Some history about a Chalice and Paten given to the former St Bartholomew's Church in Athol in 1928, and used on the Western Front.

At the dedication of St. Bartholomew’s Church, Athol, on 6 November 1928, the Southland Times reported Canon Hoani Parata gifted a “set of altar vessels for the Holy Communion (these had been used by him during his war service)”. They appear to have been made by J. Wippell & Co. Ltd., then, as now, a major supplier of clerical outfits and church furnishings. The initials “HP” are roughly inscribed on the base of each.

At the Synod of the Dunedin Diocese in 1929 the Bishop, Dr. Richards, said: 

“During the war he was for years one of the most capable and successful speakers at patriotic gatherings in Southland, and as he had urged others to enlist, so he himself volunteered for the front, and became one of the most valued of chaplains to our soldiers in France.” 

Vicar of Riverton, he had been nominated by the Archbishop of New Zealand as chaplain to the Maori contingent in July 1917, making his way to France via Egypt.

One sad event that occurred during his service was the execution of Private Victor Spencer of Bluff, for desertion. He sat vigil with Spencer during the night then gave him the last rites, before accompanying him to the place of execution, where Spencer was shot at 6:45 am on 24 February 1918. He wrote to Spencer’s aunt that he “met his death bravely and never flinched at the last.”

Canon Parata returned to Riverton in May 1919. Upon his return he gave his regulation army altar piece that he used for communion services to his aunt, Ani Evans (née Parata), who kept the small cross by her bedside for the rest of her life. In 2012, it was in the possession of her grandson, Professor John Broughton.

Canon Parata became Vicar of Holy Trinity, Gore, in 1922. In 1927, due to poor health, he moved to St. Peter’s, Queenstown, which had responsibility for the Glenorchy and Athol and Garston districts. He died on 21 October 1928, aged 47.

The paten and chalice were used for services at St. Bartholomew’s until its secularisation in November 2018, and have continued to be used at Anglican services in the district.