WCBC History
The first meetings were held in the home of Mr and Mrs C.R.Lovatt, whose home in Bank Street was opened to those who wanted to worship together. It began with about 16 members.
From there they met in the old Band Room in Water Street, where the pastor was the Rev. J. Fussell.
The Tabernacle stone was laid on 6 August 1903 and the building was soon erected and is incorporated into our current building today, as part of our hall. A collection was taken at that ceremony amounting to £22. The contract price for the actual building with its lean-to across the back was £382; contractor Mr. F Cutforth; architect, Mr. AA Mclan.
Lighting was gas, when available, other times kerosene. Volunteers for opening and lighting up were arranged each month. Seating was "Astor Grecian," cane-seated chairs supplied by Tonson Garlick of Auckland, price 3/3d each, with reduction in freight rate by Northern Steam Ship Co. Some of these chairs were still in use in 1978.
The church was received into membership of the Baptist Union on December 30, 1903. A Sunday School was commenced with Mr. C. R. Lovatt as Superintendent on January 20, 1904. He was superintendent until 1933. Both Senior and Junior Christian Endeavour were started.
A focus on young people and camping has always been part of the church. Easter Camps were established in the 1930's and were held out at Ngunguru. This photo shows the last one held at Ngunguru in 1950.
In 1951 the Manaia Camp Site was purchased which continues to be used for camps by our members, as well as by schools and other community groups from Northland and beyond (for more information about the campsite and bookings see Manaia Campsite).
Working together has always been a very important part of Whangarei Central Baptist Church life.
The congregation worked hard to raise funds and build the current auditorium.
In 1963 the new Church auditorium was opened and the old church building turned into the Church Hall. The Kerr Construction company tendered an amount of £13,994/10/- for the "shell" of the building work, and all the finishing work was done by a remarkable band of voluntary workers led by Mr. W. H. (Henry) Gwyn. The Church cost approximately £20,000 fitted and furnished but this figure does not take into account a further estimated £10,000 worth of voluntary labour and gifts. The new building opened with a debt of only 4,000. Everyone was grateful to God for his wonderful provision in response to the step of faith in proceeding with construction.
The congregation came together to build Cottrell Hall, the main hall at Manaia Camp, completed in 1982.
Youth work has always been considered hugely important. In the early 1960s the Baptist Union put out the idea of All Age Sunday School to NZ Baptist churches – Whangarei took up the challenge with up to 450 attending. Members visited families on Saturdays and buses were sent to outlying areas driven by members and cleaned by youth. A lot of hard work and dedicated members made it happen.
Between 1968 and 1976 a school holiday program called Roundup was run. 600+ children attended with up to 7 buses transporting them.
Tune INN – 1970’s - was a very popular coffee club after nite church attended by other churches. Up to 250 people attended to enjoy speakers, songs, supper.
Fri nite youth centre – games, TV, music etc.
Saturdays - Christian Endeavour, cricket club, Silver Band, Wayfolk.
24-7 youth work in schools between 2010 and 2018.
Whangarei Central has a strong commitment to supporting and helping the people in our community. Over the years we have introduced a range of community initiatives including Regent Training Centre (1984) - to help unemployed young people (now sold); Arataki Ministries (1988) - to support people affected by mental ill-health and illness; Whangarei Community Toy Library (1987) to serve families; 4Cs to nurture and assist the elderly and lonely, and Cityouth to grow and challenge high school students.
The Regent Training Centre ran upstairs at the Church building. Arataki Ministries has their offices in buildings on Wolfe and Donald Streets opposite the church, and the Toy Library occupies 2 of the lounges at the church building each Tuesday - Friday morning, as well as having a dedicated storage space.
We have planted other churches over the years, and we continue to support other Baptist churches in Northland in a variety of ways. We continue to look for further ways to support the people of Whangarei and Northland to better serve our community's needs. Please see our 'Our People' page to find out more about our leadership structure and church workers.
