Send Me An Angel (Auckland) Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

TheCoddiwompler: I am regretfully archiving this cache since there's been no response from nor action by the cache owner within the time frame requested in the last reviewer note.

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Hidden : 11/29/2008
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

A Micro Cache in the CBD @ a historical Church

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In the early 1800s, Auckland grew up along Queen Street and to the east of it. In the mid-nineteenth century, Government House, military barracks, a prison, hotels and shops created an economic and political centre to the city with wealthy families building homes to the east towards present-day Albert Park. St Paul's Church on Symonds Street was the main church for the city. As the city expanded, residential and commercial buildings sprung up to the west of Queen Street. To serve this growing population, Bishop Selwyn acquired land from the Crown in 1843 at the corner of Hobson and Wellesley Street. On it St Matthew's one-room school was built as a mission project from St Paul's under the Rev'd Frederick Thatcher. By 1853 the church school had 44 boys and 34 girls on its roll. An infant's department was added in 1855.

Later in 1855 Bishop Selwyn appointed the Rev'd Thatcher as vicar of the new parish of St Matthew's. On July 13, 30 people met in the school room to constitute the new parish. Eastern Auckland remained the establishment part of the city with St Paul's as its church. Meanwhile, St Matthew's became the church of merchants and shopkeepers. Its finances reflected their support and acumen. From a shaky start - the Rev'd Thatcher's annual stipend was supplemented by 88 pounds from his military and prison chaplaincies - the parish became self-supporting within 10 years. By 1868 its income was 1000 pounds a year, then the largest in the diocese.

As Auckland grew to the west, so new parishes were established. All Saints', Ponsonby, was opened in 1866, and St Matthew's built a mission chapel, St Thomas's, in Freeman's Bay in 1876.

Even as far back as the 1870s, the vestry was lamenting the drift of residents away from the parish to the suburbs. The trend continued unchecked until the past decade when apartment construction has brought people back to inner city living.

As the population declined, St Matthew's took on more of a role as church to the commercial and civic life of the city. The church's size, location, style and musical tradition have made it a natural place for civic services to be held. Typical were a memorial service for Prime Minister Richard Seddon and for the silver jubilee of King George V. In two world wars, St Matthew's held services to farewell troops and to offer thanksgiving for their return.

In recent years, St Matthew's has held a number of memorial services such as for the victims of AIDS and the Erebus disaster. An Erebus memorial book will shortly join the AIDS memorial book in St Matthew's Peace Chapel.

St Matthew's has also remained a touchstone for those who attend church only occasionally. The church is packed with people for the Midnight Christmas Eve service and large numbers also attend Easter Sunday service. There is also a strong flow of baptisms, weddings and funerals of people including many from outside the congregation.

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Cache contains a logsheet and nothing else, bring your own scribble stick, if you wish to sign the log!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Zntargvp oynpx rpyvcfr gva . Oynpx fvta

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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