The Methodist Church in Waitoki held its first service on Sunday 27 April 1924. The community’s church and school had been transported from Horseshoe Bush to its new site by horse and wagon. To mark the centenary, the parish held two major events on the weekend 13 – 14 April.

At a centennial dinner on Saturday evening, members of the parish past and present gathered to share anecdotes, memories and cake. The following day past minister Rev Val Nicholls addressed a capacity crowd at the Centennial Church Service.

In the late 19th century the area just north of Auckland was a great source of kauri gum. As a result, several settlements developed in which the gum diggers established little community buildings which were used as both school and church. By WWI most of the gum supplies in the area had been exhausted and the Horseshoe Bush district near to Waitoki was largely deserted. However, 20 families settled in the Waitoki area where the relationship between the settlers and the local iwi, Ngati Whatua, was one of mutual respect and co-operation. It was decided to move the closed church/school building from Horseshoe Bush to Waitoki. The relocated building opened its doors to school children on 22 April 1924. The inaugural church service held in the building the following Sunday was officiated by Rev William Bayliss.

One hundred years on, the Waitoki area is largely populated by life-stylers, many of whom commute into Auckland. The congregation quickly outgrew the little school room and met for years in the community hall before getting their own worship building. This, in turn, was replaced by the present Keith Hay building which was placed on the site in 1975. The old pews are long gone and the parish currently has an informal worship style meeting curated to suit worshippers of all ages, gathered around tables.

Among those in attendance at the weekend celebrations were previous ministers, Revs Pat Jacobson (1992-97), Jacqui Cavit (2003-07) and Val Nicholls (2009-11). Rev Barry Jones entertained us with the story of his father Alan Jones, who as a Home Missionary (1937-40) visited Waitoki and the other churches in the Kaukapakapa-Silverdale Circuit on his motorbike.

At a near full church on Sunday morning there was a display of the church’s history. A highlight of the weekend was the address by Rev Val Nicholls in which she told of the past and pointed us toward the future, encouraging us to learn from the past, to live for today and to hope for the future.