About 1940 a section in Lawry Street was purchased and a Sunday School was built and dedicated in 1943. Ten years later the first resident minister, Rev. Angus Ross, was inducted.
On 15 May 1953 a permit was issued to the Presbyterian Church for a building in Lawry Street. The estimated cost was £3,910 and the builders were Lord & McIvor. This was later (1979) moved 100m behind the church above after being purchased by the North Taranaki Amateur Wrestling Association - their first permanent home.
The hall to the left of the church was built in 1965 as a 'Youth Hall' and was officially opened in 1965.
The church above was opened on 14 April 1979. It was built by Roebuck Construction.
St James' celebrated its 30th anniversary on the weekend of 5-6 March 1983.
Related documents:
New Church (Daily News 16 October 1978)
New church nears completion (Daily News 1 February 1979)
Church opened (Daily News 16 April 1979)
Anniversary Celebrations (Sunday Express 12 December 1982)
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