Charles Griffiths Presbyterian Church Obituary 1953

Presbyterian Church of New Zealand
Hawke’s Bay Presbytery

PRESBYTERY CLERK
REV. H. W. HITCHCOCK, B.A.
THE MANSE
WAIROA
PHONE 83

MINUTE OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HAWKE’S BAY RELATIVE TO THE PASSING OF MR. CHARLES GRIFFITHS

Mr. Charles Griffiths passed suddenly to his death in the early morning of August 17, 1953.

He came to New Zealand from Wales in 1909 and, after five years at Westport, he removed to Hastings where he established a business.

During all the years until his death he was actively engaged in the work of St. Andrew’s Church. For thirty-six years he was an Elder, and the last three Session Clerk.

A Sunday School teacher in Wales, he also taught at Westport. He was Superintendent of the branch Sunday School at Mahora and was Superintendent of St. Andrew’s Sunday School for twenty-eight years. During the last four years he was General Superintendent of all the schools in St. Andrew’s Parish.

In 1943, having completed fifty years of Sunday School teaching, he was awarded the Long Service Diploma, and a presentation was made at a banquet in his honour at which there was a wide representation.

He represented his Church on Presbytery and Assembly over many years and was a member of Assembly Committees.

His interests were wide. For years he was a member of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board, of the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Licensing Committee, Treasurer of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and a member of the P.S.S.A. Committee. All these he served with faithfulness and ability.

He was loved by little children because he was one with them; he was loved and respected by older people for his upright character and for his simplicity of purpose and singleness of heart.

We give thanks to God for a life of consistent and devoted service and commend his wife and son to the love and comfort of Our Heavenly Father.