Around the district it is common to come across old churches that have finished their life as spiritual homes and been repurposed for new uses. One of these is the small church building on the corner of Ellis Street and Bryant Road in Brightwater.
Before 1904, a small group of Brightwater Methodists met at Pleasant Sunday Afternoon gatherings. During one of these meetings they discussed their dream of building a new Methodist church for the settlement. A building committee was formed and plans were developed to work out how the small congregation could afford to make it happen. They secured a Church Loan Fund grant of £30 to purchase the land, and George Robertson offered to construct the church, agreeing to wait for payment until funds were available.
The committee then went into fundraising mode, canvassing for public subscriptions and raising £74. One of the most popular fundraising events at the time was the Christmas Tree, where people bought tickets to win prizes. To boost the building fund, the committee organised one of these evenings at the Rechabite Hall in June 1904. A large totara tree was decorated with prizes and Chinese lanterns, and E Andrews, Neilson and Fairey were tasked with ‘unloading’ the tree, handing out 364 prizes over two hours.
A guessing competition on the weight of a three tier wedding cake, baked by H. Harris of the Waimea Baking Company, attracted 225 entries. F. Ford, H. Doidge and Mrs Thomas Hill guessed the correct weight of 36 pounds and each received one tier. The evening was a success with all tickets sold.
Robertson completed the building in October 1904, allowing the official opening to take place soon after. The day featured special services, choir singing, reminiscing and reflections on the history and character of Methodism, followed by a tea in the Rechabite Hall.
The new church made a striking impression with three gothic windows on each side and three at the front, which also featured a porch. Inside, the pulpit was draped in red baize and the bookstand covered in a deep red fabric. Music was provided by an American organ played by Miss Fairey. The grounds were neatly planted with shrubs.
The following year a second Christmas Tree event was held to clear the remaining debt. More than 400 tickets were sold. The wedding cake guessing competition returned, this time with six winners sharing the cake. The top prize from the tree was an easy chair won by Mr Eden of Hope. After expenses, the evening raised £24 4sh 6d, helping substantially to pay off what was still owed.
By the second anniversary in 1906, Robertson had received about £117, with only a few shillings still outstanding. The Church Loan Fund balance had reduced to £3. It was a significant achievement for such a small congregation.
In 1991 the church was deconsecrated and closed. It was later purchased and converted into a cafe and bed and breakfast. The cafe closed in February 2022 and today the building is a private residence.
