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The History of The Salvation Army in Motueka

(September 27th 2014)
Report by Coralie Smith

Bev Dyke is a busy woman. Best known publicly for her quilting work Bev will be known by many for the Christmas service held in the stable at the farm run by her husband Eric Dyke on the farm that was formerly run by Bev's father Ray Cresswell and before him his uncles. But let's begin at the beginning, as they say.

William Booth was a Methodist in England, a Weslyan Methodist to be precise. He and his wife visited the poorer parts of London the 1860s and saw a need for a more practical faith. Originally to be called the Volunteer Army, Booth chose the word Salvation instead and the Salvation Army was born.

Their mission was to preach Christianity to the masses but they recognised these poor people needed physical, emotional and social restoration as well as material assistance. Run on military lines with military titles for its officers, the structure allowed for quick decisions, fast implementation of policy and flexibility of resources.

The "Sally's" as they became known came to New Zealand in the 1880s and Motueka under Nelson to begin with got its first permanent officers in 1891. The Motueka Historical Association has the booklet published for the centenary in 1991 for further reading. The officers covered a wide area opening up missions in Tadmor and Sherry as well as Collingwood.

In 1907 the present church/hall was built after much fundraising. Modified in 1950 and again in the 1990s, the hall and shop is on the same site today as then.

Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, congregation numbers dropped to such a level that there are no longer services held in Motueka although the Red Shield shop is still going strong.

Motueka was always seen as a special case when new Salvation Army officers were sent here as they had to accept that although they did not approve of tobacco and alcohol, many of their members and the local population relied on these products for their livelihood, so they had to work in a different way.

The Salvation Army has made working with alcoholics one of its main priorities, running rehabilitation centres. They also run homes for unmarried mothers and have done so since the beginning. As a result of their stance on alcohol they do not take Communion or celebrate the Sacraments.

Bev descends from Thomas Cresswell who was on one of the first ships into Nelson. Unfortunately he died on board of typhoid and was buried on Haulashore Island. His wife and children arrived on the next ship.

Mrs Cresswell married a Mr Holdaway whose wife had died on the journey out and later descendants ran the Retreat Inn down near the Old Motueka Wharf as a boarding house.

Bev's father Ray was born on Rotoroa Island. He was one of four children whose parents were serving at the Alcohol Rehabilitation farm there. He worked on the railways and married a city girl. Bev then was born at Tamaki in Auckland.

Her bachelor uncles down on the Lower Moutere farm were getting elderly and asked if Ray would like to come and take it over which he did in 1948. Bev felt sorry for her mother who had no idea about farming; however they stayed.

Ray Cresswell had studied music composition and he wrote music for the very popular Salvation Army bands that many of us have fond memories of playing on the streets to spread their message and collect donations to run their many good works. They played stirring music that had you tapping your foot or singing along. His most well known pieces are "Maori Melodies" and the march "Motueka".

Bev was involved in the Sunday School. She remembers Phil and Shirley Cederman paid for a bus to bring children in from Riwaka. Another of the local Army characters was Mrs Carter who came here as a officer and married a local lad and stayed. She rode her bike everywhere until well into her 80s and gave the last penny in her purse to those in need. She wore the uniform and bonnet until her death.

Bev herself is now a member of the United Church, preferring to worship with her community rather than go to Nelson. So the family has gone full circle starting off as Methodists and now belonging to a church that is Presbyterian and Methodist combined.

Mrs Vera Carter, Salvation army soldier

Bandmaster Ray Cresswell, Salvation Army

 
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