NZ's first church sermon held at Christmas 1814
A DigitalNZ Story by Zokoroa
NZ's first Christian church sermon took place on 25 December 1814 in the Bay of Islands with settler families and 300 - 400 Ngāpuhi, including Chiefs Ruatara and Hongi Hika, present.
Christmas, Xmas, sermon, Samual Marsden, Ruatara, Hongi Hika, Ngāpuhi, Oihi, Hoihi, Bay of Islands, Rangihoua, Missionaries, Mission Houise, Religion, Churches
What is considered to be New Zealand's first Christian church sermon took place on the morning of 25 December 1814 in the Bay of Islands. Reverend Samuel Marsden, who was the Chaplain of the British colony of New South Wales, held the sermon at the base of Ngāpuhi Chief Ruatara's Rangihoua Pā at Oihi. Marsden had arrived three days beforehand on board his ship 'Active" from New South Wales to set up NZ's first missionary settlement at the invite of Chief Ruatara.
The sermon is the earliest recorded church Christmas ceremony held in NZ. It was attended by the missionary settlers who arrived with Marsden and 300-400 local Māori, including Chiefs Ruatara and Hongi Hika.
NZ's first Christian church sermon held on Christmas Day 1814 by Rev Samuel Marsden at Oihi, Bay of Islands
Auckland Libraries
1. Key events leading to holding of Christian sermon
The following is a summary of events leading up the the holding of the Christian sermon - beginning with the lobbying by Samuel Marsden for a missionary settlement in NZ, through to the selection of the site for the mission station where the sermon came to be held.
1A. Approval for NZ's first mission station, 1806-1809
Rev Samuel Marsden was appointed Chaplain of the British colony of NSW (1800) & agent for Society for Missions (1804)
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Marsden befriended Māori sailors & visitors, & several stayed on his farm & attended church
He provided accommodation, arranged teaching of agricultural practices & trade skills to use in NZ, & taught English
National Library of New Zealand
In 1806, Marsden began lobbying the Society for Missions for a missionary settlement in NZ
He advocated that 3 'laymen' be appointed to introduce trades as a forerunner to introducing the Gospel
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Marsden returned to Parramata in 1809 with 2 laymen (Hall & King) & the 3rd (Kendall) joined them in 1813
The intent was the teaching of trades & agriculture & schooling were to be followed by appointing an ordained missionary
Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago
Choosing the mission's site was initially delayed after the 'Boyd massacre' (Dec 1809) due to safety concerns
Local Māori at Whangaroa Harbour had killed & cannibalized Europeans over mistreatment of a young Māori by ship's crew
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
1B. SITE CHOSEN FOR NZ MISSION STATION, SEPT 1814
In 1814, Marsden decided to invite Ngāpuhi Chief Ruatara to sail to Port Jackson to discuss a site for the mission
They'd previously met when Ruatara worked on whaling ships & stayed at Marsden's farm during 1810 learning wheat farming
Auckland Libraries
Marsden bought the ship 'Active' & sent Kendall & Hall to NZ in Aug 1814 with a letter inviting Ruatara to a meeting
Gifts included hand-powered flour mill to use with wheat Ruatara had grown from seeds from Marsden's farm
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Also accompanying Kendall & Hall to NZ was Tuai who was the nephew of Chief Hongi Hika
Tuai was visiting Australia & had been staying on Marsden's farm since 1813
Alexander Turnbull Library
Tuai, Kendall & Hall met Ngāpuhi Chiefs Ruatara & Hongi Hika (Shonguy) at Rangihoua Pā
Chief Tuai, standing left, holding a rifle with bayonet, facing Hongi Hika who holds a taiaha
Alexander Turnbull Library
Ruatara agreed to meet Marsden at Parramatta. Chief Hongi Hika & Tuai's brother Korokoro also went with him.
Auckland Libraries
Kendall writes to Rev Pratt (6 Sept 1814) about the voyage to NZ & meeting with the local Māori
During the return trip, Kendall began teaching the Chiefs the English alphabet
University of Otago
During their meeting in Sept, Marsden accepted Chief Ruatara's offer to have NZ's first missionary settlement at Oihi
The Chiefs received gifts from Governor Lachlan Macquarie, which included regimental uniforms & farm animals
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Oihi is a small cove (now known as Hohi) in the north-east of Rangihoua Bay in the Bay of Islands
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
NZ's first Mission Station would be built at the base of Ruatara's Rangihoua Pā
Ruatara would give the missionary settlement his protection and help with establishing friendly relations
MTG Hawke's Bay
2. Arrival of marsden at Oihi on 22 December 1814
Marsden & the three Chiefs, & 'lay' settlers & their families arrived from NSW aboard his ship 'Active' on 22 Dec 1814
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
After being met by local Māori in their waka, those on board went ashore
Some stayed overnight in the village whilst others returned to the ship for the evenings
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Also offloaded were the animals in the ship's hold - horses, cattle, sheep & poultry
The horses - a stallion & 2 mares - are thought to be the first to arrive in NZ. See DigitalNZ Story: First horses in NZ
DigitalNZ
Chief Ruatara fenced half an acre and placed a pulpit & reading desk in the centre
Old canoes parts were used for wooden pews on each side of the pulpit. A flag staff was erected & English flag flown.
