Hanson-Allen Family

St. Stephen's Church, Marton, NZ

(Architect: George Frederic Allen)

The photo above shows a crowd of parishioners watching Bishop Octavius Hadfield, the newly-appointed Bishop of Wellington, laying the Foundation Stone for St. Stephen's Anglican Church, Marton, on 26 October 1871. The original of this photo (by Rembrandt's Studio, Marton) was the property of George Frederic Allen. He marked the initials of some of the people in its margins (using the spots where the corresponding 'imaginary lines' bisected as indicators). These details are indicated in the sketch below - although Hadfield and Towgood's names have not scanned properly. Unfortunately the names of 'S', 'T' and 'R' are presently unknown, however, the white-bearded Bishop Hadfield is distinctive in his robes, near the foundation stone. On his left is Archdeacon Arthur Towgood, Marton's first vicar (1868-1908). George Frederic Allen is at the very centre of the photo, standing at the back of and above the crowd. 'R' may be Alfred Ross, a lawyer, who was one of the founders of St. Stephens.

The Foundation Stone is in the baptistery, under the christening font. It appears to be immediately in front of Bishop Hadfield.  The lower photo (taken January 2001) shows the baptistery alcove in the foreground, and this contains the Foundation stone and font.

Although it is not certain at this stage, the portions of framework in the 1871 photo might be the framing for the walls of the sanctuary (at the opposite end of the church to the Foundation Stone). If so, these spaces are now occupied by stained glass windows (shown below - Jan. 2001) depicting from left: St. Stephen, Christ, and Bishop Hadfield.

The distinctive church, designed by George Frederic Allen, is said to have been modelled on Salisbury Cathedral, England, although shortage of finance led to modifications. The Clerk of Works was Emanuel Snellgrove, while William Richard Snellgrove, Henry Edward Snellgrove and Edward Humphries were the contractors.

Plans to built the church began in 1868, the year Oxford graduate and scholar, Archdeacon Arthur Towgood, became the district's first vicar. Marton, was a small Rangitikei town, but one that seemed to have very good prospects. For example, as well as clear land that attracted large-scale sheepfarming, Sir William Fox, the sometimes NZ premier, lived 'down the road' (a few miles away) at his property called 'Westoe'.

Even though preparation of the architectural drawings had begun, in late 1868 its future hilltop site was temporarily used as the site of a military redoubt (or fort). This had been constructed after Titokowaru and members of his Hauhau movement reportedly appeared at the northern end of the Rangitikei. The settlers and soldiers of Wanganui believed a full-scale attack on that town would shortly occur. The widespread fear that resulted led to the government fortifying settlements in Manawatu, and Rangitikei, and calling out the militia as far south at Wellington. However, it did not eventuate. [Ref: James Belich's The New Zealand Wars, (Auckland, 1986), pp. 254-7.]

The aforementioned laying of the Foundation Stone duly occurred on 26 October 1871. The next milestone was the first service, which was held in the unfinished church on St. Stephen's Day, 26 December 1872, although this event has erroneously been referred to has having happened on the same date in 1873. 

The service was conducted by the Wanganui missionary, Rev. Richard Taylor, of Putiki. The book They Called it Marton (by Paul Melody, 1979), said that fifty people were present for the first service.

The following record of the occasion is from Rev. Taylor's 1872 diary record of the event, the diary being held at Wanganui District Library. Clearly he was unimpressed by both the church and the service.

"26 December 1872: Basil (Taylor) and I left for Marton, we borrowed a horse, it went very well to Turakina and then positively declined to go any further. As we met the coach I went by it to Marton and Basil got a horse and trap from Mrs Lethbridge, who kindly lent hers so that he was in time for the opening of the ch(urch). I found a large number assembled, the church is a very pretentious affair but a very slightly built one. It is scarcely half finished yet but  was decorated in quite the most advanced ritualistic way, candle sticks and vases of flowers on the table or alter as they call it with three stages of elevation to reach it in the Sanctuary. 

"I never was so sick of music before even in the administration of the sact. Mr Neville preached, Basil read the Lessons, I took the communion and administration of the sact., Mr Allen (i.e. G.F. Allen) presided over the choir. He tried to have a humming kind of music during the receiving of the sact. but I would not go on until they stopped and when all had communicated, i.e. 7 and 3 clergymen then they went on singing until at last I could not endure it any longer so I read the Lord's prayer, which made them stop.

"The offertory (amounted) to £11-7-1. After the service Basil had a native marriage, they gave £1 which was handed over to the building fund, the first fee for the new church and that from the Maories. A lunch was provided in the drill shed after partaking of which we returned and took tea at good Mrs Lethbridge's and reached home (about) nine."

The following day, Taylor was too tired to attend a Free Masons' Banquet and the next day he preached in the Matarawa Valley.

The church's Diamond Jubilee publication, A Short History of the Marton Parochial District (dated 26 October 1931) described the first service, erroneously claiming it was held in 1873. It recorded that Rev. Richard Taylor celebrated at the Communion Service, while Rev. E.B. Neville, of Wanganui, also preached. It added that after the service Mr Henry Nickless was appointed choirmaster in place of Mr Allen, who would no longer be making regular visits to Marton. It also said that the first recorded baptism at the church was that of William Henry Partridge, held on 7 March 1873. This date confused the author, who was unaware that he or she had recorded the wrong year.

The appearance of Henry Nickless as George Frederic Allen's replacement as choirmaster at St. Stephen's is particularly noteworthy. Nickless died on 15 July 1892, aged 49 years. His widow Sarah Alice (nee Edmeades), married Richard Thomas in 1897. He in turn died in 1905. Then on 11 February 1907, Sarah Alice (known as 'Nellie' ) married George Frederic Allen, and the couple lived out their latter days together. Clearly they had been acquainted for many years.