
The History of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, 1840-1940
by John Rawson Elder
(Christchurch: Presbyterian Bookroom, c1940)
History of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand
by Rev. John Dickson
(Dunedin: J. Wilkie, 1899)
Research and Reports
This section contains papers and research related to the Church and its work in society. The views expressed in these papers do not necessarily represent those of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Attracting New Zealanders to spiritual life
The aim of the project was to identify opportunities for the Church to connect with people not currently involved with church, and to identify any shifts in approach or practice needed to do this. The research was funded by Council for World Mission and conducted by market research company AC Nielsen.
Research
Executive Summary of Research Report (2002)
Stories related to the research
Bush Telegraph (June 2003)
sPanz Story on the AC Nielsen Research (Feb 2003)
Signposts
Signposts for the Future: Understanding Current Trends That Will Shape The Future Of The Church (2002), by Allan Paulin, Co-director Mission Resource Team, Southern South Island.
Allan also preached this related sermon on 20 April 2002.
Kevin Ward Papers
Two Papers by Kevin Ward (2000-1):
- Religion in a Postaquarian Age - The Listener ran as its cover heading for the last edition of the twentieth century "Faith in the Future; Searching for Jesus Christ at Christmas". The author began the lead article: "Over 50 years, the expression may have grown sharper, the message more urgent, but the conclusion is inescapable: you can see the end of Christianity from here..."
- Christendom, Clericalism, Church and Context - Finding categories of connexion in a culture without a Christian memory. Implications of New Zealand research.
Other Articles
The Church - an Anachronism or God's Agent? - by Chris Nichol (sPanz, February 2002)