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
3. Preparations for the Christmas Day Sermon
In his Journal, Marsden wrote that on Saturday, 24 December 1814:
Ruatara "passed the remaining part of the day in preparing for the Sabbath. He enclosed about half an acre of ground with a fence, in the centre of which, he erected a pulpit and a reading Desk, and covered the whole with either Black native made cloth or some duck which he had brought with him from Port Jackson. He also procured the bottoms of some old canoes, and fixed them up as seats for the Europeans, on each side of the pulpit; intending to have Divine Service performed the next day. These preparations were made of his own accord, and in the evening, he first informed me that every thing was ready for public worship... He had also erected a flag staff on the highest hill in the Village which had a very commanding view."
When Marsden arose the morning of the sermon, he observed the following:
"On Sunday morning (December 25th) when I was upon deck I saw the English flag flying, which was a pleasing sight in New Zealand. I considered it as the signal for the dawn of civilization, liberty, and religion in that dark and benighted land. I never viewed the British colours with more gratification, and flattered myself they would never be removed till the natives of that island enjoyed all the happiness of British subjects."
Source: Marsden Online Archive: Journal: Reverend Samuel Marsden's First Visit to New Zealand in December 1814, pp. 64-65
4. DELIVERY OF SERMON TO SETTLERS & 300-400 LOCAL MĀORI
On Sunday 25 Dec 1814, Rev Samuel Marsden delivered NZ's first Christmas sermon
Service was attended by settlers who'd arrived with Marsden & 300-400 local Māori including Chiefs Ruatara & Hongi Hika
Auckland Libraries
In his Journal, Marsden wrote:
" About 10 A.M. we prepared to go on shore to publish the glad tidings of the Gospel of Christ, for the first time, on this Island. I was under no apprehensions for the safety of the vessel, and therefore ordered all on board to go on shore to attend Divine service, except the master and one man.
On our landing we found Korokoro, Duaterra [Ruatara], and Shunghee [Hongi Hika] dressed in Regimentals, which had been given them by Governor Macquarie; their men drawn up, ready to march into the enclosure, to attend Divine Service. They had their Swords by their sides and switches in their hands."
Source: Marsden Online Archive: Journal: Reverend Samuel Marsden's First Visit to New Zealand in December 1814, p.65
Marsden wrote in journal: Duaterra (Ruatara), Shunghee (Hongi Hika) & Korokoro wore regimentals from NSW Gov Macquarie
These were the uniforms that had been gifted by Gov Macquarie when they visited NSW to meet with Marsden
University of Otago
"We entered the enclosure and were placed in the seats on each side of the pulpit. Korokoro marched his men on, and stationed on my right and in rear of the Europeans, while Duaterra [Ruatara] placed his men on the left of the Inhabitants of the village, including women and children, and the other Chiefs formed a circle round the whole.
A very solemn silence prevailed — the sight was truly impressive: I got up and began the service by singing the old hundredth psalm, and felt my very soul melting within me, when I viewed my congregation and considered the state they were in. After reading the service, during which the natives stood up and sat down at the signal given by the motion of Korokoro’s switch, which was regulated by the movements of the Europeans, it being Christmas day, I preached from the 2nd Chr of St. Luke’s Gospel v. 10th “Behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy & ca.
The Natives told Duaterra they could not understand what I meant— he replied they were not to mind that now; for they would understand by and bye, when he would try to explain the meaning as well as he could. When I had ended the Sermon [in pencil above: done preaching], he informed them, of what I had described in my discourse [in pencil— been talking about]."
Source: Marsden Online Archive: Journal: Reverend Samuel Marsden's First Visit to New Zealand in December 1814, pp. 65-66
Chief Ruatara translated Marsden's words, & the crowd then surrounded the Europeans and performed a haka
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Marsden wrote in his Journal,
"In the above manner the Gospel has been introduced into New Zealand, and I fervently pray, that the Glory of it may never depart from its Inhabitants till Time shall be no more."
" After the service we returned on board, much gratified with the reception we had met with... In the evening I administered the Holy Sacrement [sic] on board the ‘Active’. In rememberance [sic] of our Saviour’s Birth and of what He had done and suffered for us."
Source: Marsden Online Archive: Journal: Reverend Samuel Marsden's First Visit to New Zealand in December 1814, p.66
The day after the sermon, Marsden sent his ship across the harbour for timber to start building the mission
Auckland Libraries
5. COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONY, 12 MARCH 1907
The Marsden Cross was unveiled on 12 March 1907 by Governor-General Lord Plunket
Auckland Libraries
6. Centennial celebration, Christmas Day 1914
Centenary celebration held of the introduction of Christianity into NZ
Auckland Libraries
Plaque: "On Christmas Day, 1814 The First Christian Service in N.Z. was Held on This Spot by The Rev. Samuel Marsden."
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
MARSDEN CENTENARY. (Mataura Ensign 24-12-1914)
National Library of New Zealand
7. Scenic and Historic reserves
The Department of Conservation has purchased parts of the area as scenic and historic reserves
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Rangihoua Pā and the Te Pahi Islands are Māori reserves
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Sources:
- Angela Ballara. 'Ruatara', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 1990. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1r19/ruatara M. L. Ryder, "Samuel Marsden: Australian pioneer". Don Armitage - Aotea.
- G. S. Parsonson. 'Marsden, Samuel', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 1990, updated May, 2013. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1m16/marsden-samuel
- 'Māori intermediaries: Ruatara', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-european-contact-before-1840/ruatara, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 24-Jul-2017
- Marsden Online Archive: Journal: Reverend Samuel Marsden's First Visit to New Zealand in December 1814