Greyfriars: a church on the move

In this month's Church Alive series we look at a traditional city church which is reinventing itself to reflect a diverse urban constituency.

Prominently situated on Mt Eden Road, Auckland, Greyfriars (first known as Mt Eden Presbyterian) was built during the first World War. Its distinctive cloister-style frontage, spire and Byzantine-type chancel with four stained glass windows were added during the late fifties when the church and Sunday School were packed to overflowing.

"It's been an influential historic if rather traditional city church," says former Presbyterian Moderator Very Rev Rob Yule who came to Greyfriars in 2003. "The church reached a low point and called me to help turn the place around," he says. "Now, three and a half years later, we're on an upswing."

"Historically it has been one of the most European churches in the Presbyterian movement, but that is rapidly changing," Yule says. "I've sought in my ministry to help the church reinvent itself to reflect the cosmopolitan character of our community."

The appointment of a community minister, Samoan Rev Ron Lau'ese, and full-time youth pastor, Simon Mahoney, has helped the turn around at Greyfriars. After years of frustration trying to satisfy divergent tastes in a single service, Greyfriars began a second morning service in June. Yule leads a classical service at 9 am, aimed at reviving the church's biblical and musical heritage. Lau'ese, a gifted musician, leads the 10.30 am family-oriented contemporary service with a large choir and worship team.

"It's a bit like a black American church," says the senior minister. "It’s really beginning to rock."

The contemporary service, designed to attract families from the church's large midweek playgroup outreach, has also seen a big influx of Island families. "By involving Pacific people in music, ministry and leadership, Greyfriars is rapidly moving from a mainstream European church to a multicultural one," Yule says.

These changes are reflected in the church's answerphone message which greets callers in Samoan, Korean and English.

Since 1995 Greyfriars has nurtured two Korean churches. During its ten years at Greyfriars the Lord's Church, the Korean Presbyterian Church of Auckland, grew from 60 to 600 to become the largest Asian Presbyterian church in New Zealand. The Eden Presbyterian Church began in April 2005, and is currently looking for new premises. A third Korean language congregation meets in the church lounge on Sunday mornings.

Youth Pastor Simon Mahoney heads a youth-oriented 7pm service. Students from Auckland Grammar, Epsom Girls and Mt. Roskill Grammar meet at Live@Five for a meal and Bible study before the service which is led by three youth music teams.

The church offices have just undergone major alterations to accommodate the growing staff team. Pat McKinney is the full-time office manager. Counsellor Janet Thompson, property administrator Erin Jamieson and finance administrator Judy Maguire are all part-timers. Volunteers include church treasurer Terry Webster; property team leader David Bayliss; pastoral visitor Jeanette Kirkpatrick; children's ministry leader Mark Eaton, and a hardworking team of elders.

History

The Mt. Eden Presbyterian Church held its first service in a local hall in 1915. The church building was constructed in 1917 during World War 1 and the debt paid off during World War 2. The McKinney Hall Sunday School facility was built during the depression and the Memorial Hall went up in the post-war years, when it was second only to the Auckland Town Hall in size. "The church seems to have thrived in times of adversity," Yule observes.

In 1959 the church was renamed after historic Greyfriars Church of Scotland, Edinburgh, where the Scots in 1638 signed the National Covenant to preserve the Reformed faith and the freedom of the church from civil control.

Yule thinks that Greyfriars' preschool playgroup may be the longest-running community outreach of any church in New Zealand. Following its precursor, Mrs. White's Kindergarten in the 1940s and 50s, it has had a continuous existence since 1965, when it was started by Mrs Jean Eaton. Led by Miriam Paterson, Sue Olsen, Lis Legg and Jean Eaton's daughter-in-law Ainslie Eaton, it attracts 120 children and caregivers twice a week.

Profile

Very Rev Rob Yule is a third-generation Presbyterian minister, the oldest son of former Greyfriars' minister Rev. Morrison Yule and grandson of Revs George Yule and Thomas Miller. After postgraduate study at New College, Edinburgh, Yule was appointed chaplain at Victoria University, Wellington. During the 80s he led church renewal at Hornby Presbyterian in Christchurch, then spent fifteen years at St Albans in Palmerston North, coming to Greyfriars after a two-year term as Presbyterian moderator.

Three other Presbyterian moderators have come from Greyfriars – John Allan, J.D. Smith and John Evans. Greyfriars' best-known minister was Rev Douglas Watt (1953-67), who had a notable evangelical ministry, a regular column in New Zealand Herald, and a pioneering role in divine healing.

Matthew Raymond, a former Greyfriars lay pastor, composed the Christmas cantata His Reign Shall Never End (2001), the Easter musical Surely He was the Son (2003), and a musical rendering of selected psalms Eternal Word (2004).

"Greyfriars has had a great heritage and influence in the past," says Rob Yule. "Our prayers and hopes are that it will have an even greater influence for God's kingdom in the future."

Rob and his wife Christene have five children and six grandchildren. Rob enjoys reading, writing, films and spending time with his family, and is Deputy Chairman of the Marsden Cross Trust Board.