The Parish of Saint John the Evangelist, Roslyn 

   This page contains news and photographs from recent events at St John's Roslyn.  In general, this page is about things that have already happened.  For news about forthcoming events, please refer to the Calendar and Noticeboard Page.

   Contributions of news items (text or photographs) are welcome.  Please contact Alan Firth or the Parish Office.

   Items on this page are in reverse chronological order, with new material added at the top of the page.

Departures and Arrivals	28th November 2010
The first Sunday of Advent was the Revd Roger Barker's last Sunday at St John's.  He is resuming his retirement after nine and a half months as Priest-in-Charge.  At the end of the 10:00 a.m. service, the parish said its farewells to Roger and his wife Trish with the presentation of a rose of a variety called "Fellowship", as well as cards carrying messages of thanks and best wishes from parishioners.    At the same service, after many months of work and prayer by the board of nomination, the Wardens announced the appointment of our next vicar.  The position has been accepted by the Revd Eric Kyte, Priest-in-Charge of the Parishes of Gisburn and Hellifield in the Diocese of Bradford, England.  Eric, his wife Sarah, and their family are expected to arrive in our parish in August-September 2011.    As our interregnum continues, the Ven Jan Clark will be taking over as Priest-in-Charge.  Jan, Vicar of Holy Cross, St Kilda, is already well known at St John's after her time in the parish while Kelvin was on leave in 2008 and 2009.
Parish Fair 2010	6th November 2010
Despite the cool, unsettled weather, the 2010 Parish Fair was another great success.  Bishop Kelvin officially opened the Fair after being led on to the grounds by a piper.  A good crowd turned up to enjoy the day, which featured all the usual stalls, including the popular silent auction introduced two years ago.  Innovations this year included a costumed "town crier" who wandered the Fair making announcements.    The Fair raised about $17 000, much of which will go towards the renovation of the old Parish Hall, which is extensively used by community groups as well as the people of St John's.  The hall refurbishment will bring to a close our major building programme, which began in 2004.
130th Anniversary Celebration	20th June 2010
St John's celebrated its 130th anniversary with a special Patronal Festival service on Sunday the 20th of June.  (The church was opened on the 24th of June 1880.)  Bishop Kelvin made his first official visit to the parish in his new role.  As well as preaching and celebrating Eucharist he carried out his first confirmations, of seven of our parishioners.    After the service, the parish and Kelvin and Clemency gathered in the Hall for a pot-luck lunch.  The occasion was also marked by the production of a set of bookmarks bearing pictures of our stained-glass windows - mostly from photographs which Kelvin had taken during his time as Vicar.
Kelvin Wright's Ordination	27th February 2010
The people of St John's Roslyn were closely involved in the ordination of their former vicar as the ninth Bishop of Dunedin, in St Paul's Cathedral on Saturday the 27th of February.  Many of our parishioners attended the service, and the Cathedral Choir was joined by the St John's choir for the occasion.    The Bishop-Elect was led into the Cathedral behind the St John's banner, accompanied by the parish Wardens and Vestry as well as his family.  The sermon was by Alan Firth, a layperson from St John's.  Some of the new Bishop's symbols of office, presented to him later in the service, were gifts from the parish.    The service concluded with the Eucharist, and was followed by afternoon tea in the crypt.  There are great challenges ahead, but the mood in the Diocese as it enters a new era is one of anticipation and optimism.
Right: Kelvin Wright is ordained by Archbishops David Moxon and Brown Turei, with other bishops from around New Zealand. Below: Bishop Kelvin and family outside St Paul's Cathedral after the service.
Farewell for Kelvin and Clemency	14th February 2010
The 14th of February was Kelvin Wright's last Sunday as vicar of St John's Roslyn.  The choir sang a Gaelic blessing for Kelvin and Clemency at the end of the 10:00 a.m. service, and they left the church in procession behind the choir and the parish banner.    After a pause for tea and coffee, the people of St John's assembled in the Hall for the formal farewell.  Kelvin and Clemency entered to a standing ovation, and then representatives of the parish spoke about their wonderful ministry to St John's over the past eleven years.  The speeches were followed by presentations - works of art by parishioners Audrey Bascand and Craig McLanachan, a card containing many pages of messages from parishioners, a bishop's ring, and a magnificently-carved kauri crosier.  Kelvin spoke briefly, and then those present shared lunch.    Kelvin's last services in the parish were the two Ash Wednesday services three days later.    Below: Clemency (left), the Parish Wardens and Vicar Kelvin (with crosier) at the farewell.
Vicar Kelvin Named as Next Bishop of Dunedin	8th November 2009
Following Bishop George's decision to retire at the end of November, the Diocese of Dunedin has been searching for a successor.  An Electoral Synod was held at St John's Roslyn on the weekend of the 9th to the 11th of October.    This weekend was the fifth anniversary of the opening of the parish's building extension.  The new building was opened by Bishop Tom Brown of Wellington, who was vicar of St John's from 1979 to 1985.  At the Electoral Synod, another vicar of the parish followed his example, when the Ven Dr Kelvin Wright was unexpectedly chosen to be the ninth Bishop of Dunedin.    Kelvin is the third vicar of Roslyn to become a bishop.  As well as Tom Brown, the Right Revd W.A.R. Fitchett, Bishop of Dunedin from 1934 to 1952, was the vicar of St John's from 1911 until 1940.  (For a few years he was both vicar and bishop.)  In addition, the Right Revd Philip Richardson, currently Bishop of Taranaki, was a Curate Assistant at St John's from 1988 to 1990.    The appointment was approved by General Synod and the other bishops of New Zealand, and Kelvin was confirmed as Bishop-Elect in early November, by Archbishop David Moxon.    Kelvin will therefore be leaving a parish which he describes as "the most spectacular community", and which has thrived under his inspired and inspiring leadership.   What happens next? For St John's Roslyn . . .      Kelvin will be leaving St John's in February.  The four Parish Nominators, together with representatives from the Diocese, will form a selection panel to seek a new vicar for the parish. For the Diocese . . .    Kelvin will be ordained as the ninth Bishop of Dunedin on Saturday the 27th of February 2010, at St Paul's Cathedral.
Parish Fair 2009	31st October 2009
This year's Fair was another huge success, with fine weather, a happy crowd, and all the usual stalls as well as the reappearance of the silent auction instituted last year.  The Fair made over $17 000, comfortably setting a new record for the second year in a row.

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