You won’t find her name in New Zealand’s national bibliography. However, overlooked New Zealand writer Mary Ann Quaife was a published author living in Christchurch in the second half of the 19th century.

Recently a copy of her book Gleaning Among the Sheaves: Daily Meditations for the Year was given to the Methodist Archives. We knew about the book because there was an advertisement in the New Zealand Wesleyan newspaper on 1 August 1881 but we had never seen a copy. It was sold at the Wesleyan Book Depot in Christchurch and she had assistance from Rev James Buller who is named as editor. Rev Buller had been the minister stationed at St Albans when the Quaife family worshipped there.

Today books of daily meditations are best sellers but the lack of copies in New Zealand reference libraries suggests large numbers were not sold.

Mary Quaife’s book was printed in England by Hazell, Watson & Viney. This was the same firm who printed Rev James Buller’s popular publication Forty Years in New Zealand.

Buller had an English publisher - Hodder & Stoughton - and his book sold for 10 shillings and sixpence. Mary’s book was sold by the Wesleyan Book Depot, Christchurch at a price of 4 shillings and sixpence. The Wesleyan Book Depot sold hymn books, stationery, Sunday School materials and religious books and pamphlets.

Notice of both publications appeared in the same edition of the newspaper. Buller had a full page advertisement for his, compared to Mary‘s small advertisement at the start of the newspaper.

Rev Buller wrote a prefatory note for Gleaning Among the Sheaves: “In the following pages the reader will find simple and devout meditation which will be helpful in the culture of spiritual life…”

There is a tantalizing reference in Mary’s preface in Gleaning Among the Sheaves to an earlier publication she had written called Scrap Book. This suggests a longer career as a writer but no copy of this book has been found.

In 1880 when she wrote the preface, she was 64. She writes that the book has been written under difficulties amid severe pain and weakness of body. She worries her education is lacking and that readers may give her book a “cursory glance, and, with a sneer, cast it aside”.

The content of Gleaning Among the Sheaves features a verse from the Bible for each day of the year which she then discusses. Her years as a class leader at St Albans and Papanui Methodist churches would have honed her thinking.

Her opening paragraph for 1 January could be written today:

“Whatever the last year was to us, at its close it will remain forever. Our opportunities are in the present. Every moment gone leaves the number less. Much of the work that should have been done, still remains undone. The stream of time carries us along, and soon will cast us into the ocean of eternity.”

Mary also wrote her unpublished reminiscences “Jottings by an old Wesleyan Pilgrim” held in the Methodist Archives, probably in response to William Morley’s request. He asked for historical recollections for his book The History of Methodism in New Zealand which was published in 1900.

Although Mary’s book has been forgotten, a tangible reminder of her life and work for the church survives. The Quaifes arrived in Canterbury, 27 December 1850 on the Cressy and Mary Quaife held the first Wesleyan Sunday School in Hagley Park, 1 April 1851. A plaque on that site commemorating this event was unveiled as part of the Canterbury centenary celebrations in 1950 and can still be seen today.